The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity in Christian theology. Though referred to as “He” and “Him” in the Bible, the Holy Spirit is not a human person but rather one of the three persons of God. The other two are God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son. Here is an overview of the key things the Bible teaches about the identity and work of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit is God
The Holy Spirit is not some impersonal force or power, but a divine person. Several Bible verses affirm the full deity and divine nature of the Holy Spirit:
- “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit… You have not lied to men but to God.”” (Acts 5:3-4)
- “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14)
- “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
These verses place the Holy Spirit on the same level as God the Father and Jesus, implying His shared divine essence and authority. Other verses describe the Holy Spirit having divine attributes like eternity (Hebrews 9:14), omnipresence (Psalm 139:7), and omniscience (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
The Holy Spirit’s relationship with God the Father and Jesus
There is only one God, who exists eternally in three co-equal and co-eternal persons – the Father, Son and Spirit. While each person is fully and equally God, they relate to one another with different roles in God’s work:
- God the Father – authority and planning of God’s purposes
- Jesus Christ the Son – revelation and accomplishment of the Father’s work
- The Holy Spirit – application and distribution of the Father’s gifts through the Son
The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ, pointing people to Him and applying His finished work (John 16:14, Titus 3:4-7). The Father sends and commands the Spirit to fulfill specific purposes in the world (John 14:16, 26) and believers’ lives (John 14:17).
The personhood of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit exhibits attributes of personhood in Scripture, not just impersonal force. Consider the following:
- Has a mind & will (Romans 8:27, 1 Corinthians 12:11)
- Speaks (Acts 13:2, Revelation 2:7)
- Loves (Romans 15:30)
- Grieves (Ephesians 4:30)
- Prays & intercedes (Romans 8:26-27)
- Teaches (John 14:26)
- Guides (John 16:13)
- Convicts of sin (John 16:8)
The Holy Spirit relates to believers in very personal ways, even being called the “Comforter” or “Helper” who comes alongside us (John 14:16). These are marks of personhood, not just impersonal force.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
The Holy Spirit was active throughout the Old Testament period:
- Involved in creation (Genesis 1:2)
- Empowered people for leadership & artistic skills (Exodus 31:3, Judges 3:10)
- Inspired prophecy & revelation (2 Samuel 23:2, Nehemiah 9:30)
However, the Spirit’s ministry was not as fully realized back then compared to after Christ’s work was completed. Jesus spoke of the Spirit being “with” the disciples in the Old Testament, but promised the Spirit would later be “in you” (John 14:17).
The giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
Jesus promised His disciples He would send the Holy Spirit after He ascended (Luke 24:49, John 14:16). This happened at the Jewish festival of Pentecost:
- Loud wind, tongues of fire, disciples filled and speaking in tongues (Acts 2:1-4)
- Crowds amazed hearing gospel in their own languages (Acts 2:5-12)
- Peter preaches gospel boldly to crowds (Acts 2:14-36)
- 3000 repent, believe, are baptized (Acts 2:37-41)
This marks the “age of the Spirit” beginning and the birth of Christ’s church on earth. The Spirit indwells believers and empowers them to live godly lives and be witnesses for Christ.
The Holy Spirit’s work in the life of the believer
Here are some of the key functions of the Holy Spirit when someone repents, believes, and follows Christ:
- Regeneration – Born again to new spiritual life (John 3:5-8, Titus 3:5)
- Indwelling – Lives in believers permanently (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
- Baptizes – Initiates believers into Christ and His body (1 Corinthians 12:13)
- Seals – A deposit guaranteeing salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14)
- Fills – Empowers and transforms for Christlikeness (Ephesians 5:18)
- Gifts – For serving in the church (1 Corinthians ch 12)
- Fruits – Christlike virtues of character (Galatians 5:22-23)
- Guiding – Leads and directs for God’s will (Romans 8:14)
- Teaching – Illumines God’s Word (1 John 2:20, 27)
- Praying – Empowers prayer (Romans 8:26-27)
- Assurance of salvation (Romans 8:16)
This is not an exhaustive list, but gives an overview of key works of the Spirit in a believer’s life. The Holy Spirit applies Christ’s redemptive work to individuals and conforms them to His image.
The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts
The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to believers for serving and building up Christ’s body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). These include gifts like:
- Teaching, preaching (1 Corinthians 12:28)
- Wisdom, knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8)
- Faith, healing, miracles (1 Corinthians 12:9-10)
- Prophecy, discerning spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10)
- Tongues, interpretation (1 Corinthians 12:10, 30)
- Helps, administration (1 Corinthians 12:28)
These gifts must be used out of love to build others up (1 Corinthians 13-14). The Holy Spirit supernaturally empowers believers to serve through these gifts for Christ’s mission.
The Holy Spirit and salvation
The Holy Spirit works in unity with the Father and Son to bring about and apply salvation to God’s elect. Key aspects include:
- Convicts people of sin (John 16:8)
- Regenerates spiritually dead hearts (Titus 3:5)
- Draws people to Christ (John 6:44)
- Dwells in believers permanently (1 Corinthians 6:19)
- Seals believers with assurance of salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14)
No one can come to faith in Christ apart from the regenerating work of the Spirit (John 3:5-8). He initiates and applies every aspect of salvation to God’s people.
The Holy Spirit in Christian worship
The Holy Spirit plays a key role in the communal worship and mission of the church. For example:
- Empowered early Christians sharing and praying (Acts 4:31)
- Speaking through prophecy to edify and encourage (1 Corinthians 14:3-4)
- Giving gifts for worship like tongues, interpretation, songs (1 Corinthians 14)
- Uniting Christians in fellowship with Christ (2 Corinthians 13:14)
- Empowering our witness about Christ (Acts 1:8)
Worship that is in spirit and truth involves whole-hearted reliance upon the Spirit and His work in our midst (John 4:24). This brings glory to God.
The Holy Spirit and Christian ethics
The Holy Spirit sanctifies believers inwardly to grow in Christlike virtue and obedience to God’s commands. For example:
- Produces character fruits like love, joy, peace, patience (Galatians 5:22-23)
- Gives self-control over sinful desires (Galatians 5:16-18)
- Renews our minds to desire obedience (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
- Powers ethical life of honesty, compassion, service (Romans 8:13-14)
Far from being an excuse for license or passivity, the Spirit empowers believers to walk in active obedience and Morphs us into Christ’s image.
The Holy Spirit and the Bible
The Holy Spirit inspired the writing of Scripture through the biblical authors (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21). Key aspects of His work include:
- Moved human writers to record God’s Word (2 Peter 1:21)
- Guarded its accuracy from error (Matthew 5:18)
- Illumines meaning for readers (1 Corinthians 2:14-16)
- Convicts and converts through God’s Word (Hebrews 4:12)
- Empowers obedience to Scripture (Ezekiel 36:27)
The same Spirit who inspired the Word guides us to interpret, apply, and obey it rightly. He makes the Bible come alive to transform believers.
The Holy Spirit and the Church
The Holy Spirit forms the church as Christ’s body on earth. Key aspects He oversees include:
- Births the church at Pentecost (Acts 2)
- Adds new believers to the church (Acts 2:47)
- Unites diverse people into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13)
- Gifts members to serve & edify each other (1 Corinthians 12)
- Directs and empowers mission (Acts 13:2-4)
- Appoints overseers to lead (Acts 20:28)
The Holy Spirit oversees and governs church life, worship, discipline, growth and ministry. He dwells corporately within the church as His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16).
The Holy Spirit and the Kingdom of God
The Holy Spirit advances God’s kingdom on earth in several key ways:
- Reveals and imparts kingdom truth (Matthew 13:11, Romans 14:17)
- New birth into God’s kingdom (John 3:5)
- Bearer of kingdom power and demonstration (1 Corinthians 4:20)
- Empowers kingdom mission and ministry (Acts 1:8)
- Oversees kingdom growth, justice, redemption (Isaiah 32:15-18)
Where the Spirit works, the reality of God’s dynamic and redeeming kingdom goes forth, overturning evil.
The Holy Spirit and prophecy
The Spirit inspired prophets to speak God’s Word. He also fulfills prophetic promises about the Messiah, the church, and the end times, including:
- Jesus the Spirit-anointed Messiah (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18-21)
- Outpouring of the Spirit in the last days (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18)
- Spirit of prophecy in the church (Revelation 19:10)
- Persecution foretold (1 Timothy 4:1)
- Spirit empowers end time witnesses (Matthew 10:20)
What Scripture promised about the Spirit’s work, He fulfilled and continues fulfilling completely. This confirms the Bible’s reliability.
The Holy Spirit is a person to know and love
The Holy Spirit is not merely a force or power, but a Divine person who relates to us. We cannot truly know God without also knowing and fellowshipping with the Spirit. Key aspects include:
- Love Him (Romans 15:30)
- Grieve Him through sin (Ephesians 4:30)
- Listen to His voice (Revelation 2:7)
- Testify about Him (John 15:26)
- Pray to and with Him (Jude 1:20)
- Worship and fellowship together (2 Corinthians 13:14)
The Holy Spirit indwells believers not merely as power but as a person to be loved, followed and adored in eternal relationship. He glorifies Christ in us.
In summary…
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully divine yet distinct in role and ministry. He applies Christ’s accomplished work of salvation to people, births the church, indwells believers, bestows gifts and the fruit of the Spirit, guided the Bible’s writing and interpretation, convicts the world of sin and righteousness, oversees God’s kingdom work on earth, and glorifies Jesus. The Spirit is not an impersonal force but a divine person who indwells God’s people personally and corporately as God’s pledge guaranteeing final redemption. He is to be loved, trusted and followed in all of life.
