Life in & by the Spirit

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Isaiah 57:3-13; Galatians 5:25-6:10; Mark 9:14-29

I've been struck by how often Paul refers to the Holy Spirit in chapters 3-6 of Galatians. I recently read this blurb for a commentary by a former New Testament professor of mine, Gordon Fee -

Galatians: A Pentecostal Commentary
"In this insightful commentary, respected New Testament scholar Gordon D. Fee unpacks Galatians with a major concern for readers to consider the book of Galatians as if the Reformation had never happened, which takes the focus off the justification by faith or by works issue. Fee explains 'the concern lies not in how one begins life in Christ, but whether, once begun, one must also add these aspects of the law to be completed in one's faith in Christ.'"

"If we live (are alive) by the Spirit, let us also walk (live it out, day by day, step by step) by the Spirit." (5:25) After describing what that looks like from yet another perspective, this time restoration of a brother and humility, he sums up his appeal:

"Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (6:7-8)

To say it a different way, John Piper wrote a book entitled "Future Grace," in which he talks about not just looking back and receiving grace for salvation, for the beginning of this new life in Christ, but trusting in God's grace for every step of the way, today and tomorrow. Or, as we confess, "we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life..." which can be read as "we trust the Holy Spirit who is the Lord and the give of life, right now and in every moment to come..."

This places life in the Spirit, for me, today, in the mode of humble, dependent, risky and courageous Christian living, and rescues it from the spooky or "crazimatic" category. That is not to denigrate the gifts of the Spirit, but to place them in that realm of trusting in grace, trusting the Holy Spirit, and not the manifestation (or supposed manifestation). The whole gifts of the Holy Spirit discussion can be so pressed that they become, rather than circumcision for example, what is needed to "become completed in one's faith in Christ."

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Collect for Purity, BCP, page 355)