Renewing Your Mind — “Trinitarian Fellowship”

Podcast: Renewing Your Mind
Host: Ligonier Ministries
Guest Teacher: Dr. Sinclair Ferguson
Date: September 12, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the nature of fellowship within the Trinity, particularly focusing on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Sinclair Ferguson unpacks how Jesus’ ministry exemplified perfect Trinitarian fellowship, and what it means for believers to enter into this divine relationship. By tracing key moments from Scripture, Ferguson underlines the unique role of the Holy Spirit both in Jesus’ life and in the lives of Christians.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Ministry

• Reference: John 14:17 — Jesus promises “another Helper,” the Holy Spirit, to His disciples.

• The Holy Spirit was present “with you and will be in you” (01:40), walking with the disciples through Jesus’ life.

• In Luke 4:14, after His baptism, Jesus returns “in the power of the Spirit” to Galilee, a foundational moment for His public ministry (03:05).

• Quote:

  “How in the power of the Spirit he reveals God, and how through the ministry of the Spirit, we are encouraged indeed by the Spirit's power, enabled to glorify the Lord.”
  — Sinclair Ferguson, 03:36

• Jesus as the Spirit-Anointed Messiah:
  Luke 4:16–22 recounts Jesus reading Isaiah’s prophecy of the Spirit-anointed Savior and proclaiming its fulfillment (04:05). Jesus’ miracles, pronouncements of forgiveness, healings, and exorcisms were all empowered by the Holy Spirit (07:10).

2. The Uncommon Activity of Demons During Jesus’ Ministry

• While demon possession appears rare in the broader biblical narrative, it is concentrated in Jesus’ ministry due to the demonic world’s last stand against God's redemptive purpose (09:24).
• Quote:

  “How many demons does it take to oppress a man, to drive a man to destruction? It takes only one. So why was there an entire Legion there? Because Jesus was there.”
  — Sinclair Ferguson, 10:18

3. Jesus’ Dependence on the Holy Spirit

• Jesus' miracles and exorcisms were not displays of His divine power disconnected from His humanity but were done through perfect dependence on the Holy Spirit (12:17).

• Quote:

  “Not by transferring powers from his divine person to his human nature… but by his perfect dependence on the Holy Spirit his Father had given to him.”
  — Sinclair Ferguson, 13:07

• This calls Christians to value and love the Holy Spirit as the one who empowered Christ to accomplish salvation on our behalf (14:05).

4. Jesus Rejoicing in the Holy Spirit

• Luke 10:21 — After the disciples return with stories of spiritual victory, Jesus expresses unique joy “in the Holy Spirit.”

• Quote:

  “In that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children…’”
  — Sinclair Ferguson quoting Luke 10:21, 16:10

• Ferguson describes this as a “very special snapshot” revealing the deep relationship between Jesus and the Spirit, normally hidden “under the surface of the Gospels” (18:15).

• The Intimacy of Trinitarian Fellowship:
  Jesus needed no explanation with the Spirit, who had been with Him from conception. This is a model of perfect, joyous fellowship (19:29).

5. The Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

• Luke 12:10 — Jesus warns that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit “will not be forgiven” (21:08).
• This is defined as the refusal to recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in Jesus and to yield to Him.
• Quote:

  “When one resists the Holy Spirit, one is resisting God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit… that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit… will sadly never be forgiven.”
  — Sinclair Ferguson, 22:06

6. Jesus Growing in Favor by the Spirit

• Luke 2 — Jesus grows in favor with God and man, continually empowered by the Spirit (23:01).
• The Spirit enables Jesus to fulfill all faith and obedience, leading to ever-deepening favor with the Father.
• Ferguson compares this developing love and favor to the growth of affection in parenthood and marriage (23:53).

7. The Spirit’s Role in the Life of Christ and Believers

• The perfect, ecstatic relationship among Father, Son, and Spirit found its earthly manifestation in Christ, whose obedience and meekness were products of the Spirit’s continual presence (24:39).

• Quote:

  “That unbearable intensity of ecstasy in mutual devotion and love… should actually be manifested in the Lord Jesus, so that in him we see the wonder of the relationship between the Father and the Son because of the power of the Holy Spirit.”
  — Sinclair Ferguson, 25:28

• The fruit of the Spirit is truly a description of Jesus’ character — His goodness, grace, and meekness — which the Spirit now works in believers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Thank you, Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, you are far more wonderful than I ever imagined. And to think that Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit.”
  — Sinclair Ferguson, 00:00 and repeated at 20:37

• “Power gifts are not necessarily signs of saving grace. So rejoice rather…that your names are written in heaven.”
  — Sinclair Ferguson (paraphrasing Jesus), 15:41

• “If Aslan is safe. Of course he's not safe. He's a lion. But he's good. He's very good. That's the fruit of the Spirit in the Lord Jesus.”
  — Sinclair Ferguson, 25:39 (C.S. Lewis—Narnia analogy)

Key Timestamps

• [01:39] — Introduction of theme: the Holy Spirit as “another helper” (John 14:17).
• [03:05] — Jesus’ baptism and entrance into Spirit-empowered ministry (Luke 4:14).
• [07:10] — Jesus reads and fulfills Isaiah 61 (Luke 4:16–22).
• [10:18] — Unusual demonic activity explained by Christ’s presence.
• [13:07] — Jesus’ dependence on the Spirit, not divine “mixing.”
• [16:10] — Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21).
• [21:08] — The unforgivable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
• [23:01] — Jesus growing in favor with God and man (Luke 2).
• [25:28] — The manifestation of Trinitarian love in Christ by the Spirit.
• [25:39] — Narnia quote about Aslan: “Not safe, but good.”

Summary

Dr. Sinclair Ferguson masterfully explores the Holy Spirit’s role in the earthly ministry of Jesus, demonstrating that the Spirit’s empowerment was central to every major moment of the Messiah’s life — from conception and baptism to miracles and moments of deep joy. The nature of this Trinitarian fellowship is not merely theological but vibrantly experiential, as seen in Jesus’ unique rejoicing in the Spirit and His intimate union with both Father and Spirit.

Christians are invited to marvel at and participate in this divine fellowship, recognizing that the Spirit who empowered Christ now indwells and transforms believers, manifesting in Christlike love, meekness, and joy. The episode ends by encouraging listeners to love and adore the Holy Spirit, just as we revere the Father and the Son, for it is by the Spirit’s power that the fullness of God’s love is made known.