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