The Holy SpiritMany different theories concerning the Being and functions of the Holy Spirit.Many often wander through life as a Christian with hazy ill-defined ideas concerning the Spirit and His work. Many have the misconception the Holy Spirit does mystical operations in the Christian which are separate from that which He accomplished through His teaching in the gospel.

The Person Of The Holy Spirit- Godhead• Godhead- found three times: Acts 17:29-

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. Rom. 1:20- For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Col. 2:9-For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The Godhead• In all of the three passages, all of the Greek

words for Godhead are derived from theos, and denote divinity, deity, the divine nature, the divine majesty, that which pertains to God, Godhead.

• They define the quality or character of the essence, substance, or being of one who is God. The Godhead or Godhood, is made up of such Beings as are divine nature and possess divine majesty. ( Example- Childhood; Manhood).

Plurality of Beings- Godhead• Genesis 1:1- “Elohim” is plural in form meaning “the

Deity. The plurality of Deity is seen in the pronouns of Genesis 1:26-

• Gen 1:26- And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

• The Divine personalities constituting this plurality are Jehovah (the Father); Jesus Christ (The Word-Son); and the Holy Spirit. Each of these individual Beings possesses all the attributes and qualities of divinity and each is individually called God.

Passages• 1 Cor. 8:6 -But to us there is but one God, the Father,

of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

• Titus 2:13-Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

• Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Three Divine Personalities• Mt 3:16,17- All three at Jesus’ baptism• Rom. 15:30- Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord

Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

• 2 Cor. 13:14-The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all, Amen.

• These Divine personalities constitute the one God or Godhead. As there is one man (humanity or mankind) even so there is one God (Divinity or Godkind). As there are individual beings in one humanity, so there are three individual beings in that one Divinity. The Holy Spirit is one of these Divine Beings.

The Identity Of The Holy Spirit• The Holy Spirit is not: some mystical, indefinite,

indefinable substance or mist that permeates the universe like a fog.

• The Holy Spirit is not: a mere influence or vague impersonal power released in response to human needs.

• The Holy Spirit is not: the mind or disposition of God or Christ.

• The Holy Spirit is not: the Bible or the written word of God. The Holy Spirit revealed the Bible. He is the Revelator: the Bible the Revelation. The Bible is the product of the Spirit but is not the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit IS• God (Acts 5:3,4 Ananias lied to HS (God); Mt. 12:28 –”But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God,

then the kingdom of God is come unto you”.• Eternal (Heb. 9:14- How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit

offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

• Omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-8- Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there).

• Omniscient (1 Cor. 2:10,11 -But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Jn. 16:13,14- Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

• He possesses Divine power: He creates (Gen. 1:1; Job 26:13; Ps. 104:30) He works miracles (Mt. 12:28- cast out devils by the Spirit; 1 Cor. 12:8,11 -For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. He inspires prophets (1 Pet. 1:11-Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 2 Pet. 1:21 - For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. He teaches men ,Jn. 14:26- But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 1 Cor. 2:13- Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth

The Holy Spirit Possesses Divine Attributes- Separate From Personality• Power- Rom. 15:13• Holiness-Heb. 10:28• Grace- Neh. 9:20• Goodness-1Cor. 2:9-11• Knowledge- 1 Cor. 12:11• Will- Acts 15:28• Judgment-Jn.14:16,17• Truth-Jn. 16:13• These attributes are not the Being of the Holy

Spirit, but that which He possesses

Attributes VS. Being

• We have attributes that define us- but these attributes are not us.

• We have not trouble understanding the attributes of the Father and the Son and their Being.

• We must first accept the fact that the Holy Spirit exists as really as the Father and Son. If He possesses attributes which only God possesses He is God (Godhead).

Defining Person

• Webster- person- “a being characterized by conscious apprehension, rationality and moral sense.”

• The Holy Spirit is an individual character and possesses conscious apprehension, rationality and moral sense: therefore the Holy Spirit is a person or individual

• He is not like us however in that He is Deity (Godhood) and is one of the three persons that constitutes Elohim

The Holy Spirit’s Actions• He hears (Jn. 16:13); He shows (Jn. 16:13-15); He speaks (1

Tim. 4:1); He bears witness (Jn. 15:26; Rom. 8:16,17); He gives commandments (Acts 13:2; 16:6); He delivers law (Rom. 8:1-2); He can be grieved (Eph. 4:30); He can be vexed (Isa. 63:10); He gives life (Gal. 6:8); He glorifies (Jn. 16:14).

• He is a person possessing personality and this requires individuality which demands locality which necessitates distinction.

• The Scripture distinguishes Him from the Father and Son (Mt. 3:16,17). He has a sphere of operation and it is clear from Scripture that His main role is as Revelator

• The Holy Spirit, the Father and The Son are in total Oneness and together accomplish Divine Will. They are not three gods, but One God in three Persons.

FATHER

IS

GOD

DEITY

SON HOLY SPIRIT

IS IS

IS NOT

IS NOT IS NOT

JOHN 8:16 JOHN 14:26

ACTS 10:38

JOHN 20:17

HEBREWS 1:8 ACTS 5:3-4

Father-Son- Holy Spirit• Three Divine Persons in the Godhead, yet not the

same person.• Husband-wife are two separate person yet they

are one, or united.• The Church is one body yet many members- but

we are to united in purpose and function.• We must never entertain the idea for a moment

that there is a plurality of God’s Acts 17 teaches there is only one. Paul stated that to the ones at Mars Hill.