You're off by one.
You are correct, dear Awen! Peace to you and my apologies for the error.
John 15:26 "But I will send you the Advocate--the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me." This scripture would seem to disprove your above statement that the Holy Spirit and Christ are one and the same.
Well, let's take a look see. First, though, we need to know what we're looking at as not all of the Greek texts state the same thing. For instance the majority of modern translations are based upon "Alexandrian" text types. However, the KJV is based upon the "Textus Receptus." The Alexandrian-based text we'll look at combines the Westcott-Hort (1881) edition with the Nestle-Aland 26 th edition (and its variants).
Okay, so the NIV states:
"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me."
The Greek, however, loosely translated (for it depends on which text is being used) states:
"When/whenever/as soon as... helper/assistant/assistance/advocate/pleader/counsel/counselor/aid/... appears/arrives/comes/comes forth/shows itself/becomes known... who/which/that/what... I/me/my... send/thrust in/insert/resend... you... from/of... father... spirit (note, there are no words "that is the")... truth/true/of a truth-reality... who/which/that/what... go forth/go out/depart/proceeds/flows/projects (as from the mouth of one)... father... he/she/it... give/bear witness/testimony/affirmation... about/concerning/on account of/because of... me/I/my."
Really... that is what the verse literally states. Now, it is up to us to discern what was meant. But how can WE know? We can, of course, rely on what men believe the verse said. OR... we can simply ask and LISTEN TO... Christ, the Holy Spirit... who will tell us the TRUTH, by means of holy spirit. I did... and got the truthful answer.
Jesus is speaking about the Holy Spirit in the third person, rather than in the first. If the Holy Spirit is indeed Christ then Jesus would have merely said he himself would return.
If you wish to accept the mistransliteration of men who relied on their own understanding, perhaps. If, however, you rely on the Holy Spirit... you would see that that is not what he was speaking of at all - that he was speaking of himself. Because EVERYTHING... except the Father Himself... IS HIM. The Truth, the Life, the Way, Wisdom, Sprout, Root of Jesse, Lion of Judah, Joshua the High Priest, Melchizedek, Joseph, Solomon... the Tree [of Life]... the True Vine... the LAMB... and more! And he DID say he would return... and DID return... and said HE would be WITH them... ALL the days.
He also said, however, that he spoke in illustrations... because it was not FOR everyone to get. Indeed, his disciples didn't even GET the scriptures... until HE opened them up to them! And they literally walked with him, spoke with him... asked him numerous questions. How is that folks can NOW get them... without HIM?? By the Holy Spirit? YES!! HIM... the Holy Spirit.
But he did not refer to himself as that Spirit for one very good reason: it was not his to claim YET. He had to prove himself faith... EVEN TO DEATH... so as to be resurrected and GLORIFIED. THEN he could take that title... because he was now WORTHY!!
"And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which arethe seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.* He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."
No one was worthy, IN heaven (for my Lord had not arrived there to present his sacrifice, yet)... ON earth (for he had not yet given his life)... or UNDER the earth (for he had not yet gone down to Sheol to preach there). One all of these things were ACCOMPLISHED... he PROVED himself worthy... and so recieved his rightful due:
"In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Did you notice, though, above, where there are SEVEN spirits of God... which are sent out into all the earth?! These go wherever they are sent and speak to whomever they are directed to. Yet, not ONE of these is the HOLY SPIRIT, dear one.
What the verses are seeming to indicate to me is not so much that Jesus becomes the Holy Spirit, but rather he is given his own to portion as he sees fit. When on earth in human form, he dispensed the HS that had been given to him by God.
When on earth, he dispensed holy spirit... partially. HE did. When he appeared to his disciples who were hiding out, he gave THEM some to use. And then, at Pentecost, he poured what he had now received, as the GLORIFIED Holy Spirit... put upon those who belonged to him.
When he ascended it seems to be saying that when he was glorified he received his own personal type of power.
Yes! See above!
Remember that in John 1:1 we read that all things were created through Christ (using YHWH"s power or Holy Spirit) yet when Jesus ascends and is glorified he becomes a god all his own, yet still submits himself to YHWH.
I totally agree, with one exception: all things were created through him using God's power... or holy spirit. Not THE Holy Spirit.
John 5: 25-29 "Most truly I say to YOU, The hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who have given heed will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted also to the Son to have life in himself.
Yes! Holy spirit! God's lifeforce! His breath and blood!
27 And he has given him authority to do judging, because Son of man he is. 28 Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment. 30 I cannot do a single thing of my own initiative; just as I hear, I judge; and the judgment that I render is righteous, because I seek, not my own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Yes! And even still, he DOESN'T judge... but turns that "right" back over to the Father!
After his resurrection Jesus proclaimed to his disciples that: Matthew 28:18 "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." These scriptures would seem to convey the message that after Jesus ascended to heaven and was glorified, he received his own personal type of Holy Spirit and while not seeking to do his own will, but that of YHWH"s, he sends it out and apportions it to others as he sees fit.
Yes! After his resurrection he received his authority because he had conquered. There was nothing stopping him now... from re-entering the kingdom... or receiving his glory!
You just have to learn that you cannot always take what you read in the Bible literally, dear Awen. Please, if NOTHING else... TRY to listen to what the Master is SAYING in his words at John 5:39, 40:
"You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life."
Why do folks "refuse"? Because of a lack of faith. And for those who say, "I have faith," I say to you... perhaps not. Perhaps you THINK you do, as you once thought you had love. Rather than rely on YOUR assessment that you do, ask him to show you where you DON'T... and help you OUT, where you DO.
I hope this helps clarify and, again, peace to you!
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
SA
