It is incredible to me, as I've studied my way through the first 12 or 13 verses of 1 Peter, how it seems that Peter is intent on laying this just strong foundation for these people. I mean, there are so many fundamental elements of the Christian faith that Peter's just throwing out, one right after another, as if he's laying bricks on a foundation that these people need to understand.
Now remember, these are people who are suffering. They're suffering because what they've given their life to is misunderstood and mocked. They're suffering mistreatment because of their faith. And it's like Peter wants to get at "This is what it means to live in this culture as a believer," but he first wants to lay down this foundation that they will get. And I want to look at another element of that foundation; I want to ask the question, "Who in the world is the Holy Spirit?" Peter throws out this phrase, "Who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven."
Well, I'm reading along, I'm thinking, "Why? Why was the Holy Spirit sent from heaven?" I think that many believers understand who God is, understand who the Son is, but are confused about this Holy Spirit person, the third member of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit was sent from heaven. If I arrived at your door and I said, "Jefferson Hospital sent me to you," what would your next question be? "For what?"
So why was it necessary in God's plan for the Holy Spirit to be sent? What is the work of the Holy Spirit? What was He sent from heaven for? Let me name some things? Well, clearly here we're told He's sent to be a guide so that God's Word would be properly laid down and preserved for us. Scripture says, "Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." He was sent to empower the preaching and teaching of God's Word. No human being is capable of representing God's Word well apart from the Spirit's work. The Spirit is sent to illumine our understanding of God's Word; I need help if I'm ever going to understand the Word. Jesus said as He was leaving that He would send "another teacher who would guide His disciples into truth."
The Holy Spirit is given to convict us of sin. It's the Spirit who's able to break through our spiritual blindness and to help us to see ourselves with accuracy through the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is sent to empower us to obey God's Word.
Now, notice a theme here, to guide the writing of God's Word, to empower the teaching of God's Word, to illuminate our understanding of God's Word, to convict us of sin through God's Word, to empower us to obey God's Word. What is the chief work of the Holy Spirit? To enable this Book to give us life! Everything that the Holy Spirit does is attached to the Word of God.
Why is this necessary? Well, although my sins have been forgiven, I'm not yet sin free. In between 'the already and the not yet,' I don't just need forgiving grace, I need illumining, convicting, transforming, empowering grace. So, God sent His Spirit. So, between 'the already' of my conversion and 'the not yet' of my home-going, this dear Book would bear obvious and continual fruit in my life. Be thankful that the Holy Spirit was sent from heaven for us!
