It’s been said by many theologians that the Holy Spirit is the neglected Person in the Trinity. Critical to understanding the Holy Spirit is knowing how the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to live on mission for God in order to spread the gospel to the nations through making, maturing, and multiplying disciples in and through the local church. This is why when I read Jesus, Continued… Why the Spirit Inside You Is Better Than Jesus Beside You by J.D. Greear, I was reminded once again about the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gave His disciples the promise that the Holy Spirit He would send to live inside of them would be even better than if He Himself remained beside them. In this excellent new book, Greear helps Christians consider their connection to the Holy Spirit. He helps us learn how the Holy Spirit indwells in us and empowers us to shine the light of Christ. This book has three parts. In part one, Greear outlines how we need to understand the Holy Spirit. In part two, he moves from his biblical-theological framework on the Holy Spirit to focus on experiencing the Holy Spirit through in the gospel, in the Word of God, in our gifts, in the church, in our spirit, and in our circumstances. This entire section answers well a number of issues Christians struggle with such as knowing the will of God, focusing too much on our circumstances, making life’s major decisions, and more. In the final section, the author writes about seeking the Holy Spirit. Here he helps us focus more on God, revival, prayer, and serving the Lord.
The Holy Spirit is a divine person, eternal, underived, possessing all the attributes of personality and deity, including intellect (1 Cor. 2:10-13), emotions (Eph. 4:30), will (1 Cor. 12:11), eternality (Heb. 9:14), omnipresence (Ps. 139:7-10), omniscience (Is. 40:13, 14), omnipotence (Rom. 15:13), and truthfulness (John 16:13). In all the divine attributes, He is coequal and consubstantial with the Father and the Son (Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3, 4; 28:25, 26; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; and Jer. 31:31-34 with Heb. 10:15-17). It is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute the divine will with relation to all mankind. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation (Gen. 1:2), the incarnation (Matt. 1:18), the written revelation (2 Pet. 1:20, 21), and the work of salvation (John 3:5-7). A unique work of the Holy Spirit in this period of redemptive history began at Pentecost when He came from the Father as promised by Christ (John 14:16, 17; 15:26) to initiate and complete the building of the Body of Christ. His activity includes convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ, and transforming believers into the image of Christ (John 16:7-9; Acts 1:5; 2:4; Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 2:22).
The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts of sin, glorifies the person of Jesus, and transforms believers into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sin and points them towards Jesus in order that they may with confidence “draw near to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). The person, work and receiving of the Holy Spirit, who acts sovereignly to gives life, indwells and teaches the elect in order deepen their understanding of the work of Jesus and then sends them out to testify about the glory of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is One who longs to breathe new life into those who come to Jesus and to sanctify the Beloved by washing them with the sanctifying power of the Word of God.
Jesus Continued… is an excellent and helpful book that will help every Christian to understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I highly recommend this book and believe that reading it will help Christians who struggle knowing the will of God, how the Spirit has empowered them to be on mission in the world, and to live consistent godly lives. Whether you’re a Sunday school teacher, pastor, lay leader, or a new Christian, I encourage you to pick up this readable and practical guide on the Holy Spirit.
I received this book for free from Zondervan for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
