Scofield outlines several key ways the Holy Spirit is related to Christ and His work.
1. Conception
The Spirit’s role in Christ’s conception is seen in Matthew 1:18–20. Mary was found with child of the Holy Ghost, and the angel assured Joseph that what was conceived in her was of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, Luke 1:35 records the angel’s words to Mary: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
2. Baptism
At His baptism, the Spirit descended upon Christ. Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, and Luke 3:22 all record the Spirit descending in the form of a dove, accompanied by the Father’s voice of approval. John 1:32–34 further confirms this, as John bore witness that he saw the Spirit descend and remain on Jesus, identifying Him as the One who baptizes with the Holy Ghost.
3. Ministry and Service
Christ’s earthly ministry was empowered by the Spirit. Luke 4:1,14 says that Jesus, “full of the Holy Ghost,” was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, and later returned “in the power of the Spirit” to Galilee, where His fame spread.
4. Resurrection
Romans 8:11 affirms the Spirit’s role in Christ’s resurrection: “If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
5. Witness Throughout This Age
The Holy Spirit continues the witness of Christ in this present age. John 15:26 says the Spirit testifies of Christ. In John 16:8–11, Jesus explained that the Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Scofield notes that the Spirit is the greatest evangelist, working through believers to preach these truths. Verses 13–14 further describe how the Spirit guides into all truth, speaks what He hears, reveals things to come, and glorifies Christ.
6. The Spirit Forms the Church
The Spirit is the power behind the formation of the Church. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declared, “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Hebrews 12:23 describes the “church of the firstborn,” which Scofield explains as the true Church—composed of all regenerated believers from Pentecost to the first resurrection, united to Christ by the Spirit’s baptism.
Paul also confirms this in 1 Corinthians 12:12–13, where he teaches that all believers, whether Jew or Gentile, are baptized into one body by the Spirit. Christ is the Head, and the Church is His body.
Ephesians 1:22–23 adds that God has placed all things under Christ’s feet and made Him head over all things for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 2:21–22 further describes the Church as a holy temple, built together as a dwelling place for God through the Spirit.
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