“THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”
SELECTED SCRIPTURES
I. Introduction
If I were to ask most Christians to tell me about the God of the Bible – the First Person of the Holy Trinity – they would have a lot to say. They might say that He is the Creator of all that there is, and that He is eternal. They might say that He is everywhere, that He is all-knowing, and that He is all-powerful. Or they might say that He is holy, loving, merciful, and gracious. And, of course, they’d be right. God is all of those things and infinitely more. Bible-believing Christians know quite a bit about God.
If I were to ask most Christians to tell me about Jesus Christ – the Second Person of the Holy Trinity – they would also have a lot to say. They might say that He is the Son of God, God in human flesh, and that He is the Lord and Savior of mankind. They might say that He was born of a virgin, died on a cross, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and one day, He is coming back. And, of course, they’d be right. All of those things, and infinitely more, are true about Jesus Christ. Bible-believing Christians know quite a bit about Jesus Christ.
If I were to ask most Christians to tell me about the Holy Spirit – the Third Person of the Holy Trinity – I wonder if they would have a lot to say. The sad fact is that the Holy Spirit is the least known and understood Person of the Trinity of God. And that is ironic when you realize that He is the one who is here with us today. God the Father is not here. He is on His throne in heaven. God the Son is not here. He is at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. But God the Holy Spirit is here. Not only is He here with us, He is here in us.
And yet, most of us can articulate much more about God and Jesus than we can about the Spirit. But consider this: Without the Holy Spirit we would have no church, we would have no Bible, and we would no salvation.
So this morning we’re going to take a little excursion beyond our verse-by-verse exposition of the Book of Acts and get a scriptural overview of just who the Spirit of God is, what He is like, and what He has done, and what He is doing right now.
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III. Review
Last week we came to the place in the NT – to the very location and the very moment – when the Church of Jesus Christ was born. It was the Holy Spirit of God who brought the church into the world.
*Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
In vv. 2-3 every believer present was indwelled by the Spirit of God just as Jesus had pro-mised back in Acts 1:5 when He told His disciples “…you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” And in Acts 2:4 the Spirit of God who had just indwelled the disciples filled them with Himself. The baptism in vv. 2-3 was a one-time thing that would never – could never – be repeated. But the filling in v. 4 was merely the first one. That filling would be repeated again and again throughout the disciples’ lives.
Just as you and I were baptized into Christ once, so too are we filled with the Spirit of Christ continually as long as we live.
Ephesians 4:4-5; 5:18
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism…
18 …do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.
In Greek the command to “be filled” is actually “be being kept filled.” Here’s an illustra-tion of “be being kept filled.” Have you ever been to a restaurant where wait staff’s job is keeping your water glass topped off? Your food may be mediocre, cold, and take forever to get to your table, but that water glass is always full. So you decide you’ll play a little game. You say to yourself, “I’m going to drink it faster than they can pour it.” But you can’t! You’ll float away before you can win that game. Some wait staffs are really good at “be being kept filled.”
That’s what “…be filled with the Spirit” in Ephesians 5:18 is about. The point is that we are to keep ourselves constantly filled with God’s Spirit. And we can only do that to the degree that we are willing to be led by God’s Spirit. That is what walking in the Spirit is all about. And that is what the true Christian strives to do every day of his or her life.
It’s only when a believer consciously and deliberately yields to the leading of the Holy Spirit that he or she can “be being kept filled.” And it’s only when the Greek is rightly translated that the truth becomes clear – being baptized with the Holy Spirit is not an emotional experi-ence initiated by men, it’s a divine reality initiated by God.
So the Holy Spirit baptizes us once and fills us continually. But what else does He do? And more than that, what else do we know about the Third Person of the Trinity? There’s a lot, so let’s get started.
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III. Text
Who is the Holy Spirit?
He is God! The deity of the Holy Spirit is fundamental. It is inextricably linked to the doc-trine of the Trinity. Belief in one person of the Trinity presupposes belief in the other two. But there’s at least one sect that rejects Trinitarian theology. Oneness theology or “Oneness Pentacostalism” (a.k.a. the “Jesus Only Movement”) denies the doctrine of the Trinity. How-ever, Scripture clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. The word “third” does not intimate inferiority in any way. No one Person in the Trinity is infer-ior to the other two. They are coequal in deity but different in their work.
God the Father is the source of everything. God the Son has revealed the very image of God the Father. God the Holy Spirit is the channel through which the God the Father and God the Son have become known to us.
The Holy Spirit’s deity is confirmed by the fact that He came from God. Jesus said…
John 15:26
26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me.”
The Apostle Paul confirms the Holy Spirit’s deity by calling Him “Lord.”
2 Corinthians 3:17
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
In Acts 5 the Apostle Peter equates the Holy Spirit with God when he rebukes Ananias and Sapphira for their lying.
Acts 5:3-4 (excerpts)
3 (He) said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…
4 “Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.”
The Holy Spirit’s deity is confirmed by His attributes. We mentioned some of them when we spoke of some of the things Bible-believing Christians know about God.
The Spirit of God is eternal. He has no beginning and no end. He was there before time began. He will when time (as we now know it) is no more. Is there not great comfort in that?
The Spirit of God is omnipresent. That is to say His presence has no limits. No matter where you are or what situation or condition you are in He is with you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
6 “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
The Spirit of God is omniscient. That is to say His knowledge has no limits. There is nothing He doesn’t know. He knows you better than you know yourself.
And He knows all about tomorrow because He’s already there.
Isaiah 40:13-14
13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as His counselor has informed Him?
14 With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and (who) taught Him knowledge, and (who) informed Him of the way of understanding?
The Spirit of God is omnipotent. That is to say His power has no limits. What more would you need to know about His power than this?
Genesis 1:1-3 (excerpts)
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving…
3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
If that seems so distant that you just can’t wrap your mind around it or even relate to it consider what Job said about himself.
Job 33:4
4 “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
The Spirit of God is truth. In a fallen world built upon and consumed by lies He is truth.
John 16:13 (Jesus speaking to the disciples)
13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”
One more thing about who the Holy Spirit of God really is. All of the attributes of God the Father and all of the attributes of God the Son are also found in God the Holy Spirit. In the OT, in Genesis 1:2, we’ve already seen Him called the Spirit of God as He moves over the surface of the earth. But listen to what He is called in the NT.
Philippians 1:19
19 For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ…
Romans 8:9
9 …you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
Romans 8:9 is yet another verse of Scripture that unites Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
So who is the Holy Spirit? He is God!
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What is the Holy Spirit like?
He is a Person with all the elements of personality! He is a Person with a mind. The Holy Spirit thinks and makes decisions.
Romans 8:26-27
26 …the Spirit helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
He is a Person with a will. His will is a reflection of His sovereignty.
1 Corinthians 12:11 (Paul speaking of the gifts of the Spirit)
11 …the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (There is no such thing as an “ungifted” Christian.)
He is a Person with an intellect. He searches all things.
1 Corinthians 2:10b
10b …for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
He is a Person with knowledge – all knowledge! This speaks of the Spirit’s omniscience.
1 Corinthians 2:11b
11b …the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit is a Person who has emotions. He loves and He can be grieved.
Romans 15:30
30 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers…
Ephesians 4:30
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
So what is the Holy Spirit like? He is a person – the Third Person of the Trinity – He is a Person because He has a mind, a will, an intellect, knowledge, and emotions.
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What has the Holy Spirit done? His works are a testament to His deity!
He was involved in creation.
Psalm 33:6 (Speaking of the creation of the world and everything in it.)
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.
The words “breath” and “Spirit” are the same word in Hebrew. (“ruah”)
Job 33:4 (Speaking of the creation of man.)
4 “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Psalm 104:29-30a (Speaking of the creation of everything that has life and breath.)
29 You hide Your face, they are dismayed; You take away their spirit (their breath), they expire, and return to their dust.
30a You send forth Your Spirit, they are created…
He was involved in Christ’s birth.
Luke 1:35
35 …and (Gabriel) said to (Mary), “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy off-spring shall be called the Son of God.”
He was involved in Christ’s resurrection. (All three Persons of the Trinity were involved.)
Galatians 1:1
1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men, nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead…)
John 10:18a (Jesus speaking of His life.)
18a “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.
Romans 8:11 (Speaking to all true Christians.)
11 But if (since) the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.
He was involved in writing the Scriptures.
2 Peter 1:20-21
20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
He is involved in our salvation. It is the Holy Spirit of God who causes the new birth, who sets us apart from the world (sanctifies us) and makes us holy in God’s sight, and it is the Holy Spirit of God who gives us eternal life.
John 3:6 (Jesus speaking to Nicodemus about being born again.)
6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
John 6:63a
63a “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing…”
2 Thessalonians 2:13
13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctifi-cation by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
Titus 3:5
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
So what Has the Holy Spirit done? He was involved in creation, in the birth of Christ, in the resurrection of Christ, in the writing of the Scriptures, and in our salvation itself.
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What is the Holy Spirit doing right now?
He is comforting His church.
Acts 9:31
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
He is indwelling His church.
1 Corinthians 3:16
16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Just to be clear, the Holy Spirit came to live in you the moment you were saved. You did not seek Him. You do not need to ask God for more of the Spirit that you already have.
The idea that you must first be saved and then at some later time actively pursue God’s Holy Spirit is false teaching. The idea that you are some sort of incomplete Christian, that you need a so-called “second work of grace” – a work that is often “proved” by speaking in tongues – is not biblical. It is false teaching.
If you are truly saved, a true Christian, you have all of God’s Spirit that you’ll ever need. He is here in you. That is why the Apostle Paul could say, “…you are the temple of God.”
He is guiding and teaching His church.
John 16:13-14 (Jesus speaking)
13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
14 “He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you.”
Let me say a word about this. It is my role as pastor to guide you and teach you God’s truth.
And there is a certain limited sense in which I am. But ultimately, in the end, I am neither your guide nor your teacher. It is the Holy Spirit of God who will “guide you into all truth (John 16:13),” and it is the Holy Spirit of God who “will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you (John 14:26).”
He is giving His church discernment. This is the Spirit-given ability to be able to distin-guish between spiritual truth and spiritual error.
*1 John 4:1-4
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
I am convinced that in this day and age the Church of Jesus Christ needs discernment like never before. There are false teachers all around us and many of them are slippery. And as the end of the age approaches it will only get worse.
Matthew 24:24
24 “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”
Just look around you. They’re already here.
The Holy Spirit is giving His church the fruit of His Spirit.
*Galatians 5:19-23 (vv. 19-21 is the world – vv. 22-23 is the true church)
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dis-sensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
What is the Holy Spirit doing right now? He is comforting, indwelling, guiding, and teaching His church. And He is giving us spiritual discernment and the fruit of the Spirit.
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IV. Conclusion
This morning we’ve taken a rather cursory look at the Person of the Holy Spirit – who He is, what He is like, what He has done in the past, and what He is doing today. But what about the Holy Spirit’s leading in your life? What about that?
I want to close with a very broad application. It’s one that can be used by any Christian at any time and in any circumstance. Is there anyone here who lacks wisdom?
James 1:5
5 …if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men gener-ously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
God’s wisdom is perfect and complete and when you walk in it, you are empowered and directed by His Spirit. With what are you struggling? Have you brought it before the Lord in prayer? Does it seem that you’re not getting an answer or even the direction you seek?
It may well be that God is withholding a clear answer or the direction you are looking for so that you will have time to grow in Him while you are waiting. When you came to saving faith you didn’t learn everything all at once, did you? On the contrary, from that day until this you’ve been learning and growing in the faith. It’s a life-long process.
So when you read your Bible, or when you hear a sermon, or a particular teaching, it’s the Spirit of God who makes the appropriate application of truth to your heart and to your life. Listen, Christian – God has the answer to every question, every struggle, and every quest for direction that you have. That’s why we focus on His Word. It will always apply to us.
One of the Professors at the Master’s Seminary, Dr. Irvin Busenitz, addresses this in his book Preaching – How to Preach Biblically. Listen to what he says.
“When Scripture is accurately interpreted and powerfully preached, the Spirit takes the message and applies it to the peculiar needs of each listener…if the text is allowed to speak fully, applications will multiply far beyond what (the preacher) can anticipate as the Spirit of God takes His Word and applies it to each listener.
“(The preacher) should concentrate on giving the correct meaning of the text and be content with general applications. This grants the Holy Spirit, who is most capable in applying the Word to every heart, His rightful place in speaking to individual lives.”
So we teach God’s Word – because if you don’t understand (or if you misunderstand) the verse or the passage being taught – you can’t get the application. It is the Word of God taught by Spirit of God. He is your teacher and He will never fail.
Isaiah 55:11
11 “So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
~ Pray ~