“'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us.” Matthew 1:23

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The Holy Spirit

I.  WHO OR WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

  1. Some people or groups believe that the Holy Spirit is merely a force or an influence, not a person.

  2. But the Bible calls the Spirit "he" not "it". -- John 14:26; 16:13-14. (In the original Greek text the definite masculine article ekeinos is used.)

  3. The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit as a person -- possessing mind, feeling and a will of His own. For example, observe the following:
bulletHe has intellect and understanding -- 1 Corinthians 2:10-13
bulletHe has a mind -- Romans 8:27; Acts 15:28
bulletHe has a will -- 1 Corinthians 12:11
bulletHe searches and knows -- 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
bulletHe can be grieved -- Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30
bulletHe speaks and commands -- Acts 13:2,4; 16:6
bulletHe teaches -- John 14:26

These are all characteristics of a person, not a force.
 

II.  IS THE SPIRIT GOD?

  1. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, "Now the Lord is the Spirit... just as from the Lord, the Spirit."
  2. Acts 5:3,4 -- "lied to the Holy Spirit" = "lied to God".
  3. John 14:16,18,23 shows an identification between the Spirit, Jesus, and God the Father.
  4. A person can "blaspheme" against the Spirit -- Mark 6:29 (In the New Testament, this Greek word almost always refers to speech against God.)
  5. Matthew 28:19 says: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Note the use of "the name" singular, not "the names of." This shows a tri-unity between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  6. Special qualities which only God possesses are applied to the Spirit:
bulletHe is omnipotent -- Micah 3:8; Acts 1:8; Romans 15:13,19
bulletHe is omniscient -- 1 Corinthians 2:10
bulletHe is omnipresent -- Psalm 139:7
bulletHe is the giver of life -- Job 33:4; 1 Peter 3:18
 

III.  WHAT DOES THE SPIRIT DO?

  1. He Creates -- Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30
  2. He Inspired Men to Communicate God's Word:
bulletIn speaking -- 1 Peter 1:12; 2 Peter 1:21
bulletIn writing -- 2 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 1:10-11; 1 Corinthians 7:10
  1. He Gives New Birth To (Regenerates) People -- John 3:1-8; Titus 3:5.
  2. He Bears Witness With the Spirit of Each Christian That He Is a Child of God -- Romans 8:16-17.
  3. He Assists in the Prayer Life of Christians -- Romans 8:26-27.
  4. He Bestows Gifts (charisma, singular; charismata, plural) Upon Christians -- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.
  5. He Baptizes & Fills Christians -- Matthew 3:11, John 1:33; 7:37-39; Acts 4:31; 6:3,5; 11:16; Ephesians 5:18.
  6. He Seals Believers -- Ephesians 1:13; 4:30.
  7. He Teaches & Gives Understanding -- 1 John 2:27; 1 Corinthians 2:14.
  8. He Leads and Guides -- Mark 1:12; Acts 16:6.
  9. He Resurrects -- Romans 1:4; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:14.
  10. He Brings About Maturity in the Believer's Life -- 2 Corinthians 3:15-18; Galatians 5:22-25.
  11. He Convicts the World -- John 16:8-11.

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a person, a member of the Trinity.  The Spirit is actively involved in the world and in our relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ!