Who is the Holy Spirit?
March ThemeThe Godhead
Who is the Holy Spirit?
• A subject misunderstood and often neglected by brethren
• He is one of three persons in the Godhead – instrumental in our salvation and the life of Jesus.
• Mentioned 260+ times in NT. The “Helper” Jn. 14:26
Holy Spirit is a Person
• A person is one who has substance, completeness, is self-existent, individuality and rationality.“A self-conscious or rational being.”
• He is NOT an “it”!
Holy Spirit is a Person
• Qualities of a person• A mind – Rom. 8:27
• Knowledge – 1 Cor. 2:11
• Will – 1 Cor. 12:11
Holy Spirit is a Person
• Referred to as “He”•John 14:26, “He will teach
you all things…”•John 15:26, “He will testify of
Me…”•John 16:13-15, “He will guide
you into all truth…”
Holy Spirit is a Person• His actions:• He speaks – 1 Tim. 4:1, Ac. 8:29, 10:19-20
• He teaches – John 14:26• He loves – Rom. 15:30• He intercedes – Rom. 8:26• He can be lied to – Ac. 5:3-4• He can be grieved – Eph. 4:30
Holy Spirit is God• He is eternal – Heb. 9:14
• He is omnipresent – Psa. 139:7-10
• He is omniscient – 1 Cor. 2:10-11
• He is Holy – “Holy Spirit”
Holy Spirit is God• Called God – Ac. 5:3-4
• Spirit of the Lord – 2 Cor. 3:18
• Spirit of God – 1 Cor. 3:16
• The “Comforter” – John 14:16-17
The Godhead• Associated with the “divine
nature” or that which makes one God.
• God in 3 persons•Genesis 1:1-3, 26
The Godhead• 3 Distinct persons (“Trinity”)• At baptism of Jesus – Matt. 3:16,17
• Great commission – Matt. 28:19
•2 Cor. 13:14•1 Pet. 1:1-2
The Godhead• Each person distinct from the
other• Father is God – 1 Cor. 1:3
• Jesus is God – John 1:1-3, 14; Phil. 2:5-6
• Holy Spirit is God – Ac. 5:3-4
The Godhead• Each person distinct from the
other• Father is NOT Jesus – John 8:16-18
• Father is NOT Holy Spirit – John 14:26
• Jesus is NOT Holy Spirit – Acts 10:38
The Godhead• How can 3 be ONE? • We are clearly taught there is ONE
God - Deut. 6:4, Eph. 4:6, 1 Cor. 12:6, 8:6, Jas. 2:19, etc.
•Cf. Gen. 2:24
• Yet there is also constant reference to the 3 as God.
The Godhead• How can 3 be ONE? • The Trinity - “there is one God
who has revealed Himself in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three persons are the one God.”
McDowell, J., & Stewart, D. D. (1993). Answers to tough questions. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
The Godhead• How can 3 be ONE?
• Think of the term God as the term “water” (or “matter”) (not that He is water) – it comes in different states (solid, liquid, gas, plasma), yet it is still water (or matter)
The Godhead• How can 3 be ONE?
• While God has a plural nature, they are one in essence (true substance, or constitution of anything), purpose, and in total agreement.
The Godhead• How can 3 be ONE? • Jesus one with Father yet subject
to Him - John 10:25-30, 37-38
• The prayer of Jesus for us John 17:20-21
• While difficult to understand, it IS what the Bible teaches.
Understanding God is fundamental to our
faith!
Do YOU Believe in God as He is revealed
in the Bible?
Top Related