Month: October 2024

THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

With scriptural references, we have been able to establish that the Holy Spirit is a personal Being. From the doctrine of Trinity, we have also said that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one God. But how can we prove that the Holy Spirit is God?

Again, the scripture is the answer.

1.         ATTRIBUTES OF GOD IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

(i) God is eternal (Ps. 90:2; 1Tim. 1:17).

▪︎ Heb. 9:14 speaks of the Holy Sprint as also being eternal. Check also Jn. 16.7.

(ii) God is omnipresent. Present everywhere at the same time and in equal magnitude (Jer.23:23-24).

▪︎ David also said that the Spirit of God is everywhere (Ps. 139:1,7-8).

(iii) God is omniscient. i. e. all-knowing (Is.46:9-10; Acts 15:18).

▪︎ Apostle Paul also says “the things of God are known only by the Spirit” (1Cor. 2:11).

(iv) God is omnipotent i.e all-powerful (Gen. 17:1; Jer. 32:17,27).

▪︎ Angel Gabriel speaks of the Holy Spirit as the “power of the Highest.” (Lk. 1.35). The power of the Highest is the Highest Himself.

2.         WORKS OF GOD IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

(i) The Holy Spirit was active in creation. Look up Gen. 1:1-2, 26; Ps. 33:6. Compare Jn. 1:1-3.

(ii) God is the Source of life (Gen. 2:7).

▪︎ Jesus says “the Spirit makes one to be alive.” (Jn. 6:63).

▪︎ Apostle Paul also says “the Spirit gives life” (2Cor. 3:6), and that “the Spirit is life” (Rom. 8:10).

▪︎ The youg Elihu also attested to this, while addressing Job and his friends. Look up Job 33:4.

(iii) The Word of God (the Bible) was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Check 2Tim. 3:16; 1Pt. 1:21b. Also look up Ps. 2:1/Acts 4:24-25; Ps. 95:7-8/Heb. 3:7.

3.         SCRIPTURES RELATING GOD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

There are some scriptures in the Old Testament that refer to God. The same scriptures are ascribed to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.

(i) Is. 6:8-10 refer to God speaking.

▪︎ Acts 28:25-27 quotes the same verses but says the Holy Spirit said it.

(ii) In Jer. 31:31-33, God made a covenant.

▪︎ In Heb. 10: 15-17, it says the Holy Spirit made the covenant.

(iii) Ps. 95:7-11 speaks of hearing God’s voice.

▪︎ Heb. 3:7-11 refers to the Holy Spirit speaking there.

(iv) There are some scriptures that refer to the Holy Spirit as God. Look up Acts 5:3-4; 2Cor. 3:17.

Reflection: How do we as Christians deal with God and how does God deal with us as Christians? Check Jn. 14:13; Rom. 8:14, 16.

▪︎ Man consists of body, soul, and spirit. Before we encounter Christ, we’re on the fleshly level, ruled by our body. Our soul and spirit are in the second and third place respectively. When we are born again, our spirit is moved to the dominant position and the Holy Spirit takes control, helping us to conform to the image of Christ. Look up 2Cor. 3:18. See also Gal. 5:16. Study the whole of Romans chapter 8 for better understanding

INTRODUCTION

As important as the Holy Spirit is to Christians, the average church member’s understanding of the Holy Spirit is so vague that it’s nearly non-existent. It is therefore a thing of necessity for us to study the Holy Spirit, to have a proper understanding of who He is and His works.

The study of the Holy Spirit (PNEUMATOLOGY) raises certain basic questions like… Who is the Holy Spirit? What is the biblical evidence for the personhood of the Holy Spirit? What did the Holy Spirit do in regard to creation? What is the Holy Spirit’s role in a person’s conversion, sanctification, and subsequent Christian life? What is the connection between the Holy Spirit and Spiritual gifts? These are some of the issues the Lord will help us to examine in this lesson.

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The “non-trinitarian” Christians (who do not believe in the doctrine of Trinity), believed that the Holy Spint is merely God’s “active force”,  “essence” or “power” but not a separate person.

However, the “trinitarian” Christians believed the Holy Spirit to be “the third Person of the Trinity,” a triune God manifested as “God the Father”, “God the Son” and “God the Holy Spirit”, each being God (I Tim. 3:16).

▪︎ The Holy Spirit is a distinct divine Person equal in substance to the Father and the Son, and not subordinate to them.

▪︎ In the scriptures, the Holy Spirit is also referred to as “The Spirit” (Acts 8:26; 16:7; Rom. 8:26; 15:30), “Spirit of God” (Acts 16:6; Rom. 8:14), “Spirit of the Lord” (Acts 8:39; 2Cor. 3:17-18), “Spirit of Truth” (Jn. 14:17; 16:13), “Spirit of Grace” (Heb. 10:29), “Spirit of Christ” (Rom. 8:9) or the “Holy Ghost” (Matt. 12:31; 28:19; Jn. 14:26; Acts 5:3; 13:2; 2Cor. 13:14).

UNDERSTANDING THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

In biblical language and understanding, a “Person” is presented as a substance that can do personal and relational things, such as speaking, thinking, feeling, acting, etc.

How Do We Know That The Holy Spirit is a person?

▪︎ The Holy Spirit is a Member of the “Trinity” (God in three Persons) and as such is a person.

BIBLICAL PROOFS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON

1. The Holy Spirit Has Attributes Of A Person. Attributes that only a person could have:

▪︎ He searches and has knowledge/intelligence (1Cor. 2:10-11).

▪︎ He has a will (1Cor. 12:11).

▪︎ He has a mind (Rom. 8:27).

▪︎ He loves (Rom. 15:30).

▪︎ He makes decisions (1Cor. 12:8-10).

▪︎ Personal pronouns (third person, singular) are used when referring to the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:16-17;16.7-15).

2. Personal Acts Are Ascribed To The Holy Spirit

▪︎ He speaks (Acts 8:29; 13:2; 1Tim. 4:1).

▪︎ He prays and intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26.

▪︎ He teaches us (Jn.14:26; 1Jn. 2.27).

▪︎ He guides, and sometimes forbids things (Acts 16:6-7).

▪︎ He does miracles (Acts 8:39).

▪︎ He helps (Rom. 8:26).

3. The Holy Spirit Can Receive Treatment As A Person.

▪︎ He has feelings and can be grieved (Eph. 4:30).

▪︎ He can be insulted (Heb .10:29).

▪︎ He can be lied to (Acts 5:3).

▪︎ He can be blasphemed (Matt. 12:31-32).

4. The Holy Spint Is Identified With The Father And The Son as a person.

▪︎ He is named with the Father and Son in baptism (Matt. 28:19).

▪︎ He is named with the Father and Son in benediction (2Cor. 13:14).

▪︎ He is directly equated with God (Acts 5:3-4). If God is a person then the Holy Spirit is a person.

▪︎ He is named with the Father and Son in the ministries of the Church (1 Cor. 12:4-6).

…to be continued