26 - THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:9
INTRODUCTION When the French explorers first discovered Niagara Falls, they listened intently to the Indian legends about its formation. The Indians believed the Falls were created by a large snake which had coiled itself in the midst of the river. The Frenchmen observed annually as the Indian tribe chose the most beautiful young girl in the tribe and placed her in a highly decorated canoe. Each year the tribe sent the canoe with a girl sacrifice to drift over the Falls so the snake god would not leave the river and attack the tribe. As roads were built to the area, Niagara Falls became better known, resulting in a popular tourist center. Local businessmen and international corporations together recognized a new way to tap the resources of this natural wonder. Soon it became the "Honeymoon Capital of the World," a bustling center of tourism.
During the twentieth century, electrical engineers discovered a means of tapping the resources of Niagara Falls to produce hydroelectric power. A large generating plant was built and water was channeled from the upper rapids through machines to produce electricity. Today, much of southwestern Ontario and western New York State is supplied with hydroelectric power from the Niagara Falls Generating Station. As we look at contemporary attitudes about the Holy Spirit, we can see a parallel in the history of attitudes concerning Niagara Falls. Some people today have a mystical idea about the Holy Spirit, such as the Indians who worshiped the nonexistent snake god. Others appreciate the Holy Spirit, but, like tourists to the Falls, they are only spectators. A few have a biblical understanding of the Holy Spirit, realizing the power of God is available through the full resources of the Holy Spirit. THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Much confusion exists today concerning the Person of the Holy Spirit. His personality is denied by both liberal theologians and extreme religious cults. Some liberals will acknowledge he is portrayed as a person, but claim the Scripture is communicating a myth. Radical cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses deny his personality, referring to him as simply an influence. Because of the comparatively little teaching about the Holy Spirit that has been done over the years, there are some good Christians who do not realize that the Holy Spirit is a Person. The Holy Spirit has the attributes of a person. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity--equal with the Father and Son in essence. Since one of the major aspects of God’s nature is that he is a person, it follows that the Holy Spirit is a person. The apostle Paul noted the intellectual ability of the Holy Spirit when he asked, "What man knoweth the things of man save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11). The rational capacity of the Holy Spirit was expanded to include wisdom and communication when Paul’s prayer request for the Ephesians included "That the God of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him" (Ephesians 1:17). The emotional ability of the Holy Spirit is evident in the word of the apostle, "the love of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:30). One of the problems associated with emotions is the possibility of being grieved by someone who is loved. The Bible warns Christians, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God" (Ephesians 4:30). Isaiah cited an example of how Israel "rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit" (Isaiah 63:10). The Holy Spirit has the ability to respond emotionally to the ideas and experiences he encounters. The Holy Spirit also has the ability of will and the ability to exercise it. By his own choice, the Holy Spirit accomplishes a number of specific acts, such as giving spiritual gifts. "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will" (1 Corinthians 12:11). The Holy Spirit performs the actions of a person. The Holy Spirit does a number of things only a person can do. It should be noted that the Holy Spirit is not a Person because he does those things attributable to personality, but rather does the actions of the personality because he is a person. Consider the following chart to see how the Holy Spirit does those things which only a person can do. THE ACTS OF THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. He teaches John 14:26 2. He testifies John 15:26 3. He guides Romans 8:14 4. He speaks 1 Corinthians 2:13 5. He enlightens John 16:13 6. He strives Genesis 6:3 7. He commands Acts 8:28 8. He intercedes Romans 8:26 9. He sends workers Acts 13:4 10. He calls Revelation 22:17 11. He comforts John 16:7 12. He works 1 Corinthians 12:11 The above actions cannot be accomplished by a mere influence or force. Only a rational, emotional, and active person could do all that the Scriptures teach the Holy Spirit accomplishes. The Holy Spirit was addressed as a person. The New Testament clearly shows the early Christians recognized and affirmed the Holy Spirit as a Person. Peter obeyed the Holy Spirit when he was commanded to go to Cornelius’s household (Acts 10:19). Philip followed the leading of the Holy Spirit in his ministry also (Acts 8:39). Against his better judgment, Ananias came to Saul, obeying what the Holy Spirit had revealed to him (Acts 9:10-17). Paul and Silas were constantly led by the Holy Spirit in their ministry (Acts 16:7-10). The Bible also records the story of two disciples who attempted to lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). At his trial, Stephen addressed the Sanhedrin, saying, "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye" (Acts 7:51). Jesus also warned about blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31), and the Bible also warns of the consequences of insulting the Holy Spirit. "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:29). Is it any wonder the writer concludes, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31)? This would not be so if we had a proper reverence for the Person of the Holy Spirit as did David (Psalms 51:11).
Association of persons. A fourth scriptural illustration of the Holy Spirit as a person is seen in the references to the Trinity. Jesus commanded his disciples to "teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). Jesus acknowledged three distinct Persons of the Trinity but recognized their unity in a simple name. In our understanding of the Trinity, we realize that what is true of God is true of each part of the Trinity of God.
God the Father is a personal God interested in us (John 3:16; 1 John 3:1). God the Son is also shown as a personal God interested in us (John 13:1). If the teaching of Scripture were unclear concerning the personality of the Holy Spirit, his association with other members of the Trinity of God as an equal indicates that he too is a person. THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Not only is the Holy Spirit a person, he is also God. As God, he is worthy of our worship and obedience. His deity is demonstrated in part by the names of God which are attributed to him. It is further understood through a correct understanding of the Trinity. The Bible ascribed the attributes of deity to the Holy Spirit and, finally, the Holy Spirit accomplishes that which only God can do.
Names. When God identifies his name in Scripture, it is not without meaning. The first mention of the Holy Spirit in Scripture identifies him clearly as God. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2). Early in the history of civilization, the rebellion of man grieved God. "And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man" (Genesis 6:3). The most common name for the third Person of the Trinity is "Holy Spirit." While not a strong proof, thus name associates him with deity because holiness is a reflection of his attributes, while "Spirit" is a reflection of his nature. His deity is also implied by the titles "Comforter" (John 16:7; 2 Corinthians 1:3), "Spirit of Truth" (John 16:13), and "Holy One" (1 John 2:20). Most of the names ascribed to the Holy Spirit in Scripture either relate him directly to deity, as "the Spirit of the Lord God" (Isaiah 61:1), or to some attribute of God such as the eternal Spirit" (Hebrews 9:14) or "the spirit of judgment and ... the spirit of burning" (Isaiah 4:4).
Trinity. When we speak of the Trinity of God, we are speaking of one God in three distinct persons, each being God. The Holy Spirit is a part of the Trinity and is therefore God. Peter asked Ananias, "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?" (Acts 5:3) and charged, "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God" (Acts 5:4). Later Peter charged Sapphira with involvement in the conspiracy "to tempt the Spirit of the Lord" (Acts 5:9). No one challenged Peter in his inter. change of titles identifying the Holy Spirit as God.
Further evidence that the early church recognized the deity of the Holy Spirit is evidenced in the equal recognition given him in the Pauline benediction: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14). Jesus gave equal recognition to the Holy Spirit with the other two members of the Trinity in the baptismal formula of the New Testament: (Matthew 28:19). The teaching of Jesus, Peter, and Paul formed the basis of the doctrine taught and believed in the early church and each of these recognized the deity of the Holy Spirit.
Even in the Old Testament, where the Trinity is not as clearly taught as in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is identified as God. Jeremiah revealed that the new covenant: came from the "Lord [Jehovah]" (Jeremiah 31:31), but the writer to the Hebrews identified the same as from "the Holy Ghost" (Hebrews 10:15). Apparently the name Yahweh was used sometimes in the Old Testament to identify the Holy Spirit. The same thing seems to have happened in Isaiah’s life. Isaiah "heard the voice of the Lord" (Isaiah 6:8 ff.). John identified the one on the throne as Christ (John 12:41), but Paul identified the voice as "the Holy Ghost" (Acts 28:25 ff.).
Attributes. Both the absolute and comparative attributes of God are possessed by the Holy Spirit. His holiness and justice are identified in his titles "Holy" (Psalms 51:11) and "Spirit: of- judgment" (Isaiah 4:4), The apostle Paul spoke of "the love of the Spirit" (Romans 15:30). The goodness of the Holy Spirit is seen in Psalms 143:10. Jesus identified the Holy Spirit as a good gift from God (Luke 11:13). The comparative attributes of God, omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence, are also attributed to the Holy Spirit. His omnipotence is seen in his ability to accomplish what could not be otherwise accomplished. Zerubbabel recognized the work of God was done "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). David recognized the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit when he asked, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" (Psalms 139:7). Paul taught that the Scriptures could not be understood without the aid of the omniscient Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16). The degree of the omniscience of the Holy Spirit is seen in the statement "the foolishness of God is wiser than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25).
Work. The Holy Spirit accomplishes the work of God, demonstrating his deity. At creation, "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2; also Job 26:13; Job 33:4; Psalms 104:30). The Holy Spirit is also active in the work of regeneration. "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Both Peter and Paul saw the Holy Spirit involved in the work of sanctification and spoke of the "sanctification of the Spirit" (1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). The Holy Spirit was involved in much of the work of God during the life and ministry of Christ. As we saw earlier, he was involved in the virgin birth of Christ (Luke 1:35). The ministry of Christ began with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon him (Matthew 3:16) and continued by the presence of the Holy Spirit on him (Luke 4:14-15). He was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4). Even as Christ prays for us in heaven today (Hebrews 7:25), so "the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). An additional work of the Holy Spirit relates to the Scriptures. The Scriptures were written by "holy men of God [who] spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21). As men wrote the Word of God, they did so as the Holy Spirit guided them and gave them the message from God, so they made no mistakes (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit who inspired Scripture uses Scripture today to "reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:8). For the Christian, the Holy Spirit has a ministry whereby he helps us understand the Bible. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (1 Corinthians 2:12).
CONCLUSION
Paul told the Romans, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14). A characteristic of a Christian’s life should be his willingness to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25). Because he is a person, the Holy Spirit is able to lead, guide, and direct in our lives. Because he is God, he has a supernatural ability to help us overcome our temptations and successfully serve the Lord. Because he is a person, the Holy Spirit can be followed. Because he is God, he must be followed.
DAILY READINGS Monday: John 14:15-31 Tuesday: John 16:1-15 Wednesday: Romans 8:1-17 Thursday: Romans 8:18-39 Friday: Acts 5:1-11 Saturday: Galatians 4:17-31 Sunday: Acts 15:13-29