Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood member of the Trinity. Who is he? What does he do? Why does he matter so much in our lives today?

I spent years in Baptist churches with no real introduction to the Holy Spirit. I don’t remember ever hearing a sermon on the subject. We knew to trust in Jesus and worship his Father, but I had no idea how to relate to the Spirit. Or even if I should. I suspect that many of us have a similar story.

We’ll begin with some introductions.

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal neuter, an “it.” He is more than a “presence.” He is not a “ghost,” holy or otherwise (the King James Version notwithstanding).

Rather, the Spirit is a Person who works personally.

He possesses the three distinctive characteristics of personality:

• knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
• will (1 Corinthians 12:11)
• feeling or emotion (Romans 15:30)

He performs acts only a person can perform. He:

• searches (1 Corinthians. 2:10)
• speaks (Revelation 2:7)
• cries (Galatians 4:6)
• prays (Romans 8:26)
• testifies (John 15:26)
• teaches (John. 14:26)
• leads Christians (Romans 8:24)
• commands people (Acts 16:6, 7)

He is treated in Scripture as only a person can be treated. He is:

• grieved and rebelled against (Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30)
• insulted (Hebrews 10:29)
• blasphemed (Matthew 12:31, 32).

But is he God?

Why is the Spirit “holy”?

Why do we believe the Spirit to be God?

For five reasons.

First, he possesses the four distinctly divine attributes:

• eternity (Hebrews 9:14)
• omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-10),
• omniscience (1 Corinthians 2:10, 11)
• omnipotence (Luke 1:35)

Second, he performs each of the three distinctively divine works:

• creation (Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30; Genesis 1:1-3),
• impartation of life (John 6:63; Genesis 2:7)
• authorship of prophecy (2 Peter 1:21)

Third, Old Testament statements about God are applied to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.

See Exodus 16:7 and Hebrews 3:7-9.

Fourth, the name of the Holy…