Who is the Holy Spirit?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force but the third person of the Trinity, fully God and sharing all His divine attributes. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God who gives life, creates, sustains the world, equips leaders, and directs nations. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force but a person. He played a central role in creation and plays a central role in salvation and sanctification. The Spirit is our comforter, counselor, and intercessor, guiding us into truth and empowering us to resist sin. Because the Holy Spirit is God, we can trust His presence in us to transform us into Christlikeness and never leave us.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of God or Spirit of the Lord, indicating His close identification with God (Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 11:2).
• The Holy Spirit does things only God can do. He gives life (Genesis 2:7; Job 33:4), creates (Psalm 104:30), and sustains the world.
• The Holy Spirit shares the characteristics of God, such as omniscience and omnipresence, as seen in Psalm 139:7-8, which says "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!"
• The Holy Spirit equips leaders and prophets for God’s purposes (Exodus 31:2-5; Numbers 11:25-26) and directs nations (Isaiah 63:10-11).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit is not just an impersonal power or force, but a person – the third person of the Trinity (John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6). The Holy Spirit is God Himself (Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:17).
• In Acts 5:3-4, Peter asks Ananias why he has lied to the Holy Spirit, and it is clear that lying to the Holy Spirit is the same as lying to God.
• In 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, God's attribute of omniscience is also present in the Holy Spirit: "these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."
• The Holy Spirit is a divine person, and He is intimately involved in our salvation, along with the Father and the Son, as shown in Romans 8:11, which says, "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."
• The Holy Spirit has thoughts and knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:10), and He can feel sorrow and grief (Ephesians 4:30). The Spirit can make intercession for believers (Romans 8:26-27). He also has a will and makes decisions (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
• The Holy Spirit can only be what He is described to be for believers, such as a comforter and a counselor, if He is God (John 14:16,26; 15:26).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The fact that the Holy Spirit is God is crucial. If He were not God, we could not be assured that He always points us to the truth. If the Holy Spirit were not God, we could not have the power to resist sin every time. If the Holy Spirit were not God, we would not have the ability to be transformed into Christlikeness. However, because the Holy Spirit is God, we can live with confidence that His guidance is perfect, His power is sufficient for every weakness, and His work in us will truly make us more like Christ. We can trust Him fully and walk in the assurance that God Himself dwells within us, never leaving or failing us.

UNDERSTAND

• ​​The Holy Spirit is God–not a force but the third person of the Trinity.
• The Holy Spirit gives life, guides, and transforms.
• The Holy Spirit personally indwells every believer.

REFLECT

• How does knowing that the Holy Spirit is fully God change the way you view His presence in your life each day?
• In what situations do you most need to rely on the Spirit’s power to resist sin, and how can you do that more intentionally?
• How does the assurance that the Spirit will never leave you affect your confidence in following Christ?

ENGAGE

• Why is it essential that the Holy Spirit is God and not just an impersonal force when we think about His role in salvation and sanctification?
• What are some ways we see the Spirit actively working in believers today?
• How can we encourage one another to depend more fully on the Spirit’s presence and power in daily life?