A virgin conceives and bears a son who will show mankind the way of salvation.Matt. 1:18-25 The child grows to manhood and begins his remarkable ministry, clearly identified as the Son of God.Luke 3:21, 22 His followers obey his instructions to heal spiritually and learn to speak in new tongues, to bring inspired meaning with healing and hope to old familiar words.Acts 2:1-18 Even an individual bitterly opposed to the healing and redeeming movement initiated by this man, Christ Jesus, is transformed, and he goes forth as the humble Paul to spread the very message of Christianity, the disciples of which he had persecuted.Acts 9:1-20
Such momentous events, which changed the course of human history, had one common bond. The Holy Ghost was present.
The Holy Ghost is mentioned nearly ninety times in the New Testament. The power of the spirit of God—universal Love, unending Life, and omnipotent Truth—was evident in the early years of Christianity, and it is indispensable to Christian practice today. That which has had such an impact on the spiritual development of mankind must be as far beyond a mere element of doctrine as spiritual healing is beyond mere theories. The deep significance of the Holy Ghost needs to be recognized, cherished, and understood as interwoven inseparably with Christ, linking today's Christianity with the healing and redeeming faith Christ Jesus demonstrated.
