Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and, because of this, though born
of a woman, He was in His human nature the Son of God. "The Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee ... therefore also that holy thing which shall be
born of thee shall be called the Son of God."[174] Each of the three
Persons has part in the work of redemption. The Father gave the Son, and
accepted Him as man's Sinbearer and Sacrifice; the Son gave Himself, and
assumed human nature that He might suffer and die in the room and stead
of sinners, and the Holy Ghost applies to men the work of redeeming
love, taking of the things of Christ and making them known,[175] till
they produce repentance, faith, and salvation. The Father's gift of the
Son and the Son's sacrifice of Himself are of the past; the work of the
Holy Spirit has gone on day by day, ever since the risen and glorified
Redeemer sent Him to make His people ready for the place which He is
preparing for them. It is through Him that we understand the Scriptures,
and receive power to fear God and keep His commandments. He comes to
human hearts, and when He enters He banishes discord and bestows
happiness and peace. Then with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness, and the fruits of the Spirit are manifested in his life.
The love of the Father and the redemption secured by the Son's
Incarnation and Passion fail to affect us if we have not our share in
the Spirit's sanctification. There is a sense in which the Holy Ghost
comes nearer to us, if we may so speak, than the other Persons of the
Godhead. If we are true believers, the Holy Ghost is enthroned in our
hearts. "He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."[176] Our bodies
become the temples of the Holy Ghost.[177] It is through Him that the
Father and the Son come and make their abode in the faithful.[178] We
are made "an habitation of God through the Spirit."[179] "If any man
have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."[180] When we consider
the work He carries on in convicting men of sin, of righteousness, and
of judgment, and in converting, guiding, and comforting those whom He
influences, we can understand that it was expedient for us that Christ
should go away, in order that the Comforter might come.[181] If we are
receiving and resting on Jesus as our Saviour, then His Spirit is within
us as the earnest of our inheritance.[182] His presence imparts power
such as no spiritual enemy can resist. How different were the Apostles
before and after they had received the gift of the Spirit! One of them
who, before, denied Christ when challenged by a maid, afterwards
proclaimed boldly in the presence of the hostile Jewish council, "We
ought to obey God rather than men."[183] Those who, when He was
apprehended, had forsaken Him and fled, gathered courage to brave kings
and rulers as they preached salvation through Him. The disciples, who,
in accordance with Christ's injunction, awaited the descent of the
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