"A broad definition of the words "Spirit of God," or "Holy Spirit," would be—the divine WILL, INFLUENCE, or POWER, exercised anywhere and everywhere, and for any purpose in harmony with the divine will, which, being a holy will implies that the steps and operations of the Holy Spirit will be in harmony with holiness. God exercises his Spirit or energy in many ways, using various agencies in accomplishing various results. Whatever the Lord through either mechanical or intelligent agencies accomplishes, it is still as truly his work as though he were the direct actor, since all those agencies are of his creation.
Just as, amongst men, the building contractor may not be actually working on any part of the construction, nevertheless every workman is his representative and under his control: the work, as a whole, is the contractor's work, though he may never have lifted a tool upon it. The work is still accomplished with his materials and through his representatives and agents.
Thus, for instance, when we read, "Jehovah God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 2:4), we are not to suppose that he personally handled the elements. He used various agencies--"He spoke and it was done [he gave orders and they were promptly executed]; he commanded, and it stood fast." (Psa 33:6, 9) Creation did not spring instantly into order; for we read that time was used--six days or epochs. And while we are distinctly informed that "All things are of the Father"--by his energy, his will; his Spirit; yet that energy, as we have previously seen (1 Cor 8:4-6), was exercised through his Son, the Logos, the living (Word) of God.
The transforming power of God's Holy Spirit, as it operates during this Gospel dispensation, to bring his people into full atonement (at-one-ment) with himself, is a more obscure or less easily understood operation, than the exercise of his power mentioned in Gen 1:2. It deals with a higher subject-- with mind and free will instead of senseless matter.
In the light of the Scriptures we may understand the Holy Spirit to mean:
(A) God's power exercised in any manner, but always according to lines of justice and love, and hence always a holy power.
(B) This power may be energy of life, a physically creative power, or a power of thought, creating and inspiring thoughts and words, or a quickening or life-giving power, as it was manifested in the resurrection of our Lord, and will again be manifested in the resurrection of the Church, his body.
(C) The begetting or transforming power or influence of the knowledge of the Truth. In this aspect it is designated "The Spirit of Truth." God rules his own course according to truth and righteousness; hence, God's Word, the revelation of his course, is called Truth--"Thy word is Truth." Similarly, all who come under the influence of God's plan of Truth and righteousness are properly said to be under the influence of the Spirit or disposition of the Truth: they are properly described as begotten of the Truth to newness of life.
The Father draws sinners to Christ through a general enlightenment of the mind, a conviction of sin and of their need of a Redeemer. Those who accept Christ as their Savior and Advocate, AND (a step not taken by the majority of Christians) come to the point of full consecration to God, through Christ, are said to be begotten of God, "begotten by the word of truth," begotten by the Spirit of God to a newness of life.
That is to say, having come into harmony with divine conditions and regulations, God accepts this consecrated attitude as the proper one, and passing by or covering the weakness of the flesh with the robe of Christ's righteousness--justification by faith, he accepts such as "new creatures in Christ Jesus," whose desire is to be guided by (HIS) Spirit into all truth, and to be led by that holy disposition or Spirit into full obedience to the extent of self-sacrifice, even unto death. Such are said to have received "the Spirit of adoption," because from thenceforth God, through Christ, enters into a special covenant with these as sons. And the Father, through the Captain of their Salvation (Christ Jesus our Lord), guarantees to such that if they abide in the spirit of truth he will cause that all the affairs and incidents of life shall work together for good to them--to the development in them of more and more of the spirit of righteousness, truth, peace, joy; they shall have more and more of the Holy Spirit, (the Holy Disposition) as they progress in obedience to the Spirit of Truth.
Hence the exhortation to such is, "Be ye filled with the Spirit," "walk in the Spirit," "let the Spirit of Christ dwell in you richly and abound, and it shall make you to be neither barren nor unfruitful." This Holy Spirit operating in the believer from the time of his full consecration to the Lord, is the same Holy Spirit or disposition of the Father which operated in our Lord Jesus Christ, and hence it is also styled "the Spirit of Christ," and we are assured, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his." Rom 8:9
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