“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Romans 8:11.
What a tremendous promise! Paul’s encouragement to the church in Rome is founded upon his conviction that the Spirit of God is the one who brings life. But what kind of life does the Holy Spirit give? Is this only a promise for the future, an assurance of our eventual eternal life in Heaven? I think Paul had something much more profound in mind when he penned these words. The Spirit who raised Christ from the grave is the same Spirit who has been giving and sustaining life to all of creation from the beginning.
In both the Old and New Testaments, the word for spirit (ruach in Hebrew, and pneuma in Greek) is closely linked to the words for breath and wind. This is significant because like both breath and wind, the Spirit is invisible, but the effects of His presence can be clearly seen and felt in the world. In fact, at every major turning point in Scripture, the Holy Spirit plays a critical role in enacting God’s plan of salvation. The Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is the same Spirit who, along with the Father and the Son, actively played a role in the creation of the world (Gen 1:2). This was the same Spirit that God breathed into Adam’s body so that he would become a living being (Gen 2:7) This same Spirit also appeared as the wind who pushed back the floodwaters, halting the chaos and restoring order to creation (Gen 8:1). It was this same Spirit who parted the waters of the Red Sea (Exo 14:19-22) and guided Israel through the wilderness for 40 years (Exo 13:21-22). This same Spirit came upon and empowered Israel’s leaders – people like Joshua, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, Saul, and David – giving them supernatural strength and wisdom in times of desperation. And it was this same Holy Spirit whom the prophets foresaw one day being poured out on all nations (Joel 2:28-29), and this same Spirit who would bring new life and spiritual renewal to the hearts of God’s people (Eze 36:26-27). It was this same Spirit who came upon Jesus at His baptism and dwelt in Him as He brought the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. This same Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, bringing 3,000 believers into God’s family in a single day. And this same Holy Spirit empowered the church to heal the sick, raise the dead, preach the gospel with boldness, and confirm its message with signs and wonders. The same Spirit also distributes gifts of prophecy, wisdom, healing, discernment, leadership, and service to the church. All of this and more is the work of the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead; He is the Spirit who gives life to the world, and the One who empowers us to do the same wherever we go.
The Holy Spirit’s abiding presence in our hearts is one of the greatest and most scandalous promises in all of Scripture. The fact that the God who spoke the universe into being would covenant Himself so intimately with His creation shows just how much He loves us and is committed to us. Often God can feel distant, especially in times of grief or deep disappointment, yet the promise of God’s Spirit in us reminds us that God is closer than our next breath. More than that, He is in our next breath – sustaining and upholding us as His dearly beloved ones. He abides in us, through both victory and tragedy, working out all things for our good and His glory (Rom 8:28).
The Spirit’s presence in our lives is also good news for us in our mission and ministry. In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded His disciples to share the gospel with the whole world – a mandate that extends to us today. Such a task can feel overwhelming at times. There are so many needs in the world today that require the Kingdom of God to break through, it can be daunting to even know where to start. Even in those places where we are serving and loving the lost, the work can be wearying to the soul. The truth is, we need the Spirit’s empowerment in our ministry because without Him our efforts will never be enough. Jesus commands us to be His witnesses, but He never intended for us to do it alone. After giving His disciples the Great Commission, He concludes with the Great Promise, “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:20). This promise, made by Jesus and reiterated by Paul in Romans, is the Good News that God’s presence will abide in us forever – a promise that is enacted and sustained by the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that dwells in Jesus, also dwells in us, inviting us to participate in and experience that same unity that Jesus enjoyed with the Father.
