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Review Summary: A Rich and Sumptuous Theological Feast |
Date: 2008-05-10 |
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Details: Sinclair Ferguson's biblical-theological treatment on the Holy Spirit is a rich and sumptuous theological feast for any serious-minded believer who wants to know more about the so-called "shy member of the Trinity." In eleven meaty chapters, Ferguson gives a comprehensive, if not exhaustive, biblical overview of the person and work of the Holy Spirit, all along the way drawing on historical theology and charitably interacting with perspectives different from his own.
Chapter one, "The Spirit and His Story" surveys the Old Testament's more shadowy teaching on the Holy Spirit with a careful biblical-theological approach. "The Spirit of Christ" (chapter two) is an exceptionally rich chapter on the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus. Christ is seen as the quintessential "Man of the Spirit." Because his entire life was lived in the Spirit's power (Ferguson starts with his conception and moves through the various aspects of Jesus' life all the way to exaltation), Jesus is now the "Lord of the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18) - the One who sends the Spirit to his church to reproduce the "human holiness" of which he (Jesus) is the pattern.
This moves into the next two chapters, which focus on "The Gift of the Spirit" and "Pentecost Today?", exploring the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost and its significance in redemptive history and for believers today. "The Spirit of Order" (chapter five) discusses the ordo salutis (order of salvation) and how the Spirit applies the redemptive work of Christ to the individual believer. This is an excellent chapter which focuses on union with Christ as the central motif for understanding how the Spirit applies salvation in our lives. Throughout both this chapter and the entire book, Ferguson writes with a solid understanding of the inaugurated eschatology of the New Testament, allowing the "already/not yet" tension to inform his treatment of the various aspects of the ordo salutis (i.e. justification, regeneration, adoption, sanctification, glorification).
"Spiritus Recreator" (chapter six) discusses the Spirit's role in the new creation, while the next chapter, "The Spirit of Holiness," explores his role in sanctification. These were two of the most helpful chapters in the book for me personally. Ferguson maintains the Christ-centeredness with which he began the book as he shows how the Spirit reproduces the image of Christ in believers through his definitive act and progressive work of sanctification. Also very edifying is chapter eight, "The Communion of the Spirit," which deals with the personal ministry of the Spirit in the life of the believer as seal, firstfruits, and earnest/guarantee.
Chapters nine and ten talk about "The Spirit and the Body" and "The Gifts of the Spirit," the former discussing the role of the sacraments under the Spirit in the life of the church and the latter addressing the issue of spiritual gifts - with Ferguson taking a firm, though gentle, cessationist position. His critiques of Wayne Grudem deserve careful reflection from all who hold a continuationist perspective. The final chapter, "The Cosmic Spirit" discusses the Spirit's work in what we might call common grace and points us forward to the eschatological fulfillment of the Spirit's work in the world.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned much from it. Ferguson's articulation of a Reformed view of the Holy Spirit is intelligent and persuasive. Theologians, biblical scholars, pastors, and serious layreaders would all benefit from this book. |
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Review Summary: The Spirit of Truth |
Date: 2007-09-26 |
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Details: 'Which, if any, elements of Pentecost are once-for-all, and which elements can be viewed as repeatable and even normative in the experience of the church?' pg 80
The whole book revolves around this weighty question. Ferguson's theological answer is compelling as he shows just what is normative for the New Testament church, derived from Pentecost and Acts. This is most revealing not only on this subject, but on its role in ecclesiology as well. It takes me often into deep discussion with Christians of other denominations, and has seen me well-equipped for the task.
What I found so likeable, so totally acceptable, with this book, was the manner in which Sinclair Ferguson distinguishes his view of the Holy Spirit, and thereby successfully defends the Reformed Christian from the charge that we lack a proper view of pneumatology. The historically Reformed view is roundly presented here. It is not an exhaustive work, and never was meant to be. It can be seen as a primer to the Holy Spirit in the view held by the Puritans, Spurgeon and Calvinists, so it brings glory to God in the only correct way by always making God's sovereignty and glory His ultimate goal.
ON PENTECOST BRINGING GLORY TO CHRIST:
'Pentecost is not repeated anymore than the death and resurrection of Christ is a repeatable event. Pentecost was a public expression of the hidden reality that Christ had been exalted as the Lord of Glory and that His messianic request for the Spirit had been granted.' pg 86
'The coming of the Spirit is, therefore, the evidence of the enthronement of Christ, just as the resurrection is the evidence of the efficacy of the death of Christ as atonement (Romans 4: 24).' pg 87
The work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, justification and sanctification are brought in proper context, far outweighing the 'genie in a bottle' renditions by liberal Christians.
This book would have certainly presented Martyn Lloyd-Jones with a problem, had he ever been given the opportunity to read it. 'A two-stage view of the Spirit's work is characteristic not only in Pentecostal and charismatic but also in Catholic traditions.' pg 82 The perennial discussion of 'second blessing' is properly addressed and resolves itself in the fact that, as the Spirit came once-for-all to the church at Pentecost, so it only comes once to the believer. Invariably, it seems to be related to the speech of those whom the Spirit fills, as the biblical interpretation of Acts seems prevalent to indicate, that believers receive 'power' to be Christ's witnesses. A witness has to be understood to be believed - in any age.
ON THE SPIRIT'S EMPOWERING BELIEVERS:
'It is possible that 'tongues of angels' (like a number of expressions in Corinthians) express a Corinthian claim, rather than apostolic understanding. That would fit well with elements in the false teaching at Corinth (the over-realized eschatology, which led some to hold that the resurrection had already taken place and that therefore believers were already like the angels in heaven).' pg 213
'The Spirit is an arrabon (2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:14), a Semitic loan-word for a pledge or down-payment, a guarantee that the final instalment of salvation and glory is assured. In this sense His indwelling is provisional.' pg 177
ON OUR UNION WITH CHRIST:
'On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I am in you.' John 14:20 'That day' in this context looks forward to the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost. Herein lay strong encouragement for the first disciples. No language can define, far less exhaust, the meaning of these relationships. In keeping with this, union with Christ becomes virtually the central theme of the rest of the New Testament.' pg 187-188
'For union with Christ is not deification or mysticism.' pg 112
ON OUR ADOPTION:
'Of all the descriptions given to the Holy Spirit in the NT, the richest is probably 'Spirit of sonship'. Although it is used only once (Romans 8:15) it is with insight that Calvin lists this as the first title of the Spirit, corresponding to what must be seen as the highest of the privileges of redemption, namely sonship.' pg 182
'This interpretation is confirmed not only by Paul's use of several sync compounds in this general context (heirs together with, suffering together with, being glorified together with Romans 8:17)'pg 185
ON THE NATURE OF REVELATION:
'But with the widespread conviction which arose within the church that the Scriptures constituted a unique and completed repository of divine revelation, it became common to interpret many NT references to 'prophecy' as tantamount to preaching - thus allowing those passages to have a direct significance for the ordering of contemporary church life.' pg 214
'...the controlling background to the NT's thinking is not Hellenistic but Hebraic prophecy, with its implicit, and at times explicit, claim to divine inspiration, not least when it reflected on future events.' pg 215
'In fact, in the Scriptures themselves, extraordinary gifts appear limited to a few brief periods in biblical history, in which they serve as confirmatory signs of new revelation and its ambassadors, and a means of establishing and defending the kingdom of God in epochally different ways...limited to those periods of redemptive history.' pg 224
'In Luke-Acts, as we have argued, Pentecost is portrayed as a redemptive-historical event. By its nature it shares in the decisive once-for-all (Gk ephapax) character of the entire Christ-event.' pg 82
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Review Summary: Mostly Helpful |
Date: 2005-09-13 |
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Details: In general, I enjoyed reading this book. Dr. Ferguson is eager to show the solidarity of the Trinity in creation and redemption. The Spirit is not an afterthought in his theology, but the executive of God's work in the world. Yes! I thought his emphasis on the Spirit's work as Christ-oriented was well put. I also appreciated his redemptive-historical perspective throughout. He wasn't overly concerned to abstract the Spirit's role within the activity of God, but rather to show how he works in concert with the Father and Son for the redemption and edification of God's people.
I disagreed with some of his conclusions regarding the cessation of the popularly named "sign-gifts" (though he categorizes them as "word-gifts" over against the "sign-gifts", i.e. the sacraments). In his response to Grudem, he points out what I think are genuine weaknesses in Grudem's reasoning, but at times he also misunderstands what Grudem is trying to say. I think he also fails to address a few pertinent arguments.
For those who are interested, these are: 1) The multiple functions of these gifts, not only to confirm revelation, but to demonstrate the Kingdom of God, to effect unity and edification in the body of Christ, and to show mercy to those in need. Certainly these functions have not ceased. 2) The lack of distinction between occasional and perpetual gifts within the Scripture itself. Scripture presents Spiritual gifts as a diverse mix of gracelets characteristic of the new covenant era, which continues to this day. 3) In the end, Ferguson concedes that Christians through the ages and today do, in fact, receive God-given promptings and healings. Yet he won't identify these with the NT gifts of Prophecy and Healing. He says that there is too much discontinuity between the nature and practice of these and the NT gifts. But he does not seem to have first-hand observation of these gifts in action to be in a place to make such a comparison (I'm sure his church does not seek to practice such gifts). Nor does he suggest alternate categories for these present-day phenomena if they are not technically "Prophecy", "Healing", or "Tongues". I don't think any violence is done to the primacy or sufficiency of Scripture if the categories above are seen to be flexible enough to include "God-given promptings and healings." With regard to Tongues, I agree with Ferguson's distinction between NT tongues and the commonly practiced "prayer language" of pentecostals. But there are enough credible reports of glossolalia that ended up being actual human languages (say, on the mission field) to suspect that the NT gift of Tongues is still given when God decides the context is appropriate.
Cessation vs. Continuation is an important issue, although in my opinion not an essential one. Still, I find that a continuation of all the NT Spiritual gifts fits just as well, or better, with the paradigm of the Kingdom of God, and the Spirit's work as its executive, presented by Dr. Ferguson in the rest of his book.
Overall, a great synthesis from the Reformed perspective! Read it. |
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Review Summary: Theopneustic |
Date: 2004-08-17 |
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Details: God is One yet three persons. He is not three gods that became one God nor is He three persons that became One God. The three persons of God always existed as one God. All three persons of the God always existed. This work by Sinclair Fergunson does not go through the paradoxes and dilemmas that many a theologian ponder and discuss in other works. The author starts with a brief distinction of ministry between the three persons of the God head: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. In brief there is a discussion about the Father's grand scheme of creation, life, death, and the proprietion for man's sins. Also discussed is the implementation of the Father's plan by the Son. The Son comes into the sinful World as a man suffering the indignities of a sinner without ever sinning in total obedience to the Father. This culminates in the Son suffering a shameful death and the glorious resurrection. Dr. Ferguson argues the Son stayed God but did without the prerogatives of God while on earth. He needed the help of the Holy Spirit in withstanding temptation and in revelation. Jesus did not depend on human strength, but His strength as God. Christians should also depend on the strength of God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus emptied Himself to become man yet stayed God, but in a sense depended on the other person of Himself to preach the word of God and avoid falling into temptation.
How does the Holy Spirit minister to the individual Christian? The chief gift of the Spirit is the ability to know God's word and to share it with other people. This gift was given to only a few before Pentecost, but now is given to all who believe in Jesus Christ and accept the gift of Salvation. The Christian also needs the Holy Spirit in his daily walk. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can the Christian preserver temptation and not fall into it. How does one express love for God? Living in Obedience to God's Will. Sinclair Ferguson does not detail how the Spirit helps the Christian in his walk.
The Fruit of the Spirit is love. The sum of the Law and the prophets is to love God plus to love your neighbor as your self. Only through the Holy Spirit can any man show such a love. This book details such a love.
Also discussed in this work is the inerrancy of God's word. Theopneustic is defined as God breathed. Teaching God's mighty deeds and interpretative word. Words that proceed from God's mouth. The author argues through the person of the Holy Spirit. In general Sinclair B. Ferguson makes the same fruit comes from God's redeemed people. |
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Review Summary: Thorough, Reformed Doctrine of the Holy Spirit |
Date: 2004-07-20 |
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Details: Dr. Sinclair Ferguson's book on the Holy Spirit is a welcomed edition to any believers library. Ferguson is one of the best theologians in the Western hemisphere and his writings are brillant and full of Scripture.
In this work, Dr. Ferguson delves into the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Yet in this short work (288 pages), he covers nearly every work of the Spirit from His divinity to the gifts of the Spirit.
The book comes from a Reformed position so those from say a charismatic perspective may not like Ferguson's views on the baptism in the Spirit or the manifestation gifts of tongues and prophecy.
Overall, a great book. |
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out of 8 Reviews
