The Holy Spirit by John Orr Corliss

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 19, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 15.

The Holy Spirit

By John Orr Corliss

I. The Spirit in Creation

IT is a generally accepted theory among Christians that the Spirit of God is Heaven’s active agency in the conversion of men, and also the monitor of their religious conduct. But for all this there does not seem to be any well-defined idea as to how this heavenly deputy operates, or regarding its incipient action. The design of this article is not so much to discuss the personality of the Spirit, as to consider its potency of performance.

From a careful study of the Scriptures, we may learn that the Spirit’s action is said to be the operation of God’s Word. In the introduction to the book of Hebrews, we are told that God spoke to His early prophets at various times and in different ways, in making known His revelation to men. But in studying what another writer said of the matter, we gather that their uttered words were the expression of the Spirit of Christ which dwelt in them. 1 Peter 1:11. See also Eph. 3:5. Again, we hear David’s last words, in which he instructs his successors how to rule the kingdom successfully. In uttering these he says that the Spirit of the Lord spoke by him, and God’s Word was in his tongue. 2 Sam. 23:2-5.

From this it seems settled that, in David’s case at least, the Word of God in his tongue was the utterance of the Spirit of God. The fact also that the Hebrew word ruach, from whence comes “Spirit” in this case (as in most others in the Old Testament), carries the sense of the English words “wind,” “blast,” “tempest,” as well as “mind,” conveys the thought of an active principle, capable of controlling matter. It also corresponds with the account of the pentecostal endowment of the apostles (Acts 2:1-4), wherein we are told that the manifestation on that occasion was a “sound” from heaven like a “rushing mighty wind,” which sat on them as divided languages, while they spoke freely, to meet the needs of their auditors from many nations. The words spoken by the apostles at that time were therefore the expression of God’s mind, which appeared as a strong wind filling the enclosure where the disciples sat, and occupying their minds with a Spirit-filled message.

Jehovah’s power knows no limit; nothing is impossible with Him. He is “clothed”—covered—with majesty and strength, behind which His individuality is concealed. When we have considered His works in detail so far as the human mind can penetrate, we have then learned but a minute fraction of His trodden path; we have seen but the merest borders of His works, and heard but the faintest whisper of His voice. The sum of His thoughts is too great to be estimated; “they are more in number than the sand.” No knowledge can compare with His, whose “way is in the sea,” and His “path in the great waters,” while His footsteps are unknown. He “doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.” With the apostle we may well exclaim: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out.” Rom. 11:33.

But the most wonderful part of God’s ways is the creation of material worlds. While the keenest logic can not make clear the method of such an operation, yet our senses reveal that sometime, and in some way, some one did bring into existence the world in which we live. From all that art or science has disclosed, we know that the earth’s presence is not like the mechanical products of men’s hands. In all the latter one may trace the origin of every part, and its antecedent value. No so, however, with earth’s structural elements. We know nothing of their formative originals, nor of their procreative powers. We only know that the soil does produce verdure for the sustenance of all living creatures, and must therefore have been endowed with a life principle by its Author.

How was this wonderful structure produced? we may ask. There is but one way to satisfy the mind on this point, since a logical analysis does not settle it; and that is, as stated by the apostle, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Heb. 11:3. The worlds were “framed;” that is, according to the original, “made thoroly right, or fit.” There was, then, in the creation, both design and process. The world was formed “thoroly right,” and also made “fit” for man’s habitation. Isa. 45:18.

The psalmist tells us that this was all done by the breath [Hebrew, ruach] of God’s mouth. Ps. 33:6. The record of Genesis is more explicit. It tells us that God created—that is, prepared, formed, or fashioned—the earth; and then states that this was accomplished by the Spirit [ruach] of God, which moved upon the face of the waters. Gen. 1:2. The word “moved” as here used carries the same thought concerning the action of the Spirit as the Saviour expressed to Nicodemus, when showing him the operation of the Spirit in the new birth. He said: “The wind [pneuma] bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8.

So in the creation of the earth. The breath of God moved, fluttered, or shook, above the waters, as the preparation of the earth for man’s residence went forward. Light came; the firmament appeared; grass and trees emerged. But this was not all. We are also told that by the Spirit He “garnished the heavens.” Job 26:13.

To garnish is to make splendid by adornment. This was also the work of the Spirit; and so the heavens were made to declare the glory and majesty of the Most High, through the exhibition of His infinite skill. His Spirit “moved;” and in token of its recognized utterance, the sun, moon, and stars were in evidence. Again its will was indicated, and the heavenly lights “stood fast;” that is, they remained steadfast in their several stations, as rulers over the day and night, constantly to point men to the power and glory of Jehovah, in whom they may trust. Surely our God is the Rock. “His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.” Deut. 32:4. “O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” Ps. 95:6, 7.