180. Spirit of Christ.

The Spirit who is called the 'testimony of Jesus' is also referred to in Scriptures as the 'Spirit of Christ', (Philippians 1:19, 1 Peter 1:11) probably because Jesus was 'made alive by the Spirit' and he 'lives by the power of the Spirit'. For 'he was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit ...' (1 Peter 3:18) 'For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness yet he lives by God's power.' ( 2 Corinthians 13:4) It is as if the 'Spirit of Christ' and the 'Holy Spirit' have become one entity, though they are two persons, contrary to the belief of Unitarians! The Spirit doesn't mind being known in the name of Christ just as parents wouldn't mind being know by their children's names, afterall they live for their children and the children live because of them. Christ lives because of the Spirit and the Spirit lives to glorify Christ. The Spirit has only one objective and that is to glorify Christ. "He will bring me glory by taking what is mine and making it know to you." (John 16:14) Though being in very nature God and worthy of worship, still the Spirit doesn't seek glory for himself but seeks to glorify Christ. His 'attitude is the same as that of Jesus Christ. Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness.' (Philippians 2:5-7) The Spirit too has taken on the very nature of a helper ( Greek: paraklētos has been translated as helper, intercessor, counselor, advocate). The Spirit has humbled himself to take residence in us and be with us forever, just as Christ humbled himself to become man and dwell with us. The Spirit now awaits with the bride for the return of Christ and together 'the Spirit and the bride say, "Come !" (Revelation 22:17) When Jesus told his disciples that 'where two or three come together in his name there he is with them' (Matthew 18:20) and that 'surely he is with them always, to the very end of the age' (28:20), he actually assured them of his personal Presence because the Holy Spirit carries with him the presence of Jesus. So Christ is actually present in the Church by his Spirit, just as he promised. The 'Spirit of Christ' has become one with his bride, the Church, just as a man and a woman becomes one flesh in holy matrimony. 'For this reason a man ... will be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the Church.' (Ephesians 5:31-32) Jesus claims those who are his own by imparting them his Spirit . 'And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.' (Romans 8:9) He will see to it that no one who belongs to him will be lost for he had said to those who believed in him: "This is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day." (John 6:39) That would be possible only 'if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in us, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in us.' (Romans 8:11) Let's receive the 'Spirit of Christ' and secure our eternity. Amen.