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