The Consolation of the Holy Spirit | John Owen

Deep Dive into The Saint's Fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit by John Owen - Part III: Chapter VIIn his work on communion with the Holy Spirit, John Owen explains that the Spirit acts as our ultimate Comforter against three main struggles: afflictions, sin, and the challenges of daily obedience. During afflictions, people tend to either dismiss God's discipline out of pride or succumb to despair. However, the Holy Spirit enables believers to endure and even find joy and spiritual growth during these trials. Furthermore, the Spirit provides relief from the heavy burden of sin by guiding believers to Jesus Christ as their refuge, countering the accusations of Satan and the law with peace. Finally, this continuous consolation is essential to prevent prosperity from making believers worldly and to sustain them cheerfully through their ongoing journey of obedience.The Holy Spirit provides this comfort by revealing and imparting both the love of the Father and the grace of the Son. The Spirit assures believers of the Father's personal, eternal, and unchanging love for them. This profound sense of God's love allows believers to rejoice through tribulations, recognizing that their spiritual inheritance far outweighs any earthly poverty or rejection. Additionally, the Spirit comforts believers by revealing the grace of Jesus Christ, highlighting His desirability and applying the fruits of His redemptive work, such as forgiveness, justification, and adoption.The foundational principle behind the Holy Spirit's comforting work is His own immense love and willing condescension. He voluntarily proceeds from the Father to distribute His grace, fully knowing that human beings are often stubborn, ungrateful, and prone to provoke Him. Recognizing this unmerited love and tenderness is crucial, as it forms the basis for a believer's ongoing communion with the Holy Spirit. Valuing this love prepares the believer's heart for the extraordinary privilege of gospel communion.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerWorship Music: https://suno.com/playlist/3a498d0f-c90e-4981-8aa7-59834e7239f7https://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730