五、主由自身、从父施行作为；并非父借子为外在媒介而施行。
153# 主由自身、从父施行作为；并非父借子为外在媒介而施行。
此处所言“施行作为”，其意与“差遣圣灵”等同；因为前文所列诸般运行，概括而言就是改造、重生、更新、赐下属灵生命、圣化、称义、洁净人脱离邪恶、赦免罪愆并施行拯救。当今教会通常将这一切归给圣灵，仿佛圣灵是独立自身的上帝；然而，这一切实则都是主的运行。这些运行乃是由主、从父而来，并非次序颠倒。对此，先以圣言经文佐证，再辅以多重合乎理性的事理加以阐明。相关经文如下：
“但我要从父那里差保惠师来，就是从父出来真理的圣灵；他来了，就要为我作见证”（约15:26）；“我若不去，保惠师就不到你们这里来；我若去，就差他来”（约16:7）；“只等真理的圣灵来了，他要引导你们明白一切的真理；因为他不是凭自己说的，乃是把他所听见的都说出来，并要把将来的事告诉你们。他要荣耀我，因为他要将受于我的告诉你们。凡父所有的，都是我的；所以我说，他要将受于我的告诉你们”（约16:13-15）；“那时还没有赐下圣灵来，因为耶稣尚未得着荣耀”（约7:39）；耶稣向门徒吹一口气，说：“你们受圣灵”（约20:22）；“你们奉我的名无论求什么，我必成就，叫父因儿子得荣耀。你们若奉我的名求什么，我必成就”（约14:13，14）。
【2】由以上经文可清楚得知：是主差遣圣灵，也就是说，是主亲自施行那一切如今被归给圣灵、仿佛圣灵是独立自身之上帝的运行。因为主说，祂要从父那里差圣灵来，也要差圣灵到众人这里来；又说圣灵那时还没有赐下，因为耶稣尚未得着荣耀；祂得荣耀之后，便向门徒吹气，说：“你们受圣灵”；又宣告：“你们奉我的名无论求什么，我必成就”；同时还说，保惠师要将受于祂的告诉众人。保惠师与圣灵为同一位，可参阅约14:26。
父上帝并不是由自己、借着子施行这些神性运行；反倒是子由自己、从父施行，这也可由以下经文看出：“从来没有人看见上帝，只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来”（约1:18）；“你们从来没有听见他的声音，也没有看见他的形像”（约5:37）。
【3】因此可知，父上帝是在子里面、并进入子而运行，却不是借子作为外在媒介而运行；真实次序乃是主由自身、从祂的父而运行。因为主说：“凡父所有的，都是我的”（约16:15）；“父爱子，已将万有交在他手里”（约3:35）；“父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命”（约5:26）；“我对你们所说的话就是灵，就是生命”（约6:63）。
主说真理的圣灵“从父出来”（约15:26），是因为真理的灵从父上帝出来进入子，并由子、从父而出。因此主又说：“到那日，你们就知道我在父里面，你们在我里面，我也在你们里面”（约14:20）。
由主这些清楚明白的话，可以显然看出基督教世界中的错误，即以为父上帝差遣圣灵到人那里；也可以看出希腊教会的错误，即以为父上帝直接差遣圣灵。至于主由自身、从父上帝差遣圣灵，而不是反过来，这一真理乃是来自天堂；天使称之为奥秘，因为它至今尚未在世上被揭示出来。
153# （5）主凭自己从父那里运作，而不是反过来。此处运作与差遣圣灵是一样的，因为前面提到的运作都是主的运作，一般来说，这些运作是改造、重生、更新、复活、成圣、称义，从邪恶中洁净，罪的赦免和拯救；但如今它们都被归于独自为神的圣灵。主从父那里，或说代表父执行这些运作，而不是反过来，这一点首先要从圣言来证明，然后通过许多理性论据来说明。通过以下圣言经文从圣言来证明：
当我要从父那里差到你们这里的保惠师，就是从父出来的真理的灵来到时，祂要为我作见证。（约翰福音15:26）
我若不去，保惠师就不到你们这里来；我若去，就差祂到你们这里来。（约翰福音16:7）
保惠师，就是真理的灵，不是凭自己说的，祂要将受于我的，传告你们。凡父所有的，都是我的；所以我说，祂要将受于我的，传告你们。（约翰福音16:13-15）
圣灵还没有来，因为耶稣还没有得荣耀。（约翰福音7:39）
耶稣向门徒吹气，说，你们受圣灵。（约翰福音20:22）
你们奉我的名，无论求什么，我必作成，叫父因儿子得荣耀。你们若奉我的名求什么，我必作成。（约翰福音14:13，14）
从这些经文很清楚地看出，主差遣了圣灵，也就是说，是祂执行了如今被归于独自为神的圣灵的这些运作；因为祂说，“祂要从父那里差保惠师来”，“祂要差它到他们这里来”，“圣灵还没有来，因为耶稣还没有得荣耀”；荣耀之后，祂向门徒吹气说，“你们受圣灵”；祂还说，“你们奉我的名，无论求什么，我必作成”；保惠师“要将受于我的，传告你们”。保惠师和圣灵是一样的（参看约翰福音14:26）。以下经文表明，父神并不凭自己通过子运作这些能量，或执行这些过程，而是子凭自己从父那里运作它们：
没有人在任何时候见过神；只有在父怀里的独生子将祂表明出来。（约翰福音1:18）
别处：
你们任何时候都没有听见父的声音，也没有看见祂的形状。（约翰福音5:37）
由此可知，父神在圣子里面运作，并作用于圣子，而不是通过圣子运作；主凭自己从父那里运作；因为祂说：
父的一切都是我的。（约翰福音16:15）
父已将万有交在子手里。（约翰福音3:35）
又：
父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给子也照样在自己有生命。（约翰福音5:26）
又：
我对你们所说的话就是灵，就是生命。（约翰福音6:63）
主说，真理的灵从父出来（约翰福音15:26），因为它从父神那里出来进入子，并由父那里从子出来。因此，祂还说：
到那日你们就知道父在我里面，我在父里面，你们在我里面，我在你们里面。（约翰福音14:11，20）
主的这些明确宣告使基督教界的错误和希腊教会的错误都暴露无遗：基督教界的错误是，父神差遣圣灵到人那里；希腊教会的错误是，父神直接差遣圣灵。主凭自己从父神那里差遣圣灵，而不是反过来，这个真理来自天堂。天使称之为奥秘，因为迄今为止，它还没有向世人透露。
153. 5. The Lord takes these actions on his own initiative on behalf of the Father, not the other way around. The reference to "taking actions" in this opening sentence means the same thing as "sending the Holy Spirit," since the processes listed above - reforming, regenerating, renewing, bringing to life, sanctifying, justifying, [purifying] from evils, and forgiving sins - which are attributed these days to the Holy Spirit as a God by himself, are actually processes carried out by the Lord.
As for the point that these processes are carried out by the Lord on behalf of the Father and not the other way around, I will first support this from the Word and then illustrate it with parallels.
Support from the Word occurs in the following passages:
When the Comforter comes, whom I am going to send from the Father - the Spirit of Truth that goes out from the Father - he will testify about me. (John 15:26)
If I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I do go away, I will send him to you. (John 16:7)
The Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, will not speak to you on his own; he will take from what is mine and make it known to you. All things whatever that the Father has are mine. This is why I said that he will take from what is mine and make it known to you. (John 16:13-15)
The Holy Spirit was not yet in existence, because Jesus was not glorified yet. (John 7:39)
Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. " (John 20:22)
Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, so that the Father is glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I myself will do it. (John 14:13-14)
[2] From these passages it is perfectly obvious that the Lord "sends the Holy Spirit," that is, carries out those processes that are ascribed nowadays to the Holy Spirit as a God by himself. The Lord said that he was going to send the Holy Spirit from the Father; he was going to send the Holy Spirit "to you. " Furthermore, the Holy Spirit was not yet in existence, because Jesus was not glorified yet; and after Jesus was glorified he breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. " The Lord also said "Whatever you ask in my name, I myself will do it;" and said that the Comforter was going to take "from what is mine" that which he was to make known. (For evidence that the Comforter is the same as the Holy Spirit, see John 14:26.)
It is not that God the Father carries out those processes on his own initiative through the Son, but rather that the Son carries them out on his own initiative on behalf of the Father, as the following passages clearly show: "No one has ever seen God. The only begotten Son, who is close to the Father's heart, has made him visible" (John 1:18 and elsewhere). "You have never heard the voice of the Father or seen what he looks like" (John 5:37).
[3] From these passages it follows that God the Father works on and in the Son but not through him. Instead, the Lord works on his own initiative on behalf of his Father. For he says, "Everything the Father has is mine" (John 16:15). "The Father has given all things into the hand of the Son" (John 3:35). Also, "as the Father has life in himself, so he has given the Son to have life in himself" (John 5:26). And "the words that I speak are spirit and are life" (John 6:63).
Admittedly, the Lord does say that the Spirit of Truth goes out from the Father (John 15:26). The reason he says this, however, is that the Spirit of Truth goes out from God the Father into the Son, and it goes out from the Son on behalf of the Father. This is why it says, "In that day you will recognize that the Father is in me and I am in the Father, and you are in me and I am in you" (John 14:11, 20).
The Lord's clear statements reveal as blatantly incorrect the Christian world's belief that God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to us. The Greek Church, as well, is wrong to believe that God the Father sends the Holy Spirit directly.
The concept that the Lord sends the Holy Spirit on his own initiative on behalf of God the Father, not the other way around, comes from heaven. Angels call it a secret that has not yet been discovered in the world.
153. (v) THE LORD WORKS OF HIMSELF FROM THE FATHER, AND NOT THE REVERSE.
Working here means much the same as sending the Holy Spirit, since the activities listed above, which are in general reformation, regeneration, renewal, quickening, sanctification, justification, [cleansing] from evils, forgiveness of sins [and salvation], are the Lord's doing, though at the present time they are attributed to the Holy Spirit as an independent God. These things are performed by the Lord from the Father, and not the reverse, as will first be proved from the Word and then illustrated by many reasoned arguments. The following passages from the Word will serve:
When the Comforter comes whom I shall send from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes forth from the Father, he will bear witness about me, John 15:26.
If I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go away, I will send him to you, John 16:7.
The Comforter, the Spirit of truth, will not speak of himself, but he will receive of mine and tell it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; it is for this reason that I said that he would receive of mine and tell it to you, John 16:13-15.
The Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified, John 7:39.
Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, Receive the Holy Spirit, John 20:22.
Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I shall do it, John 14:13-14.
[2] These passages show clearly that it is the Lord who sends the Holy Spirit, that is to say, performs the works which at the present day are attributed to the Holy Spirit as an independent God. For He said that He would send him from the Father; that He would send him to you; that the Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified; that after He was glorified He breathed on the disciples and said, Receive the Holy Spirit; He also said, Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, and also that the Comforter will receive of mine what he is to tell. The Comforter is identical with the Holy Spirit; see John 14:26. The following passages show that God the Father does not confer these benefits of Himself acting through the Son, but the Son does so of Himself from the Father:
No one has ever seen God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the Father's bosom, He has revealed Him, John 1:18.
Elsewhere:
You have never heard the Father's voice, nor have you seen His appearance, John 5:37.
[3] So it follows from these passages that God the Father works in the Son and upon the Son, not through the Son; but the Lord works of Himself
from His Father, for He says:
All things of the Father's are mine, John 16:15. The Father has given all things into the hand of the Son, John 3:35.
Also:
As the Father has life in Himself, so did He grant the Son to have life in Himself, John 5:26.
The words which I speak are spirit and life, John 6:63.
The Lord says that the Spirit of truth comes forth from the Father (John 15:26), because it comes forth from the Father into the Son, and out of the Son from the Father. For this reason too He says:
On that day you will know that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father, and you are in me and I am in you, John 14:11, 20.
These plain sayings of the Lord's show up the manifest error of the Christian world, that it is God the Father who sends the Holy Spirit to men, as well as the error of the Greek church, that God the Father sends Him without any mediation. This teaching, that the Lord of Himself sends the Holy Spirit from God the Father, and not the reverse, has come to me from heaven; the angels call it a secret, because it has not previously been revealed in the world.
153. (5) The Lord operates of Himself from the Father, and not the reverse. To operate here means the same as sending the Holy Spirit, since the above mentioned operations (which, in general, are reformation, regeneration, renewal, vivification, sanctification, justification, purification from evils, and forgiveness of sins and salvation), which are at this day attributed to the Holy Spirit as a God by Himself, are operations of the Lord. That these are of the Lord from the Father and not the reverse, shall first be proved from the Word, and afterwards illustrated by various things that appeal to the reason. From the Word by the following passages:
When the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that goes forth from the Father, He shall bear witness of Me (John 15:26).
If I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go away I will send Him unto you (John 16:7).
The Comforter, the Spirit of truth, shall not speak from Himself, but He shall take of Mine and shall declare it unto you. All things whatsoever the Father hath are Mine; therefore said I that He shall take of Mine and shall declare it unto you (John 16:13-15).
The Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified (John 7:39).
Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, Receive ye the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).
Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name I will do it (John 14:13, 14).
[2] From these passages it is very evident that the Lord sends the Holy Spirit, that is, effects those things which at this day are ascribed to the Holy Spirit as a God by Himself; for He says that "He will send the Comforter from the Father," that "He will send it to them," that "the Holy Spirit was not yet because Jesus was not yet glorified;" and after the glorification He breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit;" also that He said, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do;" and that the Comforter "shall take of Mine what He is to declare." That the Comforter and the Holy Spirit are the same seeJohn 14:26. That God the Father does not operate these energies of Himself through the Son, but that the Son operates them of Himself from the Father, is evident from the following:
No one hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath brought Him forth to view (John 1:18).
And elsewhere:
Ye have neither heard the Father's voice at any time nor seen His form (John 5:37).
[3] From all this it follows that God the Father operates in and into the Son, but not through the Son; also that the Lord operates of Himself from His Father; for He says:
All things of the Father are Mine (John 16:15).
The Father hath given all things into the hand of the Son (John 3:35).
Again:
As the Father hath life in Himself so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself (John 5:26).
And again:
The words that I speak unto you are spirit and are life (John 6:63).
The Lord declares that the Spirit of truth goes forth from the Father (John 15:26), because it goes forth from God the Father into the Son, and out of the Son from the Father. Therefore He also says:
In that day ye shall know that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father, and ye in Me and I in you (John 14:11, 20).
From these plain declarations of the Lord an error of the Christian world is clearly manifest, namely, that God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to man; also the error of the Greek Church, which is, that God the Father sends the Holy Spirit directly. The truth that the Lord of Himself from God the Father sends the Holy Spirit, and not the reverse, is from heaven. The angels call this an arcanum because it has not before been disclosed to the world.
153. (5) THE LORD OPERATES OF HIMSELF FROM THE FATHER, AND NOT THE REVERSE.
By operating is here meant the same as sending the Holy Spirit, since the operations already mentioned are operations of the Lord. They are in general, reformation, regeneration, renewal, vivification, sanctification, justification, purification from evils, remission of sins and salvation, which are at this day ascribed to the Holy Spirit as a God by Himself. That these operations are of the Lord from the Father, and not the reverse, will be first confirmed from the Word, and then illustrated by rational considerations. It is confirmed from the Word by the following passages:
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me" John 15:26.
"If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you" John 16:7.
The Comforter, the Spirit of truth "shall not speak of Himself... He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine... therefore said I, that He shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you" John 16:13-15.
"The Holy Spirit was not yet; because that Jesus was not yet glorified" John 7:39.
Jesus breathed on the disciples, "and saith, Receive ye the Holy Spirit" John 20:22.
"Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it" John 14:13-14.
From these passages it is clear that the Lord sends the Holy Spirit, that is, that it is He who effects those operations which are at this day ascribed to the Holy Spirit as a God by Himself: for He said that He would send the Holy Spirit from the Father; and that He would send Him to you. That the Lord sends the Holy Spirit is also clear from the statements that the Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified; that after His glorification He breathed on His disciples, and said: "Receive ye the Holy Spirit;" that He also said: "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do;" and that the Comforter would receive from Him what He should announce. The Comforter is the same as the Holy Spirit, as may be seen from John 14:20. God the Father does not render these virtues effective of Himself through the Son, but the Son of Himself from the Father, as is evident from the following:
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him" John 1:18;
and in another place:
"Ye have neither heard the Father's (A.V., His) voice at any time, nor seen His shape John 5:37.
Accordingly it follows from these statements that God the Father operates in and upon the Son, but not through Him, while the Lord operates of Himself from His Father; for He says:
"All things that the Father hath are mine" John 16:15; that the Father hath given all things into the hand of the Son, John 3:35;
also:
"As the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself" John 5:28;
and further:
"The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life" John 6:63.
The Lord says that the Spirit of truth proceeds from the Father (John 15:26) because it proceeds from God the Father into the Son, and out of the Son from the Father. Therefore He also says:
"At that day ye shall know that the Father is in me... and that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you" John 14:11, 20.
From these plain statements of the Lord the error of the Christian world is clearly manifest, namely that God the Father sends the Holy Spirit to man; and also the error of the Greek Church that God the Father sends out the Holy Spirit immediately. This truth, that the Lord sends it of Himself from God the Father, and not the reverse, is from heaven; and the angels call it a mystery, because it has not hitherto been revealed to the world.
153. V. QUOD DOMINUS OPERETUR EX SE A PATRE, ET NON VICISSIM. Per Operari hic simile intelligitur, quod per mittere Spiritum Sanctum, quoniam supramemoratae Operationes, quae sunt in genere, Reformatio, Regeneratio, Innovatio, Vivificatio, Sanctificatio, Justificatio[, Purificatio] a malis, Remissio peccatorum, quae hodie attribuuntur Spiritui Sancto ut Deo per se, sunt Operationes Domini: quod hae sint ex Domino a Patre, et non vicissim, primum confirmabitur ex Verbo, et postea per plura quae rationis sunt, illustrabitur: ex Verbo ab his, "Quando venerit Paracletus, QUEM EGO MISSURUS SUM A PATRE, Spiritus veritatis, qui a Patre exit, ille testabitur de Me, Johannes 15:26. Si non abivero, Paracletus non veniet ad vos; si vero abivero, MITTAM ILLUM AD VOS, Johannes 16:7. Paracletus, Spiritus veritatis, non loquetur ex se ipso, sed EX MEO ACCIPIET et annuntiabit vobis; omnia quaecunque Pater habet, MEA SUNT; propter hoc dixi, quod EX MEO accepturus sit, et annuntiaturus vobis, Johannes 16:13-14, 15. Spiritus Sanctus nondum erat, quia Jesus nondum glorificatus est, Johannes 7:39. Jesus inspiravit in Discipulos, et dixit, accipite Spiritum Sanctum, Johannes 20:22. Quodcunque petieritis in Nomine meo, HOC FACIAM, ut glorificetur Pater in Filio; si quid petieritis in Nomine meo, EGO FACIAM," Johannes 14:13-14.
[2] Ex his locis manifeste patet, quod Dominus mittat Spiritum Sanctum, hoc est, operetur illa, quae hodie adscribuntur Spiritui Sancto ut Deo per se; dixit enim quod missurus sit illum a Patre, quod missurus sit illum ad vos, quod nondum fuerit Spiritus Sanctus, quia Jesus nondum glorificatus est, quod post glorificationem inspiraverit in Discipulos et dixerit accipite Spiritum Sanctum; tum quod dixerit, quodcunque petieritis in Nomine meo, Ego faciam, ut et, quod Paracletus ex Meo accepturus sit quod annuntiabit: quod Paracletus sit idem cum Spiritu Sancto, videatur Johannes 14:26. Quod Deus Pater non operetur illas virtutes ex se per Filium, sed quod Filius ex se a Patre, constat ex his, Deum nemo vidit unquam; Unigenitus Filius, qui in sinu Patris est ille exposuit, Johannes 1:18. Et alibi, Non vocem Patris audivistis usquam; nec speciem Ipsius vidistis, Johannes 5:37.
[3] Ex his itaque sequitur, 1 quod Deus Pater operetur in Filio et in Filium, sed non per Filium, verum quod Dominus operetur ex Se a suo Patre, nam dicit, Omnia Patris mea sunt, Johannes 16:15. 1 Quod Pater omnia dederit in manum Filii, Johannes 3:35. Tum Quod sicut Pater habet vitam in se Ipso, ita dederit Filio vitam habere in se ipso, Johannes 5:26, ut et, Verba quae Ego loquor, spiritus et vita sunt, Johannes 6:63. Quod Dominus dicat quod Spiritus veritatis exeat a Patre, Johannes 15:26, est quia a Deo Patre exit in Filium, et ex Filio a Patre; quare etiam dicit, In illa die cognoscetis quod Pater in Me, et Ego in Patre, et vos in Me, et Ego in vobis, Johannes 14:11, 20. Ex his perspicuis effatis Domini manifeste patet error in Christiano Orbe, qui est, quod Deus Pater mittat Spiritum Sanctum ad hominem; et error Ecclesiae Graecae, quod Deus Pater Illum immediate mittat: hoc, quod Dominus ex Se a Deo Patre illum mittat, et non vicissim, est e Coelo, et Angeli illud vocant Arcanum, quia nondum in Mundo detectum.
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