Many Christians focus on knowing the Father and the Son, but knowing the Holy Spirit is neglected. As a result, there are misconceptions, incorrect ideas, about the identity of the Holy Spirit. One of those is that the Spirit is a mystical force or an impersonal power.
There is also an abundance of uninformed speculation and some just plain nonsense. An extreme example is the young Colton Burpo, who said the Holy Spirit is “kind of blue,” in the book Heaven Is for Real.
What does the Bible say?
Who Is The Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. He comes to us from the Father. 1 Corinthians 2:12 says “Now we have received not the spirit f the world, but the Spirit who its from God…”. John 14:16 says “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever”.
The Holy Spirit also comes from Jesus, the Son. In John 15:26, Jesus said “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me”.
The Father is the first person of the Trinity, the Son the second person, the Holy Spirit the third. He is God equally with the Father and the Son, thus the word “Holy” in his name. He is Spirit in that He is immaterial. The Nicene Creed states:
And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life.
He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
Because the Holy Spirit is God, along with the Father and Son, we baptize in the name of all three persons of the Trinity. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus tells the disciples the make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.
Peter asserted that the Holy Spirit is God in his declaration to Ananias and Sapphire, saying:
Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)
The Holy Spirit a person, not just a force.
There is not a verse that specifically says “The Holy Spirit is a person”. However, Scripture presents the Holy Spirit as a divine person doing things a person does. Let’s look at some verses.
1 Corinthians 2:10–11
The Spirit searches and comprehends the thoughts of God the Father. He helps us understand the things of God.
Ephesians 4:30
The Spirit can be grieved, as this verse says “…do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God”.
Romans 8:26-27
He intercedes for us with God the Father. Romans 8:26–27 says “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God”.
He gives gifts or special abilities to believers. 1 Corinthians 12:7–11.
He teaches and helps the disciples to remember what Jesus said. (John 14:26) and comforts and counsels (John 14:16, 26; 15:26).
The Spirit appoints specific people to specific tasks (see Acts 13:2; 20:28). Barnabas & Saul for missions. (13:2) The elders in the Ephesian church. (20:28)
The Bible refers to the Spirit as a person rather than a thing.
The above verse refers to the Spirit as “the Spirit himself”. John 14:15-17 records Jesus saying: “And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him for he dwells with you and will be in you”. Note that Jesus uses “whom” not “which”, “him” not “it”, and “he” not “it”.
Jesus also uses the words in John 15:26: “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me”.
In Acts 5:3-4, Peter tells Ananias he lied to the Holy Spirit, which was a lie "not just to human beings but to God".
In Romans 8:9, Paul wrote: “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
The Spirit did not come into existence at the death or resurrection of Jesus. He is eternal. He was active in Old Testament times also, but in different ways.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit's presence was temporary and specific to individuals, empowering them for particular tasks like leadership, prophecy, and craftsmanship. This contrasts with the New Testament, where the Holy Spirit permanently indwells all believers. The Spirit's actions in the Old Testament included creation, inspiring prophets, providing wisdom, and guiding God's people.
Genesis 1:2 shows us the Spirit of God present at the very beginning, "hovering over the waters" bringing order out of chaos.
Bezalel was "filled with the Spirit of God" with skill, ability, and knowledge and breath to design and construct the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-5).
The Spirit enabled Moses and the seventy elders to govern Israel. (Numbers 11:17, 25)
The Spirit came upon judges like Othniel, Gideon, and Samson, empowering them to deliver the people from enemies. (Judges 3:10, 6:34, 13:25).
The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David when he was anointed king. (1 Samuel 16:13) The Spirit had come upon Saul, but departed from Saul due to his disobedience (1 Samuel 16:14). The Spirit had come upon them when they were anointed as kings, empowering them to lead Israel.
The Holy Spirit gave messages from God to the prophets to declare. David, for instance, declared, "The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me, and His word is on my tongue" (2 Samuel 23:2).
The Holy Spirit in the New Testament: The Spirit And Jesus
The Spirit caused Mary to conceive Jesus. (Matthew 1:18, 20)
As prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with the Spirit in the Old Testament, Jesus, who fills all three offices, was anointed by the Spirit.
The Spirit came onto Jesus at his baptism.(Matthew 3:16; Luke 3:22) He was anointed with the Spirit. The title, Christ, means anointed one. Isaiah prophesied this, saying:
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” (Isaiah 61:1)
Jesus applied these words to himself when he returned to the synagogue in Nazareth after his temptation. He came in the power of the Spirit. (Luke 4:14) He read to the congregation from the scroll of Isaiah during the service and said “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”. (Luke 4:21)
Luke describes Jesus this way in his gospel. He said “And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days”. (Luke 4:1)
The Holy Spirit In New Covenant Believers
As Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit is also poured out into those who come to Jesus in faith.
John the Baptist said Jesus would baptize believers with the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:12)
In Luke 11:13, Jesus promised that the heavenly Father will "give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him”.
In John 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-14, Jesus promised the Spirit as an "Advocate" or "Helper" who will teach, be with believers, and convict the world.
In Acts 1:8: Jesus promised power to be His witnesses when the "Holy Spirit comes on you”.
In Acts 2:1-4, 38, at Pentecost, disciples were "filled with the Holy Spirit”, then Peter preached repentance and receiving the "gift of the Holy Spirit” to the crowd.
Believers are described as the temple where God's Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16).
An individual believer's body is called a temple of the Holy Spirit within them (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Believers are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is a guarantee of their inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).
The Holy Spirit is described as dwelling within believers (2 Timothy 1:14).
The indwelling Spirit is given to believers as an assurance of their relationship with God (1 John 4:13)
As believers, we have a personal relationship with the Spirit. Paul gave a benediction to the church in Corinth saying: “..the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all”. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
This is a great thing God has done for us. He did not leave us to our own devices, our own strength, to live the Christian life. He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us.
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