The Sovereign Operations of the Holy Spirit as Comforter | John Owen

Deep Dive into The Saint's Fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit by John Owen - Part III: Chapter IIIn the excerpt from "The Saint's Fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit," John Owen explores the specific operations of the Holy Spirit within believers after He has been bestowed as a Comforter. The text outlines the intention to examine two primary dimensions of the Spirit's work: the inherent nature and manner of His actions, and the particular spiritual outcomes these actions produce in the souls of believers, which allow them to commune with Him.Regarding the manner of the Spirit's operations, the text highlights that the Holy Spirit works effectually in distributing gifts, graces, and privileges. This effectual working is intimately tied to His distinct personality, as He divides these gifts to every person according to His own sovereign will. The author draws a parallel to Ephesians 1:11, noting that operating according to one's own will is a distinct attribute of a divine person.A central theological point made in the text is the absolute freedom and liberty of the Holy Spirit. Although the Spirit is sent by the Father and the Son, this divine sending does not diminish or restrict the Spirit's freedom in His workings, just as the Father's sending of the Son did not impede the Son's willingness to lay down His life. This harmony exists because the will of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is essentially the same. Therefore, the sovereign actions of the Spirit perfectly reflect the unified counsel and free will of the entire Godhead.Finally, the text clearly defines the boundaries of the discussion. The author states that he will focus exclusively on the Holy Spirit's role as a Comforter, explicitly setting aside His ongoing work as a sanctifier who supplies believers with continuous light, power, and vitality. Additionally, the text will not cover the Spirit's role as an advocate who testifies and convicts the world through believers. Instead, the primary focus remains entirely on the comforting works the Spirit performs directly within and toward those who have received Him.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