Topical Bible: The Emblems of the Holy Spirit: Water

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the Scriptures, water serves as a profound emblem of the Holy Spirit, symbolizing purification, life, and the sustaining power of God. This imagery is woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments, illustrating the multifaceted role of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers.

Purification and Cleansing

Water is frequently associated with cleansing and purification, a theme that is central to the work of the Holy Spirit. In Ezekiel 36:25-27 , God promises, "I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances." Here, the cleansing water is directly linked to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who transforms and sanctifies the believer.

Life and Renewal

Water is essential for life, and in the biblical narrative, it often symbolizes the life-giving and renewing work of the Holy Spirit. In John 7:37-39 , Jesus declares, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this, He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. The living water represents the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers, bringing spiritual vitality and renewal.

Sustenance and Satisfaction

The Holy Spirit, like water, provides sustenance and satisfaction to the soul. In Isaiah 44:3 , God promises, "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants." This imagery conveys the idea of the Spirit as a source of spiritual nourishment and blessing, quenching the deep thirst of the human soul.

Baptism and Initiation

Water is also emblematic of the Holy Spirit in the context of baptism, which signifies the believer's initiation into the Christian faith and the reception of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:38 , Peter instructs, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Baptism with water is a visible sign of the inward cleansing and renewal brought about by the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

The emblem of water in relation to the Holy Spirit is rich with meaning, encompassing themes of purification, life, sustenance, and initiation. Through these images, Scripture reveals the essential and transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, drawing them into deeper communion with God and empowering them for holy living.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 3:5
Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 7:38,39
He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Power Hindered.
... But I would further call attention to the emblems of the Holy Spirit. ... of power; so
we find in the 17th chapter of Exodus and 6th verse, that water is an ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/secret power/chapter v power hindered.htm

Filled with the Spirit
... The Spirit of God fills the human spirit, as the ... saying, 'He shall baptise you in
the Holy Ghost and ... Do not all these emblems declare to us the possibility of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/filled with the spirit.htm

Marks of Having Received the Holy Ghost
... when he came up out of the water at his ... and overspread the earth, were but poor emblems,
lifeless representations ... since one great work of the Holy Spirit is to ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/marks of having received the.htm

Dying Lamps
... which bear still more closely on the emblems of our text ... If the water in a pond is
never stirred, it is ... Doing nothing is the sure way to quench the Holy Spirit. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/dying lamps.htm

'Salt in Yourselves'
... otherwise spoken of as 'fire.' The two emblems produce the ... put away those evil things
which 'quench the Spirit.'. ... with, and constant renewing of the Holy Ghost. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/salt in yourselves.htm

"In Remembrance of Me"
... He received from Jesus the emblems of His broken body and ... Christ by the Holy Spirit
is there to set the seal ... The water we drink is bought by His spilled blood. ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 72 in remembrance of.htm

Symbolic Ornaments of the Church
... the Church, making it the "habitation of God through the Spirit," and giving ... Escallop
Shell, the badge of a pilgrim, are both emblems of Holy Baptism: the ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/symbolic ornaments of the church.htm

On Fruit Bearing.
... your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which ... garden and scatters the fragrance;
so the Spirit of God ... These are beautiful emblems of the Christ-life in the ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/on fruit bearing.htm

The Believer not an Orphan. "I Will not Leave You Comfortless: I ...
... addition to this, Jesus Christ by His Spirit makes visits ... The Holy Ghost becomes
wonderfully active and potent at ... many a happy time when the emblems of bread ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/the believer not an orphan.htm

Letter Lxix. To Oceanus.
... blood and water flow forth, twin emblems of baptism ... have no knowledge of the Holy
Spirit are baptized ... lest any should suppose that water unsanctified thereby ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxix to oceanus.htm