In this past year, I feel I've only begun to understand the incredible blessing and gift of the Holy Spirit. But on Sunday in church we were presented with an interesting atonement story that seemed to clarify the role of the spirit in reconciling us to Christ.
Though it is not posted yet, I recommend you check the page within the next week to hear the sermon. It was very much a blessing to me:
Dan recounted a couple theories of atonement, which he called stories, but his 'story' suggests the importance of the holy spirit as a part of the process of reconciling us to the Lord. While most churches don't dismiss the Holy Spirit, sometimes we may 'downplay' its significance in atonement.
Today's scripture reading... actually from last week... is a prayer that also recognizes deeply the work and importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And I hope that you may make it yours this morning.
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
As "the Lord's holy people" (v. 18), we have been atoned for, and God has sent His holy spirit to dwell in us. In fact, this verse outlines a few of the important roles that the Holy Spirit has in our life. The Holy Spirit strengthens us (v. 17), fills us (completes us) and allows us to know God (v. 19), and empowers us to do the Lord's work (v. 20).
In fact, verse 19 does seem to suggest that the Holy Spirit allows the atonement and reconciliation process to be complete. I read the book, "When People are Big and God is Small," which commented on our tendency to make God small, relate-able to us, human almost. But God is so much more than anything human. It's hard to imagine an incomprehensible God who is big and indescribable and uncontainable. But only in doing so can we keep God God.
Only in doing so can we truly honor and worship the Lord our God, recognizing, "Here O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is one." And this tendency to make God understandable may be our need to pray that the Holy Spirit help us to to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (v. 18-19)
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