Teach Me The Bible
Who is the Holy Spirit?
He is the Lord and Giver of Life, the third Person of the Trinity, to be worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son. He is most commonly presented to us as the Executor of God's purposes, whether in creation, revelation or redemption.
He is unique.
There is but one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:4).
He is a Person - not simply an influence or a power.
He is spoken of as 'He' and not as 'It' (John 16:13).
He is spoken of as a Person - the Counsellor or Advocate (John 14:16, John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7).
He may be grieved (Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30).
He is insulted by those who arrogantly reject His testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ and despise His saving work (Hebrews 10:29).
He is God.
He is the Spirit of the living God (2 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Peter 4:14).
Sovereignty is ascribed to Him (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Old Testament references to God are revealed in the New Testament to have been references to the Holy Spirit (Exodus 17:7; compared with Hebrews 3:7-9; Isaiah 6:3, 8-10; compared with Acts 28:25-27; Psalms 78:17, Psalms 78:21; compared with Acts 7:51).
The qualities ascribed to the Holy Spirit are the qualities ascribed everywhere to God alone: He is everywhere present (Psalms 139:7-13; 1 Corinthians 12:13); He knows everything (1 Corinthians 2:10); He has all power (Luke 1:35; Romans 8:11; Romans 15:19).
To lie to the Spirit is to lie to God (Acts 5:3-5).
He is to be obeyed (Galations 5:16-25).
Blasphemy against Him is the worst of all sins (Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:28, 29; Luke 12:10).
His intercession for God's people is in accordance with God's will (Romans 8:27).
To cause offence to the Spirit is to deserve the severest judgment (Hebrews 10:29).
He is the Spirit of the living God
He is the Third Person of the Trinity.
He is one with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 4:4-6).
He is sent by both the Father and the Son and He acts for them both (John 15:26).
He was the Agent of God's first creation.
He was active in creation, bringing order out of chaos (Genesis 1:2).
By God's Spirit the heavens were made beautiful (Job 26:13).
The Spirit of God was responsible for the creation of men and women (Job 33:4; compared with Genesis 2:7; Psalms 104:29-30).
He is the Author of the Scriptures.
He inspired the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16): individuals, carried along by the Holy Spirit, spoke and wrote from God (Acts 1:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
The Scriptures are His testimony (Hebrews 10:15).
He compelled the prophets to speak (Ezekiel 11:5; Zechariah 7:12; Micah 3:8).
He inspired individuals to prophesy (Luke 1:67; Luke 2:26-27, Luke 2:29-32).
He revealed to the apostles and prophets the truth concerning Christ and the gospel, at the time determined by God (Ephesians 3:4-6).
He speaks today through the Scriptures (Hebrews 3:7).
He was active with regard to the Incarnation.
By His power the virgin conception was accomplished (Luke 1:35).
Mary was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18, Matthew 1:20).
The Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove at His baptism (Mark 1:10-11).
The Spirit led and directed Christ during His ministry (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12).
The Spirit equipped Christ for His ministry (Luke 4:1-18; Acts 10:38).
Christ possessed the Spirit without limit (John 3:34).
Christ's works of power were by the power of the Spirit of God that was His (Luke 11:20; compared with Matthew 12:28; Acts 10:38).
The Spirit filled Christ with joy during His earthly life and ministry (Luke 10:21).
The Spirit raised Christ from the dead (Acts 2:24; compared with Romans 1:4; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 3:18.).
He is the Agent of God's new creation in Christ - the Church.
The Holy Spirit's activity in God's new creation is all-important:
- He puts the redeemed in possession of the results of the Father's love and the mediation of Christ (John 7:37-39; 2 Corinthians 3:7-11);
- Justification takes place in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 6:11);
- Through the Spirit the redeemed are brought into the one body, the Church, this act being described as a baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13);
- The Spirit is the Author of the new birth (John 3:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Whereas the written law condemns us to death, the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6; Galations 5:25). Where the Spirit is, there is life (Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:1-2, Romans 8:11; John 6:63).
The Holy Spirit is directly associated with the extension of God's new creation - the Church (Matthew 28:19-20; compared with Acts 1:4, Acts 1:8):
- He ensures that messengers are raised up and people sent forth to proclaim the gospel (Matthew 9:38; compared with Acts 13:2, Acts 13:4; Acts 16:6-7, Acts 16:10; Acts 20:28);
- He accompanies the preaching of the gospel with His power (1 Peter 1:12);
- He shows people their need of salvation by convicting them of sin (John 16:8-11);
- He testifies about Christ (John 15:26), and by His influence men and women are enabled to say 'Jesus is Lord' (1 Corinthians 12:3);
- Given to every believer as a result of Christ's work (John 7:39), He binds believers together in one body in spiritual unity (Ephesians 4:3-4);
- For the care of the Church the Spirit raises up guardians or pastors (Acts 20:28);
- In each Christian the Spirit desires to manifest Himself in a particular way, for some useful purpose (1 Corinthians 12:4-11);
- He allots varying gifts to Christians (Romans 12:6-8);
- The Spirit's purpose in all this is to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11-13).