Pilgrim Theology: Core Doctrines for Christian Disciples

by Michael Scott Horton

The Spirit’s career as the sanctifying divider-and-uniter is evident as early as the Bible’s account of creation (Ge 1:1 – 10). In the flood narrative in Genesis 8, we encounter the first instance of the Spirit appearing as a dove, announcing the appearance of dry land (Ge 8:8 – 12), but earlier in this chapter it is said, “And God made a wind [ruach] blow over the earth, and the waters subsided” (v. lb). Given the parallelism with the creation account (of waters being divided for human habitation), there is no good reason not to translate ruach “Spirit” rather than “wind” in 8:1b.

The exodus narrative (Ex 19) also invokes this creation imagery with the Spirit descending, hovering over the waters, and separating them in order for dry land to appear, then leading the redeemed host by pillar and cloud to the Sabbath rest.1 The Spirit leads the Israelites by pillars of cloud and fire through the tohu wabohu (darkness and void), cutting or separating the waters for safe passage, but cuts off Pharaoh’s armies in the process (Ex 13:17 – 15:27). The Spirit’s leading in the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night is the visible assurance that God is with his people, distinguishing them from the nations (Ex 33:14 – 16). The Spirit also descends over, upon, and within the tabernacle and then the temple, as well as resting upon the prophets for their unique mission.

cutting is a covenantal term, which comes to expression especially in the rite of circumcision, a partial cutting-off that points to the seed who will be wholly “cut off” for sinners (Isa 53:8). In contrast to pagan cosmologies, the strange new world of the Bible “cuts” between the holy and the common, not between spirit and matter or higher and lower worlds. To be “cut off” is to be excommunicated. In the prophets, the full realization of circumcision is the gift of the Spirit, a circumcision of the heart, which the law could not accomplish (Dt 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; Ro 2:29; 3:30; Gal 6:13 – 15; Col 2:11; 3:11). At Pentecost Peter’s hearers were “cut to the heart” by this circumcision performed by the Spirit through the gospel (Ac 2:37).

In both the fiat declaration “ ‘Let there be light!’ And it was so” and the continual word of flourishing, “ ‘Let the earth bring forth….’ And the earth brought forth …,” the Spirit is the one who makes God’s word effectual.

Jesus performs his miracles by the Spirit — in fact, attributing them to Satan is “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” (Mk 3:28 – 30; Lk 12:10).

The Spirit comes from the consummated future of Sabbath glory, like the dove that brought Noah a leafy twig in its beak as a harbinger of new life beyond the waters of judgment.