2. THE RELATION OF THE SPIRIT TO CREATED MAN.
(1) Gen. 6:3. God tells Noah: "My Spirit shall not strive with man for
ever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and
twenty years." Here the work of the Spirit passes from the form of
omnipotence to one of pleading or striving. The Spirit no more impresses
his will upon the material universe, but expresses (rolls it out) to a
rational creature. By the preaching of the faithful Noah the Spirit
plead with the antediluvians to do right and escape the destruction that
was coming upon a corrupt and wicked world. From this time onward the
Spirit comes on men in various ways, qualifying them with supernatural
power for the performance of special duties. (See Num. 11:25; Judg.
3:10; 1 Sam. 18:10; 10:11.)
(2) But we find no case of the Spirit falling on man to cleanse him from
sin, or to confer upon him a special blessing. Later on in the prophets
the Spirit becomes a revealing and inspiring Spirit. (See Isa. 61:1;
Ezek. 2:2; Zech. 7:12; 4:6.) As a result of this revealing power, we
have the great facts of the New Testament set forth in detail. The life,
nature, character and mission of the world's Redeemer stand forth in
beauty and symmetry.
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