The Holy Spirit

219 the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit possesses the attributes of God, is equal to God, and does things that only God does. Like God, the Holy Spirit is holy—so holy that it is just as sinful to revile the Holy Spirit as it is to revile the Son of God. (Hebräer 10,29)Blasphemy, or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, is an unforgivable sin. (Matthäus 12,32)This means that the spirit is holy by nature and has not been ascribed sanctity, as was the case with the temple.

Like God, the Holy Spirit is eternal. (Hebräer 9,14)Like God, the Holy Spirit is present everywhere. (Psalm 139,7-9)Like God, the Holy Spirit is omniscient. (1. Korinther 2,10-11; Johannes 14,26)The Holy Spirit creates (Hiob 33,4; Psalm 104,30), creates wonders (Matthäus 12,28; Römer 15,18-19)...and contributes to the work of God. Several passages identify the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as co-divine. In a discussion about spiritual gifts, Paul refers to the parallel constructions of Spirit, Lord, and God. (1. Korinther 12,4-6)He ends his letter with a three-part prayer. (2. Korinther 13,14)Peter begins a letter with a different three-part form. (1. Petrus 1,2)These examples are not proof of the unity of the Trinity, but they do support this idea.

The baptismal formula reinforces the sign of such unity: "Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthäus 28,19)The three have a name, which indicates that they are one being. When the Holy Spirit does something, God does it. When the Holy Spirit speaks, God speaks. If Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he lied to God. (Apostelgeschichte 5,3-4)Peter says that Ananias didn't lie to a representative of God, but to God himself. Humans don't lie to an impersonal power.

In one passage, Paul says that Christians are the temple of God. (1. Korinther 3,16)In another he says that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1. Korinther 6,19)We are a temple to worship a divine being, not an impersonal power. When Paul writes that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, he is indicating that the Holy Spirit is God.

The Holy Spirit and God are therefore the same: “As they worshiped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (Apostelgeschichte 13,2)Here, the Holy Spirit uses personal pronouns, just as God does. Similarly, the Holy Spirit speaks of how the Israelites tested and tempted him, saying, "I swore in my anger: They shall not enter my rest." (Hebräer 3,7-11)But the Holy Spirit is not just another name for God. The Holy Spirit is independent of the Father and the Son, as was already demonstrated at the baptism of Jesus. (Matthäus 3,16-17)The three are independent, yet one.

The Holy Spirit carries out God's work in our lives. We are born through and of God. (Johannes 1,12), which is the same as being born of the Holy Spirit (Johannes 3,5)The Holy Spirit is the means by which God lives in us. (Epheser 2,22; 1. Johannes 3,24; 1. Johannes 4,13)The Holy Spirit lives in us. (Römer 8,11; 1. Korinther 3,16)And because the spirit lives in us, we can also say that God lives in us.

The Holy Spirit is personal

The Bible describes the Holy Spirit with human characteristics:

  • The spirit lives (Römer 8,11; 1. Korinther 3,16).
  • The Spirit speaks (Apostelgeschichte 8,29; Apostelgeschichte 10,19; Apostelgeschichte 11,12; Apostelgeschichte 21,11; 1. Timotheus 4,1; Hebräer 3,7).
  • The spirit sometimes uses the personal pronoun "I". (Apostelgeschichte 10,20; Apostelgeschichte 13,2).
  • The spirit can be addressed, tempted, mourned, insulted, and harassed. (Apostelgeschichte 5,3; Apostelgeschichte 5,9; Epheser 4,30; Hebräer 10,29; Matthäus 12,31).
  • The Spirit guides, mediates, calls, and commissions. (Römer 8,14; Römer 8,26; Apostelgeschichte 13,2; Apostelgeschichte 20,28).
  • Römer 8,27 He speaks of the mind of the Spirit. The Spirit makes decisions. One decision pleased the Holy Spirit. (Apostelgeschichte 15,28)The spirit knows and acts (1. Korinther 2,11; 1. Korinther 12,11)He is not an impersonal power. Jesus called the Holy Spirit Paraclete, which translates as the comforter, the counselor, or the defender.
  • “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (Johannes 14,16-17).
  • Jesus was the disciples' first advisor. Just as he taught, testified, condemned, guided, and revealed the truth, so too does the Holy Spirit. (Johannes 14,26; Johannes 15,26; Johannes 16,8; Johannes 16,13-14)All of these are personal roles. John uses the masculine form of the Greek word parakletos because it was not necessary to use the neutral form. Johannes 16,14The masculine personal pronoun "he" is even used after the neuter word "spirit" has been used. It would have been easier to switch to the neuter personal pronoun, but John does not. The spirit is addressed with "he." However, the grammar is relatively unimportant. What is important is that the Holy Spirit has personal qualities. He is not an impersonal power, but an intelligent and divine helper who lives within us.

The spirit of the Old Testament

The Bible does not contain a section titled "The Holy Spirit." We learn a little about the Holy Spirit here and there when biblical texts mention him. The Old Testament gives us only a few glimpses. The Spirit was present at the creation of life. (1. Mose 1,2; Hiob 33,4; Hiob 34,14)The Spirit of God filled Bezalel with the ability to build the tabernacle. (2. Mose 31,3-5)He fulfilled Moses and also came upon the 70 elders. (4. Mose 11,25)He filled Joshua with wisdom to lead, just as he filled Samson with strength and the ability to fight. (5. Mose 34,9; Richter 6,34; Richter 14,6)The Spirit of God was given to Saul and then taken away again. (1. Samuel 10,6; 1. Samuel 16,14)The Spirit gave David the plans for the temple. (1. Chronik 28,12)The Spirit inspired the prophets to speak. (4. Mose 24,2; 2. Samuel 23,2; 1. Chronik 12,18; 2. Chronik 15,1; 2. Chronik 20,14; Hesekiel 11,5; Sacharja 7,12; 2. Petrus 1,21).

In the New Testament, too, it was the Holy Spirit who moved people like Elizabeth, Zechariah, and Simeon to speak. (Lukas 1,41; Lukas 1,67; Lukas 2,25-32)John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth. (Lukas 1,15)His most important work was to announce the coming of Jesus Christ, who would baptize people not only with water, but with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Lukas 3,16).

The Holy Spirit and Jesus

The Holy Spirit was very present and involved in the life of Jesus. The Spirit brought about his conception. (Matthäus 1,20), lay on him after his baptism (Matthäus 3,16), led him into the desert (Lukas 4,1)...and enabled him to preach the good news (Lukas 4,18)Jesus cast out demons with the help of the Holy Spirit. (Matthäus 12,28)Through the Holy Spirit, he offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. (Hebräer 9,14), and by the same spirit he was raised from the dead (Römer 8,11).

Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit would speak through his disciples in times of persecution. (Matthäus 10,19-20)He told them that they should baptize the followers of Jesus in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthäus 28,19)And furthermore, that God gives the Holy Spirit to all people if they ask Him for it. (Lukas 11,13)Some of the most important things Jesus said about the Holy Spirit can be found in the Gospel of John. First, people must be born of water and the Spirit. (Johannes 3,5)People need spiritual renewal, and it does not come from themselves, but is a gift from God. Even though the Spirit is not visible, he makes a difference in our lives (v. 8).

Jesus also taught: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within him.” He was speaking of the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive, because the Spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (Johannes 7,37-39).

The Holy Spirit satisfies an inner thirst. It enables us to have the relationship with God for whom we are created by him. We receive the Spirit by coming to Jesus and the Holy Spirit fulfilling our lives.

John says, “For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified” (v. 39). The Spirit had already filled some men and women before Jesus’ life, but it would soon come in a new, powerful way, at Pentecost. The Spirit is now given to all who call on the name of the Lord. (Apostelgeschichte 2,38-39)Jesus promised his disciples that they would be given the Spirit of truth, which would live in them. (Johannes 14,16-18)This Spirit of truth is the same as if Jesus himself were to come to his disciples (v. 18), because he is the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of the Father, sent by Jesus and the Father. (Johannes 15,26)The Spirit makes it possible for Jesus to become accessible to every person and for his work to continue.

Jesus promised that the Spirit would teach the disciples and remind them of everything Jesus had taught them. (Johannes 14,26)The Spirit taught them the things they could not understand before the resurrection of Jesus. (Johannes 16,12-13).

The Spirit speaks about Jesus (Johannes 15,26; Johannes 16,14)He does not promote himself, but leads people to Jesus Christ and to the Father. He does not speak of his own accord, but only as the Father wills. (Johannes 16,13)It is good that Jesus no longer lives among us, because the Spirit can be active in millions of people. (Johannes 16,7)The Spirit evangelizes and exposes the world's sin and guilt, fulfilling its need for righteousness and justice (vv. 8-10). The Holy Spirit points people to Jesus as their solution to guilt and their source of righteousness.

The spirit and the church

John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit. (Markus 1,8)This happened at Pentecost after his resurrection, when the Spirit gave new strength to the disciples. (Apostelgeschichte 2)This also includes speaking languages ​​that people of other nations understood (v. 6). Similar miracles occurred at other times as the church grew. (Apostelgeschichte 10,44-46; Apostelgeschichte 19,1-6)However, it is not stated that these miracles occur in all people who have newly converted to the Christian faith.

Paul says that all believers are formed into one body, the Church, through the Holy Spirit. (1. Korinther 12,13)The Holy Spirit has been given to everyone who believes. (Galater 3,14)Regardless of whether miracles have occurred or not, all believers are baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is not necessary to seek and hope for a specific miracle to prove that one has been baptized in the Holy Spirit.

The Bible does not require any believer to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Instead, every believer is encouraged to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Epheser 5,18)so that one can respond to the guidance of the Spirit. This relationship is ongoing and not a one-time event. Instead of seeking miracles, we should seek God and let Him decide if and when miracles happen. Paul usually describes the power of God not through physical miracles that occur, but through the transformation that takes place in a person's life: hope, love, patience, service, understanding, enduring suffering, and courageous preaching. (Römer 15,13; 2. Korinther 12,9; Epheser 3,7; Epheser 3,16-18; Kolosser 1,11; Kolosser 1,28-29; 2. Timotheus 1,7-8)We can also call these miracles physical miracles because God changes people's lives.

The Acts of the Apostles shows that the Spirit supported the growth of the church. The Spirit empowered people to share about Jesus and to bear witness. (Apostelgeschichte 1,8)He enabled the disciples to preach. (Apostelgeschichte 4,8; Apostelgeschichte 4,31; Apostelgeschichte 6,10)He gave Philip instructions and later raptured him. (Apostelgeschichte 8,29; Apostelgeschichte 8,39)The Spirit encouraged the church and appointed leaders. (Apostelgeschichte 9,31; Apostelgeschichte 20,28)He spoke with Peter and the church of Antioch. (Apostelgeschichte 10,19; Apostelgeschichte 11,12; Apostelgeschichte 13,2)He was ministering in Agabus when he foresaw the famine and led Paul to escape. (Apostelgeschichte 11,28; Apostelgeschichte 13,9-10)He guided Paul and Barnabas on their journeys. (Apostelgeschichte 13,4; Apostelgeschichte 16,6-7)...and enabled the apostolic assembly in Jerusalem to reach a decision. (Apostelgeschichte 15,28)He sent Paul to Jerusalem and warned him about (Apostelgeschichte 20,22-23; Apostelgeschichte 21,11)The church existed and grew through the work of the Holy Spirit in the believers.

The spirit today

The Holy Spirit is also involved in the lives of today's believers:

  • He leads us to repentance and gives us new life. (Johannes 16,8; Johannes 3,5-6).
  • He lives in us, teaches us, and guides us. (1. Korinther 2,10-13; Johannes 14,16-17; Johannes 14,26; Römer 8,14).
  • He encounters us in the Bible, in prayer, and through other Christians. He is the Spirit of Wisdom and helps us to view things with courage, love, and self-control. (Epheser 1,17; 2. Timotheus 1,7).
  • The Spirit circumcises our hearts, sanctifies and transforms us. (Römer 2,29; Epheser 1,14).
  • The Spirit creates in us love and the fruit of righteousness (Römer 5,5; Epheser 5,9; Galater 5,22-23).
  • The Spirit places us in the church and helps us understand that we are God's children. (1. Korinther 12,13; Römer 8,14-16).

We are to worship God in spirit. (Philipper 3,3; 2. Korinther 3,6; Römer 7,6; Römer 8,4-5)We are trying to please him. (Galater 6,8)When we are led by the Holy Spirit, he gives us life and peace. (Römer 8,6)Through him we have access to the Father (Epheser 2,18)He helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us. (Römer 8,26-27).

The Holy Spirit also gives us spiritual gifts. He gives leaders for the Church. (Epheser 4,11), people who perform basic tasks as acts of love in the church (Römer 12,6-8), and those with special skills for special tasks (1. Korinther 12,4-11)No one has every gift, and not every gift is given to everyone (vv. 28-30). All gifts, whether spiritual or not, should be used for the work as a whole, for the entire church. (1. Korinther 12,7; 1. Korinther 14,12)Every gift is important. (1. Korinther 12,22-26)To this day we have only received the firstfruits of the Spirit, which, however, promises us much more for the future. (Römer 8,23; 2. Korinther 1,22; 2. Korinther 5,5; Epheser 1,13-14).

The Holy Spirit is God in our lives. Everything God does happens through the Holy Spirit. Paul therefore encourages us to live in, with, and through the Holy Spirit. (Galater 5,25; Epheser 4,30; 1. Thessalonicher 5,19)Therefore, let us listen to what the Holy Spirit says. For when he speaks, God speaks.

by Michael Morrison