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The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead and goes out forever from the Father through the Son. He is the comforter promised by Jesus Christ that God sent to all believers. The Holy Spirit lives in us, unites us with the Father and the Son, and transforms us through repentance and sanctification, and conforms us to the image of Christ through constant renewal. The Holy Spirit is the source of inspiration and prophecy in the Bible and the source of unity and fellowship in the Church. He gives spiritual gifts for the work of the gospel and is the Christian's constant guide to all truth. (John 14,16; 15,26; Acts of the Apostles 2,4.17-19.38; Matthew 28,19; John 14,17-26; 1 Peter 1,2; titus 3,5; 2. Petrus 1,21; 1. Corinthians 12,13; 2. Corinthians 13,13; 1. Corinthians 12,1-11; Acts 20,28:1; John 6,13)
The Holy Spirit is God
The Holy Spirit, that is God at work - creating, speaking, transforming, living in us, acting in us. Although the Holy Ghost can do this work without our knowledge, it is helpful to know more.
The Holy Spirit has the attributes of God, is equated with God, and does works that only God does. Like God, the spirit is holy - so holy that offending the Holy Spirit is as grave a sin as trampling God's Son (Hebrews 10,29). The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is one of the unforgivable sins (Matthew 12,31). This suggests that the spirit is holy in nature, that is, not only in possession of an conferred holiness, as was the case with the temple.
Like God, the Holy Spirit is eternal (Hebrews 9,14). Like God, the Holy Spirit is omnipresent9,7-10). Like God, the Holy Spirit is omniscient (1. Corinthians 2,10-11; John 14,26). The Holy Spirit creates (Job 33,4; psalm 104,30) and makes miracles possible (Matthew 12,28; Romans 15:18-19) doing the work of God in his ministry. In several Bible passages the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are referred to as being equally divine. In a passage about "the gifts of the Spirit," Paul juxtaposes the "one" Spirit, the "one" Lord, and the "one" God (1 Cor. 1 Cor2,4-6). He closes a letter with a three-part prayer formula (2Cor. 13,13). And Peter introduces a letter with another three-part formula (1. Petrus 1,2). This is not evidence of unity, but it does support it.
The unity is expressed even more strongly in the baptismal formula: "[Baptize them] in the name [singular] of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28,19). The three have a single name, an indication of an entity, a being.
When the Holy Spirit does something, God does it. When the Holy Spirit speaks, God speaks. When Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he lied to God (Acts 5,3-4). As Peter says, Ananias lied not only to God's representative, but to God himself. One cannot “lie” to an impersonal force.
At one point Paul says that Christians use the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Co 6,19), elsewhere that we are God's temple (1. Corinthians 3,16). A temple is for the worship of a divine being, not an impersonal force. When Paul writes about the "temple of the Holy Spirit", he indirectly says: The Holy Spirit is God.
Also in Acts 13,2 the Holy Spirit is equated with God: “But as they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me from Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Here the Holy Spirit is speaking as God. Similarly, he says that the Israelites "tried and tested him" and that "in my anger I swore they shall not come to my rest" (Hebrews 3,7-11).
Still - the Holy Spirit is not just an alternate name for God. The Holy Spirit is something different from the Father and Son; B. showed at Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3,16-17). The three are different, but one.
The Holy Spirit does the work of God in our lives. We are “God's children”, ie born of God (John 1,12), which is equivalent to “born of the Spirit” (John 3,5-6). The Holy Spirit is the medium thanks to which God dwells in us (Ephesians 2,22; 1. John 3,24; 4,13). The Holy Spirit dwells in us (Romans 8,11; 1. Corinthians 3,16) - and because the Spirit dwells in us, we can say that God dwells in us.
The spirit is personal
The Bible attributes personal qualities to the Holy Spirit.
- The spirit lives (Romans 8,11; 1. Corinthians 3,16)
- The Spirit speaks (Acts 8,29; 10,19; 11,12; 21,11; 1. Timothy 4,1; Hebrews 3,7 etc.).
- The Spirit sometimes uses the personal pronoun "I" (Acts 10,20; 13,2).
- The spirit can be spoken to, tempted, grieved, reviled, blasphemed (Acts 5, 3. 9; Ephesians 4,30;
Hebrews 10,29; Matthew 12,31). - The Spirit leads, represents, calls, instigates (Romans 8,14. 26; Acts 13,2; 20,28).
Roman 8,27 speaks of a "sense of mind". He thinks and judges - a decision can "please him" (Acts 15,28). The mind "knows", the mind "assigns" (1. Corinthians 2,11; 12,11). This is not an impersonal power.
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit – in the Greek language of the New Testament – parakletos – that means comforter, advocate, helper. "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter to be with you forever: the Spirit of truth..." (John 14,16-17). Like Jesus, so teaches the Holy Spirit, the first Comforter of the disciples, he gives testimony, opens eyes, guides and reveals truth4,26; 15,26; 16,8 and 13-14). These are personal roles.
John uses the masculine form parakletos; it was not necessary to put the word in the neuter. In John 16,14 masculine personal pronouns (“he”) are also used in Greek, in connection with the actually neuter word “spirit”. It would have been easy to switch to neuter pronouns ("it"), but John doesn't do that. The spirit may be male ("he"). Of course, the grammar is relatively irrelevant here; what matters is that the Holy Spirit has personal attributes. He is not a neutral power, but the intelligent and divine helper that dwells within us.
The spirit in the Old Testament
The Bible does not have its own chapter or book entitled "The Holy Spirit." We learn of the Spirit a little here, a little there, wherever the Scriptures speak of its workings. There is comparatively little to be found in the Old Testament.
The spirit participated in the creation of life and is involved in its maintenance (1. Mose 1,2; Job 33,4; 34,14). The Spirit of God filled Bezazel with "all propriety" for building the tabernacle (2. Moses 31,3-5). He fulfilled Moses and came over the seventy elders (4. Mose 11,25). He filled Joshua with wisdom and gave Samson and other leaders the strength or ability to fight4,9; Judge [space]]6,34; 14,6).
God's spirit was given to Saul and later taken away again (1. Samuel 10,6; 16,14). The Spirit gave David plans for the temple8,12). The Spirit inspired prophets to speak (4. Moses 24,2; 2. Samuel 23,2; 1 Chr 12,19; 2 Chr 15,1; 20,14; Ezekiel 11,5; Zechariah 7,12; 2. Petrus 1,21).
In the New Testament, too, the spirit empowered people to speak, for example Elisabeth, Zacharias and Simeon (Luke 1,41. 67; 2,25-32). John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit even from birth (Luke 1,15). His most important act was the announcement of the coming of Jesus, who was to baptize people not only with water, but "with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Luke 3,16).
The spirit and Jesus
The Holy Spirit always played an important role in Jesus' life. He brought about the conception of Jesus (Matthew 1,20), came down on him when he was baptized (Matthew 3,16), led Jesus into the desert (Luke 4,1) and anointed him to be the preacher of the gospel (Luke 4,18). By “the Spirit of God” Jesus cast out evil spirits (Matthew 12,28). By the Spirit he offered himself up as a sin offering (Hebrews 9,14), and by the same Spirit he was raised from the dead (Romans 8,11).
Jesus taught that in times of persecution the Spirit would speak through the disciples (Matthew 10,19-20). He taught them to baptize new disciples "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28,19). God, he promised, would give the Holy Spirit to all who ask him (Lk
11,13).
Jesus' most important teachings about the Holy Spirit are found in the Gospel of John. First, man must be “born of water and of the Spirit” (John 3,5). He needs a spiritual rebirth, and it cannot come from himself: it is a gift from God. Although the Spirit is invisible, the Holy Spirit makes a clear difference in our lives (v. 8).
Jesus also teaches: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scriptures say, streams of living water will flow out of him” (John 7:37-38). John immediately follows this with the interpretation: "And he said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in him should receive..." (v. 39). The Holy Spirit quenches an inner thirst. He gives us the relationship with God for which we were created. By coming to Jesus, we receive the Spirit, and the Spirit can fill our lives.
For up to that time, John tells us, the Spirit had not been poured out universally: the Spirit “was not yet there; for Jesus was not yet glorified” (v. 39). The Spirit had filled individual men and women before Jesus, but it was soon to come in a new, more powerful way—at Pentecost. The Spirit is now poured out collectively, not just individually. Anyone who is “called” by God and is baptized receives him (Acts 2,38-39).
Jesus promised that the Spirit of truth would be imparted to his disciples and that this Spirit would live in them4,16-18). This is synonymous with Jesus coming to his disciples (v. 18), because it is the spirit of Jesus as well as the spirit of the Father - sent by Jesus as well as by the Father (John 15,26). The Spirit makes Jesus accessible to everyone and continues his work.
According to Jesus' word, the Spirit was to "teach the disciples all things" and "remind them all things that I have said unto you" (John 14,26). The Spirit taught them things they could not understand before Jesus' resurrection6,12-13).
The Spirit bears witness of Jesus (John 15,26; 16,14). He does not propagate himself, but leads people to Jesus Christ and to the Father. He does not speak "of himself" but only as the Father wills (John 16,13). And because the Spirit can dwell in millions of people, it is a gain for us that Jesus ascended to heaven and sent the Spirit to us (John 16: 7).
The Spirit is at work in evangelism; He explains to the world about its sin, its guilt, its need for justice and the sure coming of judgment (vv. 8-10). The Holy Spirit refers people to Jesus as the one who redeems all guilt and is the source of righteousness.
The spirit and the church
John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus would baptize people “with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1,8). This happened after his resurrection on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit miraculously revitalized the disciples (Acts 2). It was also part of the miracle that people heard the disciples speak in foreign tongues (v. 6). Similar miracles happened several times as the Church grew and expanded (Acts 10,44-twenty; 469,1-6). As a historian, Lukas reports on both unusual and typical events. There is nothing to suggest that these miracles happened to all new believers.
Paul says that all believers are baptized into one body by the Holy Spirit - the Church (1. Corinthians 12,13). The Holy Spirit is given to everyone who believes (Romans 10,13; Galatians 3,14). With or without an accompanying miracle, all believers are baptized with the Holy Spirit. There is no need to look out for a miracle as special, conspicuous evidence of this. The Bible does not require that every believer be asked to be baptized by the Holy Ghost. Rather, it calls on every believer to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5,18) - willingly to follow the guidance of the Spirit. This is an ongoing duty, not a one-time event.
Instead of looking for a miracle, we should seek God and leave it to God's judgment as to whether or not a miracle occurs. Paul often does not describe God's power in terms such as miracles, but rather in terms that express inner strength: hope, love, long-suffering and patience, willingness to serve, understanding, the ability to suffer and courage in preaching (Romans 15,13; 2. Corinthians 12,9; Ephesians 3,7 u. 16-17; Colossians 1,11 and 28-29; 2. Timothy 1,7-8).
The Acts of the Apostles shows that the Spirit was the power behind the growth of the Church. The Spirit gave the disciples strength to bear testimony of Jesus (Acts 1,8). He gave them great powers of persuasion in their sermon (Acts of the Apostles 4,8 & 31; 6,10). He gave Philip his instructions and later raptured him (Acts 8,29 and 39).
It was the Spirit that encouraged the church and set up people to guide it (Acts 9,31;
20,28). He spoke to Peter and to the church of Antioch (Acts 10,19; 11,12; 13,2). He told Agabus to foretell a famine and Paul to cast a curse (Acts 11,28; 13,9-11). He guided Paul and Barnabas on their travels (Acts 13,4; 16,6-7) and helped the Apostles' Assembly in Jerusalem to take its decisions (Acts 15,28). He sent Paul to Jerusalem and prophesied what would happen there (Acts 20,22: 23-2; 1,11). The Church existed and grew only because the Spirit was at work in the believers.
The spirit and the believers today
God the Holy Spirit is deeply involved in the lives of today's believers.
- He leads us to repentance and gives us new life (John 16,8; 3,5-6).
- He lives in us, teaches us, guides us (1. Corinthians 2,10-13; John 14,16-17 & 26; Romans 8,14). He guides us through scripture, through prayer, and through other Christians.
- He is the spirit of wisdom who helps us to think through upcoming decisions with confidence, love and prudence (Ephesians 1,17; 2. Timothy 1,7).
- The Spirit "circumcises" our hearts, sealing and sanctifying us and setting us apart for God's purpose (Romans 2,29; Ephesians 1,14).
- He brings love and the fruit of righteousness into us (Romans 5,5; Ephesians 5,9; Galatians 5,22-23).
- He places us in the church and helps us to know that we are God's children (1. Corinthians 12,13; Romans 8,14-16).
We are to worship God "in the Spirit of God," directing our minds and intentions to what the Spirit wills (Philippians 3,3; 2. Corinthians 3,6; Romans 7,6; 8,4-5). We strive to do what he wants (Galatians 6,8). When we are guided by the Spirit, he gives us life and peace (Romans 8,6). He gives us access to the Father (Ephesians 2,18). He stands by us in our weaknesses, he "represents" us, that is, he intercedes for us with the Father (Romans 8,26-27).
He also gives spiritual gifts, those that qualify for leadership positions in the church (Ephesians 4,11), to various offices (Romans 12,6-8), and some talents for extraordinary tasks (1. Corinthians 12,4-11). No one has all gifts at the same time, and no gift is given to everyone indiscriminately (vv. 28-30). All gifts, whether spiritual or “natural,” are to be used for the common good and to serve the whole Church (1. Corinthians 12,7; 14,12). Every gift is important (1. Corinthians 12,22-26).
We still have only the "firstfruits" of the Spirit, a first pledge that promises us much more in the future (Romans 8,23; 2. Corinthians 1,22; 5,5; Ephesians 1,13-14).
The Holy Spirit is God at work in our lives. Everything God does is done by the Spirit. That is why Paul exhorts us, "If we walk in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit... grieve not the Holy Spirit... Do not quench the Spirit" (Galatians 5,25; Ephesians 4,30; 1Th. 5,19). So let us listen carefully to what the spirit is saying. When he speaks, God speaks.
Michael Morrison
