The Spirit of Life and the Spirit of Revelation.
The Spirit of Life and the Spirit of Revelation are two ministries of the same Spirit.
The Holy Spirit has many different associated names that tell His specific ministry or office. He is the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13), The Spirit of Holiness (Romans 1:4), The Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8:15), The Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:14, 3:16), The Spirit of the Son (Galatians 4:6), the Spirit of Jesus (Philippians 1:19), The Spirit of Christ (1 Peter 1:11), and the Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29). Ephesians 4:4 tells us that there is only one Spirit.
Now two other names which are very important for the Christian are, the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2), and the Spirit of Revelation (Ephesians 1:17). Now we have already said that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Son, the Spirit of Jesus, and the Spirit of Christ, He is also the Spirit of Truth and Jesus said that He was the Truth. Now the Bible also tells us that Jesus is the Life. Jesus said, I am the Way the Truth and the Life (see John 14:6). Also the apostle John tells us that eternal life is in God’s Son and that whoever has the Son has Life (1John 5:11-12).
It is Jesus who gives us eternal life (John 10:28, 17:2). It is Jesus who sends the Holy Spirit to us to reveal the Truth to us (John 16:13-15). In John chapter 4 Jesus promises the Spirit of Life to those who ask Him, in John 7 Jesus promises believers who are thirsty that they will be filled with the Spirit.
The Spirit of Life is eternal life that God gives to those who believe on Jesus. The Bible says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus – For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2). We have been given eternal life and that life is in His Son, he who has the Son has Life. The law of the Spirit of Life is faith, faith in the Son of God.
The Spirit of Revelation is the anointing of the Spirit that teaches us all things. 1 John 2:20 says, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” 1 John 2:27 says, “But the anointing you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you (will) abide in Him.” The anointing is the Spirit of Truth that Jesus sends to us to guide us into all truth.
The Spirit of Life is given to us when we believe on Jesus (John 3:16), the anointing, is given to all who receive the Spirit.
Now some say that these are the same which we receive when we believe on Jesus and there is nothing in scripture that shows we receive the Spirit after having believed, yet Paul prayed for the Ephesians believers that they would receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17).
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 says, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” So He who anointed us is God, who also is the one who sealed us and put the Spirit in our hearts.
When we heard the gospel and believed on Jesus, then God sealed us with the Holy Spirit of promise in our hearts. Also, having believed we receive the anointing of the Spirit (the falling upon us of the Spirit) which teaches us all things (see also Acts 8:12-17).
We receive one Spirit but two functions at different times, even if only minutes between them (see Acts 19:1-6, even after being baptized in water the Ephesians still hadn’t received the anointing until Paul laid hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them). Then the sealing and anointing become one.
By Mark Greenwood January 2024