By: Erlinda Mejia-Olson
JOHN 14:26 (NKJV) ~ “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
What does the Bible say about who the Holy Spirit is? Some religions believe that the Holy Spirit is a force, or a presence, or a power. For example, a Jehovah’s Witness may say something like this:
JOHN 14:26 (NKJV) ~ “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
What does the Bible say about who the Holy Spirit is? Some religions believe that the Holy Spirit is a force, or a presence, or a power. For example, a Jehovah’s Witness may say something like this:
“The holy spirit is not a person and it is not a part of a Trinity. The holy spirit is God’s active force that he uses to accomplish his will … To a certain extent, it can be likened to electricity.” (Should You Believe in the Trinity?—New York: The Watchtower Bible and Tract Soc., 1989).
The Jehovah’s Witness sees the Holy Spirit as an active, impersonal force of God. Perhaps you are also having difficulty seeing the Holy Spirit as a real Person because He doesn’t have a physical body like the Lord Jesus Christ does, neither does God the Father. But according to the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit is a Person (Acts 8:29; 11:12; 13:2) who has eternally lived in an intimate relationship with God the Father and God the Son—who constantly calls each of us to partake in that active relationship of love and testifying for everything that God the Father has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ.
As a real person embodies will, mind, and emotions, so does the Holy Spirit—who distributes spiritual gifts to saved Christians as “He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11). Now, does a “force” have a will? Absolutely not. Does a “force” have a mind? Absolutely not. But the Holy Spirit does—He searches all things … the deep things of God and knows them (1 Corinthians 2:10). Does a “force” have emotions? Absolutely not. The Scripture told us, “grieve not the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 4:30). Therefore, if the Holy Spirit can be grieved, then He has emotions. Biblically speaking, since the Holy Spirit has will, mind, and emotions, we can attest that He is a Person (Acts 8:28; 16:6; Matthew 10:16–20; Romans 8:26).
As a real person is capable of establishing relationships with others, so does the Holy Spirit. Mainly the reason we have will, mind, and emotions. The Holy Spirit is able to have fellowship with us in Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:1-5). The Holy Spirit can have communion with us (2 Corinthians 13:14). The Holy Spirit is One who is able to have communion and to have fellowship and is capable of personal relationships. Therefore, He is a Person.
Now, what does this mean for us? We must recognize the Holy Spirit as a Person. Not a force, not a presence, not a power. He is a real Person—who can speak (Acts 8:29). He prays for us just as Christ prays for us (Romans 8:26). He teaches us what we need to know (John 14:26). He guides us in our decisions. He tells us that we are a child of God (Romans 8:15-16). He comes to indwell us at the moment we accept Christ as Lord and Savior (John 14:16-17; John 15:26; John 16:7-15). Recognition and acceptance of the Holy Spirit as a Person is a vital part for our relationship with Him. It is also important to listen to the Holy Spirit through God’s Word and thank Him.
While the Holy Spirit is a real Person, He is also God (one of the Triune Godhead)—the all-knowing, all-seeing, everywhere-present God. The Scripture teaches us that the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4). Remember the story of Ananias and Sapphira? Before Ananias was struck dead, Peter told him, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit? … You have not lied to men but to God.” From this event we can see that lying to the Holy Spirit is the same as lying to God. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is God.
More Scriptural evidence attesting to the deity of the Holy Spirit as God:
*God’s words are Holy Spirit inspired (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
*Our body is the temple of God because the Spirit indwells us (1 Corinthians 6:19).
*The one born of the Spirit is said to be born of God (John 3:5-8).
The Holy Spirit is God Himself—the third Person of the Triune God (divine Trinity). It is crucial to understand and believe in the deity and personhood of the Holy Spirit because we cannot give Him the honor due to His Person if we don’t recognize Him as God. I find it rather uncertain that someone can be saved while he denies the personhood and deity of the One who tries to draw him to salvation in Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:31; Ephesians 1:12-14).
While the Holy Spirit is God, but is distinct from God the Father and God the Son—three Persons, one God—with distinct role and functions. Contrary to what other people may have said of the Holy Spirit as the same as God the Father and God the Son is untrue. In the Lord Jesus’s baptism account in Matthew 3:13-17, we see all, the three individual Persons of the divine Trinity present. In John 15:26 and John 16:7, the Lord Jesus talks about the other “Helper”. He was referring to the Holy Spirit and not to Himself.
As the third Person of the Triune Godhead—the Holy Spirit lives in a loving relationship with God the Father and God the Son from all eternity; and God created us to partake in that love relationship through a Personal Relationship with God the Son (Jesus Christ). God desires for us to enjoy fellowship with Him (1 John 1:1-5) as each member of the divine Trinity enjoys fellowship with each other from before the beginning of time (Philippians 2:1-5; John 17:22-23).
For those who are saved in Christ, the Holy Spirit is working in your hearts today. He speaks to us through the Word of God—when we read and meditate on it (Romans 8:27; 2 Corinthians 1:22). The Holy Spirit actively participated in the creation (Genesis 1:22). He inspired the Holy Scriptures (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16). He convicts the world of sin (John 16:8). He regenerates and renews the repentant believer (Titus 3:5). He gives assurance to those of us who are saved (Romans 8:16). He sanctifies us (1 Peter 1:2). He fills us with His presence (Acts 2:4; Ephesians 5:18). He gives us strength to live a holy and obedient lives (Ephesians 3:16). He helps and enlightens us to discern God’s Word (1 Corinthians 2:14). He enables us to exhibit the “fruit of the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22). He gives gifts to each member of the church so that each of us in the “body” can contribute as the Spirit wills (1 Corinthians 12:8–10; 1 Corinthians 12:29-30; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11). He “seals” us for the day of redemption, guaranteeing our inheritance in Heaven (Ephesians 4:30); and to be witnesses for God (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
However, the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit—such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. Speaking in tongues has ceased to be operational because the Bible is complete and has been translated in different languages all over the world. The speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection—though God in some instances may choose to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing but not in the same way as Jesus Himself or the Apostles, during their time, raised the dead and healed all manners of sicknesses instantaneously apart from any doctors (1 Corinthians 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22).
So to speak, the Holy Spirit wants to indwell in us. He loves to comfort, encourage, and sanctify those who listen to His voice and willingly obey God’s Word. We can live a joyful life filled with His presence. To transform us according to the image of Jesus Christ.
Friend, will you allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life? Will you let Him sanctify you? Will you let Him use you in the body of Christ?
As the third Person of the Triune Godhead—the Holy Spirit lives in a loving relationship with God the Father and God the Son from all eternity; and God created us to partake in that love relationship through a Personal Relationship with God the Son (Jesus Christ). God desires for us to enjoy fellowship with Him (1 John 1:1-5) as each member of the divine Trinity enjoys fellowship with each other from before the beginning of time (Philippians 2:1-5; John 17:22-23).
For those who are saved in Christ, the Holy Spirit is working in your hearts today. He speaks to us through the Word of God—when we read and meditate on it (Romans 8:27; 2 Corinthians 1:22). The Holy Spirit actively participated in the creation (Genesis 1:22). He inspired the Holy Scriptures (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16). He convicts the world of sin (John 16:8). He regenerates and renews the repentant believer (Titus 3:5). He gives assurance to those of us who are saved (Romans 8:16). He sanctifies us (1 Peter 1:2). He fills us with His presence (Acts 2:4; Ephesians 5:18). He gives us strength to live a holy and obedient lives (Ephesians 3:16). He helps and enlightens us to discern God’s Word (1 Corinthians 2:14). He enables us to exhibit the “fruit of the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22). He gives gifts to each member of the church so that each of us in the “body” can contribute as the Spirit wills (1 Corinthians 12:8–10; 1 Corinthians 12:29-30; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11). He “seals” us for the day of redemption, guaranteeing our inheritance in Heaven (Ephesians 4:30); and to be witnesses for God (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
However, the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit—such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary. Speaking in tongues has ceased to be operational because the Bible is complete and has been translated in different languages all over the world. The speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection—though God in some instances may choose to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing but not in the same way as Jesus Himself or the Apostles, during their time, raised the dead and healed all manners of sicknesses instantaneously apart from any doctors (1 Corinthians 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22).
So to speak, the Holy Spirit wants to indwell in us. He loves to comfort, encourage, and sanctify those who listen to His voice and willingly obey God’s Word. We can live a joyful life filled with His presence. To transform us according to the image of Jesus Christ.
Friend, will you allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life? Will you let Him sanctify you? Will you let Him use you in the body of Christ?
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Other names by which the Holy Spirit is also called in the Bible:
* the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10; Matthew 1:18; 1:20; 3:11; 12;32; Mark 3:29; 12:36; 13:11; Luke 1:15; 1:41; 2:25; 2:26; 3:16; 3:22; 11:13; 12:10; 12;12; John 1:33; read the Book of Acts; Romans 9:1)
* the Spirit (Genesis 2:7; Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30; Acts 16:6-7; 1 Corinthians 2:10; John 1:33; 20:22; Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 2:7; 22:17)
* the Wind (John 3:6-8)
* the Helper (John 14:16; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7)
* the Spirit of God and God the Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:9)
* the Spirit of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2; 59:19; 61:1; 63:14; 1 Samuel 16:13)
* The Spirit of wisdom and understanding; The Spirit of counsel and might; The Spirit of knowledge and fof the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2; Ephesians 1:17)
* Spirit of the living God (2 Corinthians 3:3)
* the Spirit of Christ ( Romans 8:9; Acts 2:33)
* the Spirit of His Son (Galatians 4:6)
* the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19; Galatians 4:6)
* the Spirit of the Holy God (Daniel 4:8-9; 4:18; 5:11)
* Spirit of judgment and Spirit of burning (Isaiah 4:4)
* Spirit of holiness; Spirit of perfecting holiness in the fear of God (Romans 1:4; 2 Corinthians 7:1)
* the Holy Spirit of promise; the Holy Spirit promised (Ephesians 1:13; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:32-33)
* the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17; John 15:26; John 16:13; 1 John 3:24; 4:6; 5:6-7; Ephesians 5:9)
* the Spirit of Life (Genesis 7:22; Romans 8:2; Romans 8:10; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 6:8; Revelations 22:17)
* the oil of Joy (Hebrews 1:9; Isaiah 61:3; Galatians 5:22)
* the Spirit of Grace (Zechariah 12:10; Hebrews 10:29)
* the Spirit of glory (1 Peter 4:13-14; Romans 8:16-17; Ephesians 3:16-19)
* the Counselor (John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7)
* the Eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14; Mark 3:28-30)
