51. v. That by "spirit," when said of the Lord, is specifically meant the life of His wisdom, which is Divine Truth:
I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, for 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).
When He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will lead you into all truth. He shall not speak from Himself but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak (John 16:13).
He shall glorify Me, for He shall receive of Mine, and shall declare it unto you: all things that the Father hath are Mine; therefore said I that He shall receive of Mine and shall declare it unto you (John 16:14, 15).
I will ask the Father, that He may give you another Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him, for He abideth with you, and shall be in you: I will not leave you orphans, I come to you, and ye shall see Me (John 14:16-19).
When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, He shall testify of Me (John 15:26).
Jesus cried, saying, if anyone thirst let him come unto Me and drink; he that believeth in Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow streams of living water. This He said of the spirit which they that believe in Him should receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified (John 7:37-39).
Jesus breathed on His disciples, and said, Receive ye the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).
[2] That by the "Comforter," the "Spirit of Truth," and the "Holy Spirit," the Lord meant Himself, is evident from His words-that "the world did not as yet know Him," for they did not as yet know the Lord. And when He said that He "would send it," He added, "I will not leave you orphans, I come to you, and ye shall see Me" (John 14:1-19, 26, 28); and in another place, "Lo I am with you all the days, even to the consummation of the age" (Matt. 28: 20); and when Thomas said, "We know not whither Thou goest," Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth" (John 14:5, 6).
[3] As the "Spirit of Truth" or "Holy Spirit" is the same as the Lord, who is the Truth itself, it is said, "the Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:39); for after His glorification or complete unition with the Father, which was effected by the passion of the cross, the Lord was Divine wisdom and Divine truth itself, thus the Holy Spirit. The reason why the Lord breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit," was that all the breathing of heaven is from the Lord. For angels as well as men have breathing and beating of the heart; their breathing being according to their reception of wisdom from the Lord, and their beating of the heart or pulse being according to their reception of Divine love from the Lord. That this is so will be seen in its own place.
[4] That "the Holy Spirit" is Divine Truth from the Lord, is further evident from these passages:
When they bring you to the synagogues, be not anxious as to what ye shall say; for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say (Luke 12:11-12; 21:14; Mark 13:11).
Jehovah said, My spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth (Isa. 59:21).
There shall go forth a Rod out of the stem of Jesse, and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath [spiritu] of His lips shall He slay the wicked, and truth shall be the girdle of His thighs (Isa. 11:1, 4-5).
Now with the mouth He hath commanded, and His spirit hath gathered them (Isa. 34:16).
They who worship God must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life (John 6:63).
John said, I baptize you with water unto repentance; but He that cometh after me shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16).
To "baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire," is to regenerate by means of the Divine truth which is of faith and the Divine good which is of love.
When Jesus was baptized, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove (Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:32-33).
A dove is a representative of purification and regeneration by means of Divine truth.
[5] As by "the Holy Spirit," where the Lord is treated of, is meant His Divine life, thus Himself, and, specifically, the life of His wisdom which is called Divine truth, by the "spirit" mentioned in the writings of the prophets which is called also the "Holy Spirit," is meant Divine truth from the Lord. Thus in the following passages:
The Spirit said unto the churches (Rev. 2:7, 11, 29; 3:1, 6, 13, 22).
The seven lamps of fire burning before the throne are the seven spirits of God (Rev. 4:5).
In the midst of the elders a Lamb standing, having seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth (Rev. 5:6).
"Lamps of fire," and the Lord's "eyes," signify Divine truths, and "seven" signifies what is holy.
The Spirit said, that they may rest from their labors (Rev. 14:13).
The Spirit and the bride say, Come (Rev. 22:17).
They made their heart adamant, that they should not hear the law or the words which Jehovah hath sent in His Spirit by the hand of the prophets (Zech. 7:12).
The spirit of Elijah came upon Elisha (2 Kings 2:15).
John went before in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17).
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied (Luke 1:41).
Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied (Luke 1:67).
David said in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand (Mark 12:36).
The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10).
As, therefore, by the "Holy Spirit" there is meant, specifically, the Lord as to Divine wisdom, and derivatively as to Divine truth, it is evident why it is said of the Holy Spirit that it enlightens, teaches, inspires.