The Person of the Holy Spirit by George H. Stephenson
THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
By GEORGE H. STEPHENSON
OUTLINE
I. Introduction.
A. Much confusion and misunderstanding in regard to the Holy Spirit.
B. In answering question, "Who is the Holy Spirit?" must appeal to the Scriptures.
II. A Divine Person.
A. Not a glorified "it" or merely some mysterious influence or power.
B. One of members of the God-head. 1 John 5:7; John 15:26.
1. All three persons in God-head present at Baptism of Jesus. Mark 1:9-11.
2. All three persons connected with baptism of believer to-day. Matthew 28:19-20.
3. The Holy Spirit therefore closely related and closely associated with both God, the Father, and Christ, the Son.
C. Language of Jesus shows the Holy Spirit to be a person.
1. Personal pronoun, masculine gender, singual number.
2. Jesus did not say, "When it is come," but "when he is come."
III. Names Given the Spirit.
A. Various Designations for Deity. "God," "Lord," "Jehovah," "Jehovah God," "Our Father in Heaven."
B. Many Designations for Christ. "Son of man," "Son of God," "Messiah," "Immanuel," "Saviour,"
"Mediator," "High Priest," "Judge," "The Word," "The Lamb of God," the "Prince of Peace," "Light of World," "The Way, The Truth, The Life," "Lord, of Lords, King of Kings."
C. Fewer Designations for the Holy Spirit. "The Spirit," the "Spirit of God," the "Spirit of the Lord," the "Spirit of truth," "My Spirit," "Comforter," the "Holy Spirit." The "Holy Ghost" used in King James Version.
IV. The Holy Spirit Is Not.
A. Some mysterious power or feeling designed to produce emotional excitement.
1. Has divine intelligence for intelligent people.
2. Men spoke as they were moved by Holy Spirit. a. 2 Peter 1:21. b. Apostles on Pentecost.
B. The Bible or the Word of God.
1. Bible contains message of the Spirit, but not same as the Spirit.
2. Word of God is sword of Spirit, Ephesians 6:17; soldier not same as his sword.
V. Holy Spirit has Divine Attributes.
A. Power of Thinking and Knowledge.
1. Mind of the Spirit. Romans 8:27.
2. Knows the things of God. I Cor. 2:942.
B. Power of Volition.
1. Divides gifts as He will.1 Corinthians 12:11.
2. Paul and Silas forbidden by Spirit to preach in Asia. Acts 16:6.
C. Power of Love. Romans 15:30; Romans 5:5.
VI. Some things Spirit does.
1. He speaks. 1 Timothy 4:1; Acts 8:29.
2.Testifies or bears witness. John 15:26-27; Acts 20:23; Romans 8:16. a. He makes intercession. Romans 8:26. b. May be grieved. Sph. 4:30. c. May be lied to. Acts 5:3.
VII. Conclusion.
1. Spirit A Divine Person. Interested in Welfare of Man.
2. Let us bear fruit of Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23.
3. May benediction of Paul be meaningful to us. 2 Corinthians 13:4.
THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye can not bear them now. 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 shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:12-14).
It is needless to say that there is much misunderstanding and confusion in the world in regard to the Holy Spirit. It is good that we may study together the teaching of the Bible in regard to this most important subject. Before we can have an understanding of the work of the Spirit, it is important that we consider the question, "Who is the Holy Spirit?"
You will observe that our question is not, "What is the Holy Spirit?" We have heard this question, "What is the Holy Spirit?" asked many times. This question suggests that which is in the minds of many people concerning the Holy Spirit. The idea is that the Holy Spirit is some mysterious influence or power; that it is a glorified "it." But the Holy Spirit is spoken of as a person, as one of the three persons of the God-head. Of course, in answering the question, "Who is the Holy Spirit?" we must search the Scriptures. We can find no answer to the question except as we find it revealed in our Bibles.
The Bible very clearly teaches us concerning the three mem-bers of the God-head; that these are three persons and yet they are one. "For these are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one (1 John 5:7). Jesus mentions all three members of the God-head in John 15:26 : "But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." Christ, the Son, is speaking. He promises the coming of the Spirit, and declares that the Spirit proceeds from the Father. It is significant that all three, God, the Father, Christ, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were present at the baptism of Jesus. Jesus was baptized at the hands of John in the river Jordan; the Spirit like a dove descended upon Him; and God spoke from heaven saying, "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Read Mark 1:9-11).
It is also significant that all three members of the God-- head are mentioned in connection with the baptism of a be-liever today. Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20).
The close association and relationship existing between the Holy Spirit and God and the Holy Spirit and Christ suggests to us that the Holy Spirit has a similarity in nature and at-tributes to God and Christ. It is doubtful if any of us can understand all the mysteries connected with the Bible teaching concerning the Sacred Three and how these three are one and yet manifest themselves in three persons. Of course, it is not our purpose in this lecture to discuss this doctrine, but merely to note that the Bible does suggest something of the nature and person of the Holy Spirit in view of the fact that He is related to God the Father and Christ the Son.
That the Holy Spirit is a person is indicated by the very language used by Jesus when he gave the promise of the coming of the Spirit to His apostles. Christ used the personal pronoun, masculine gender, and singular number when He spoke of the Spirit's coming. He did not say, "When it is come, but rather "when He is come."
There are a number of designations given to the Holy Spirit, just as there are some various designations for God and for Christ. In the Bible, Deity is sometimes spoken of as God, and sometimes, particularly in the Old Testament, as Lord. Again He is spoken of as Jehovah or as Jehovah God. Of course, we know that Jesus taught us to call Him, "Our Father who art in heaven." Christ is given many more titles and designations than either God or the Holy Spirit. For ex-ample, He is called the Son of man and also called the Son of God. He is the Messiah, He is called Immanuel, or God with us." He is the Saviour, our Mediator, and our High Priest. At the end of time He will appear as the Judge. He is the Word who was with God and was God. He is the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace, and the Light of the World. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. The many titles given to Jesus suggest something of the nature of His mission and His work.
There are fewer titles given to the Holy Spirit. Some of the names given include the "Spirit," the "Spirit of God," the Spirit of the Lord," the "Spirit of truth," "My Spirit," "Com-forter," and of course, the "Holy Spirit." Our King James Version uses the term Holy Ghost. I have not used this term, because the word "Ghost" suggests something mysterious, and in the minds of many, something frightening.
When some think of the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost, they think of some mysterious power of feeling which comes upon people and produces some sort of emotional excitement or hysteria. But we should know that the Holy Spirit has divine intelligence and has caused people to act in a sane, intelligent manner. The Bible tells us that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). The men who wrote for us the Bible were guided to write in an intelligent manner. The apostles on Pentecost were baptized in the Holy Spirit not that they might have some unusual emotional experience, but rather that they might make known the will of God to men who were lost in sin. The great men of the New Testament, such as Peter, Paul. and John were guided by the Holy Spirit. They were intelligent men, guided by Divine intelligence.
Another mistake which has been made by some in regard to the Holy Spirit is that the Spirit is the same as the Bible or the Word of God. While the Holy Spirit inspired men to write the word of God, which we have in our Bibles, we should not say that the Holy Spirit is the Word. Surely, we do have in the Word the message of the Spirit for our souls and when we reject that message we are guilty of rejecting the Spirit of God. However, the Word is no more the same as the Spirit than a sword is the same as the soldier who operates the sword. In presenting the Christian armor, Paul says, "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).
The Holy Spirit partakes of the very essence and nature of God. In the Bible, the Holy Spirit is shown to have the power to think, the power of knowledge, the power of volition, and the power of love. The Bible speaks of the mind of the Spirit and the knowledge of the Spirit. We are told in Romans 8:27, "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Then we are told in 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 that the Spirit knows the things of God, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God bath 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 cf God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God: that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God."
The Holy Spirit has the power of volition and the power to forbid. Concerning the various gifts of the Spirit, Paul wrote, "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man, severally as He will" (1 Corinthians 12:11). Then the Bible tells us how on one occasion that the Holy Spirit did not permit Paul and Silas to preach in Asia, that they were "forbidden of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 16:6)
The Holy Spirit also possesses the power to love. Paul wrote, "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" (Romans 15:30). The Bible also tells us that "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5).
Furthermore, we are told that the Holy Spirit speaks, ac-cording to 1 Timothy 4:1, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." Then, it is interesting to observe that in the record of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, that the Bible tells us that "the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot" (Acts 8:29).
The Holy Spirit also is capable of testifying or bearing wit-ness. Jesus said, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, be shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning" (John 15:26-27). On Paul's jour-ney to Jerusalem he declared, "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me" (Acts 20:23). We also read in Romans 8:16, "The Spirit himself hear-eth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."
Another thing which the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit does is the making of intercession on our behalf. Let us read these encouraging words: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). Have not all of us felt at times that we can not express ourselves in prayer as we should? Have we not sensed our need for God's help, and somehow we could not find the proper words? It is wonderful to know that the Spirit helps us and that as we pray through Christ, our High Priest, that God is able to bless us more than we could ever know.
One of the emotions attributed to the Holy Spirit is that of grief. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). Just as we are grieved when our children or other loved ones may not live as they should, even so the Spirit is grieved when we fail to serve God and when we wander into the paths of sin. Let us learn to be responsive to the pleadings of the Holy Spirit in God's Word in order that we may not be guilty of grieving the Spirit.
The Bible also speaks of individuals who lied to the Holy Spirit. Ananias and Sapphira pretended to give all that they had to the Lord, but kept back part of their possessions for their own use. They lied about the matter, and Peter asked Ananias the question, "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" (Acts 5:3). It was not compulsory for Ananias and Sapphira to give all they had, but they sinned in that they were lying to the Holy Spirit. God wanted His people to know in that time and in our time that He will not tolerate hypocrisy and pretense among His people. When we make false pretenses, and when we fail to keep the promises we make to God, we too may be guilty of lying to the Spirit.
Other speakers will tell more of the work accomplished by the Spirit. The Scriptures we have noticed tell us of the Divine Nature of the Spirit. We know that He loves us and is interested in us. If we allow Him to dwell in us, even as God and Christ dwell in us, then we shall bring forth in our lives the fruit of the Spirit, which Paul declares to be "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Galatians 5:22-23).
May we close with these beautiful words from Paul, and may they have greater meaning for us than ever before:
"The grace of the ord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14).
QUESTIONS FOR CLASS DISCUSSION
1. Why do we have misunderstanding in regard to the Holy Spirit?
2. Where can we learn about the person of the Holy Spirit?
3. At what significant event in the life of Jesus were all three members of the God-head present?
4. How would you prove that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person?
5. What designations are given to God in the Bible?
6. List some of the titles and names of Christ.
7. What designations do we have for the Holy Spirit in the Bible?
8. How did holy men of old write the Scriptures?
9. Was the Holy Spirit given to the apostles on Pentecost to fill them with some sort of emotional excitement?
10.What is the relation of the Spirit to the Word of God?
11. What attributes do the Spirit possess which are similar to those possessed by God?
12. What are some of the things the Spirit is capable of doing?
13. How is the Spirit of God grieved?
14, Who was guilty of lying to the Spirit?