God, the Holy Spirit

God, the Holy Spirit—Third Person of the Triune God

The Holy Spirit is described in God’s Holy Bible as Lord, God, Eternal, Creator, as One Who raised Jesus from the dead, as One Who conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary, and in whose name Christians are to baptize disciples.

You are invited to follow along as we examine the God inspired scriptures proving that the Holy Spirit is One of the three persons of the Godhead, the Holy Trinity – God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Christians worship one God with one nature yet He is revealed in the Bible in three distinct Persons.

Who is the Lord?

In 2 Cor. 3:17-18 Paul tells us “The Lord is the Spirit.” In Rom. 10:9 and 2 Cor. 12:3 we are told that “Jesus is Lord.” Psalm 110:1 tells us that the Father is Lord. These scriptures describe three Persons within the Godhead, each being the Lord.

Who is our God?

In Acts 5:3-4, Peter says that when Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he lied to God. John says at John 1:1 that the Word, Jesus, is God. Also, Thomas agreed as he spoke to Jesus at John 20:28 saying to Him, “The Lord of me and the God of me.” Galatians 1:1, John 5:23 and many other scripture verses speak of “God the Father.” We again see one God described in three Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Who is eternal?

The writer of Hebrews 9:14 tells us the Spirit is eternal. The prophet Micah in Micah 5:2 tells us Jesus is eternal, “His origin is from everlasting.” That word qedem is the strongest Hebrew word for eternity – “beyond the vanishing point.”

Hebrews 7 says that Jesus “is a priest forever, in the order of Melchizadek” (without beginning of days or end of life). Isaiah 40:28 tells us that “Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.” Genesis 21:33 and Romans 16:26 tells us the Lord is the eternal God. God alone is eternal and that includes the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

Who is the Creator?

Job 33:4 tells us that “the Spirit of God has made me.” John 1:3 says that Jesus “made all things” as does Colossians 1:16, 17 and Hebrews 1:10. Acts 4:24, Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100:3 and many other verses tell us that God is the Creator.

One particular group of false teachers say that Jesus was the first and only direct creation of the Father and that He was God’s master worker who created all “other” things. This is absolutely not true, for Isaiah 44:24 says that God “created all things” and that He did it “by Himself” – “all alone.” Again, the Creator is described as One, yet all three Persons of the Godhead are named as our Creator.

Who raised Jesus’ body from the dead?

Romans 8:11 tells us that the Spirit raised Jesus from the dead.
John 2:19-22 Jesus tells us that He would raise His own body from the dead.
Galatians 1:1 says God the Father raised Jesus from the dead.

Once again, we see the triune God in action. Romans 10:9 says that God raised Jesus from the dead. So we read that the three Persons of the Trinity raised Jesus’ body.

Who was responsible for Jesus’ birth to the virgin, Mary?

An angel tells us in Matthew 1:20: “What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” We know from John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” We also know that Jesus stooped, lowered Himself, becoming a mere man (Phil. 2:6, 7). There were three Persons in the Godhead involved in this miraculous act, yet only one God with one nature.

In Whose name do Christians baptize and make disciples?

It is in the “NAME” (singular) of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). So, we see three Persons who are all the Lord, God, eternal, the Creator, the Person responsible for the virgin birth of Jesus and also for the resurrection of Jesus’ body.

And finally, Christians are told to make and baptize disciples in the “NAME of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Bible reveals to us one God with one nature in three Persons.

The term “trinity” is not found in scripture. It was first coined by Tertullian who lived from 160-220 A.D. Yet, the word “theocracy” is also not in the Bible but we know that “God rules.” The word “Bible” is also not found in the scriptures. The Trinity is the central doctrine of all mainline historic churches and the Trinity has also become the primary doctrine that all cultic groups attack.

The Holy Trinity is true and is very apparent in scripture but difficult to completely understand or explain. Scripture tells us “the mystery of Godliness is great” (2 Tim. 3:16), that “God’s ways and thoughts are higher than man” (Isa. 55:11), “secret things belong to the Lord” (Deut. 29:29), “who can fathom the mysteries of God?” (Job 11:6). Paul says it this way in 1 Cor. 13:12, “Now, we see but a poor reflection. Then we shall see face to face. Now, I know in part, then I shall know fully.”

Christians are seekers, devoted to the apostles’ teachings (Acts 2:42), daily students of the scriptures (Acts 17:10, 11), examining, proving, and making sure of all things (1 Thess. 5:21). God’s Word is the sword of the spirit (Eph. 6:17) and Christians are soldiers for Christ.

Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourselves approved to God, as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, who correctly handles the word of truth.” Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:15, “Sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

Jesus warns us to “watch out” for false teachers and false prophets (Matt. 7:15-23; 24:4, 5, 11, 24). The apostle Paul sent a warning in 2 Corinthians 11:3, 4, telling believers that deceivers would be teaching a different Jesus, a different gospel, and a different spirit.

Jesus spoke plainly about the Holy Spirit. He promised that He would not leave us as orphans (John 14:16, 18). He would send another Counselor who would teach us all things, He would guide us into all truth (John 16:7, 8, 13).

Jesus likened the Holy Spirit to “streams of living water that will flow from within” those who believe in Him. He promised that the Holy Spirit would be received after He was glorified (John 7:37-39). Just before Jesus ascended to heaven He again promised His disciples that they would shortly receive power when the Holy Spirit would come on them and they would be His witnesses (Acts 1:8).

So at Pentecost the Holy Spirit began a great witnessing work for Jesus. From that time onward Christians have been blessed with God the Holy Spirit living in them (Rom. 8:11). Believers’ hearts are opened and the Holy Spirit gives them understanding, even “the deep things of God.”

2 Corinthians 2:10-16 and Romans 8:6-16 tells of this great miracle, explaining that Christians would receive “the mind of Christ.”

In 2 Corinthians 3: 16, 17; 6:19 and 2 Corinthians 6:16, Paul tells Christians that they are the “temple of God” and that the Holy Spirit lives in them. What a grand miracle! God lives in believers and walks with them!

The Holy Spirit Exhibits Attributes of a Person

As we read through the New Testament, it is clearly evident that the Holy Spirit has intellect, emotion, and will. We know that these are the three attributes that describe a person.

The mind, intellect of the Holy Spirit:

Let’s first look at scriptures that tell us the Spirit has a mind and intellect:
“No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (2 Cor. 2:11)
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness.” He “intercedes for us in prayer.” The “mind” of the Spirit searches our hearts. (Rom. 8:26, 27)
The Holy Spirit is a “witness.” (Acts 5:32)
The Holy Spirit “testifies.” (Rom 8:16)
Yes, the Spirit teaches, guides, and leads Christians. The Spirit surely has a mind.

The emotions of the Holy Spirit:
Now, what about the emotions of the Holy Spirit?

Rom. 15:30 speaks of “the love of the Spirit.”
Eph. 4:30 tells us “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.”
Heb. 10:29 says the Spirit can be insulted.
Phil. 2:1 & II Cor. 13:14 tells us that Christians can fellowship with the Spirit.
Matt. 12:31, 32 warns against blasphemy against the Spirit. We are told not to speak against the Spirit.

All of these actions clearly indicate that the Holy Spirit possesses emotion.

The will of the Holy Spirit:

Finally, we look to see if the Holy Spirit has will.

In Acts 16:6, 7 the Spirit forbids.
In Acts 20:28 the Spirit appoints.
In Galatians 3:14 the Spirit promises.
In Acts 13:2 the Spirit selects Barnabas and Saul, calling them for special work. Also the Spirit assigns work to each one at 2 Corinthians 12:11.
The Spirit kept Paul and his companions from preaching in the province of Asia at Acts 16:6.
Christians are saved though the rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

These along with many other verses clearly show us that the Holy Spirit has will.

All of these Scriptures tell us that it is reasonable and true that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Trinity:

Peter said the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3,4).
Paul said the Holy Spirit is Lord (2 Cor. 3:17,18).
The writer of Hebrews said He is eternal (Heb. 9:14).
Job said the Spirit of God created Him (Job 33:4).
Paul wrote that the Holy Spirit raised Jesus (Rom. 8:11).

If the Bible says that the Holy Spirit is Lord, God, Creator, and Eternal then who do you say is the Holy Spirit? As Joshua declared, so every Christian declares, “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 1:8).

The Holy Spirit is our Lord and our God!
Jesus is our Lord and our God!
The Father is our Lord and our God!

Make Sure Ministries, Inc.

God, the Holy Spirit