The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. He is fully God. He is eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, has a will, and can speak. He is alive. He is a person. He is not particularly visible in the Bible because His ministry is to bear witness of Jesus (John 15:26).
Some cults like the Jehovah's Witnesses say that the Holy Spirit is nothing more than a force (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 406-407). This is false. If the Holy Spirit were merely a force, then He could not speak (Acts 13:2); He could not be grieved (Eph. 4:30); and He would not have a will (1 Cor. 12:11).
The truth is that the Holy Spirit is a person the same as the Father and the Son are within the Trinity.
His Names | His Attributes | Symbols of | Sins Against | Power in Christ's Life |
God Acts 5:3-4 | Eternal Heb. 9:14 | Dove Matt. 3:16 | Blasphemy Matt. 12:31 | Conceived of Matt. 1:18, 20 |
Lord 2 Cor. 3:18 | Omnipotent Luke 1:35 | Wind Acts 2:1-4 | Resist (Unbelief) Acts 7:51 | Baptism Matt. 3:16 |
Spirit 1 Cor. 2:10 | Omnipresent Psalm 139:7-10 | Fire Acts 2:3 | Insult Heb. 10:29 | Led by Luke 4:1 |
Spirit of God 1 Cor. 3:16 | Will 1 Cor. 12:11 | ***** | Lied to Acts 5:3 | Filled with Power Luke 4:14, 18 |
Spirit of Truth John 15:26 | Loves Rom. 15:30 | ***** | Grieved Eph. 4:30 | Witness of Jesus John 15:26 |
Eternal Spirit Heb. 9:14 | Speaks Acts 8:29; 13:2 | ***** | Quench 1 Thess. 5:19 | Raised Jesus Rom. 8:11 |
The Works of the Holy Spirit | |
Access to God--Eph. 2:18 | Inspires prayer--Eph. 6:18; Jude 20 |
Anoints for Service--Luke 4:18 | Intercedes--Rom. 8:26 |
Assures--Rom. 8:15-16; Gal. 4:6 | Interprets Scripture--1 Cor. 2:1, 14; Eph. 1:17 |
Authors Scripture--2 Pet. 1:20-21 | Leads--Rom. 8:14 |
Baptizes--John 1:23-34; 1 Cor. 12:13-14 | Liberates--Rom. 8:2 |
Believers Born of--John 3:3-6 | Molds Character--Gal. 5:22-23 |
Calls and Commissions--Acts 13:24; 20:28 | Produces fruit--Gal. 5:22-23 |
Cleanses--1 Thess. 3:13; 1 Pet. 1:2 | Empowers Believers--Luke 24:49 |
Convicts of sin--John 16:9, 14 | Raises from the dead--Rom. 8:11 |
Creates--Gen. 1:2; Job 33:4 | Regenerates--Titus 3:5 |
Empowers--1 Thess. 1:5 | Sanctifies--Rom. 15:16 |
Fills--Acts 2:4; 4:29-31; 5:18-20 | Seals--Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30 |
Gives gifts--I Cor. 12:8-11 | Strengthens--Eph. 3:16; Acts 1:8; 2:4; 1 Cor. 2:4 |
Glorifies Christ--John 16:14 | Teaches--John 14:26 |
Guides in truth--John 16:13 | Testifies of Jesus--John 15:26 |
Helps our weakness--Rom. 8:26 | Victory over flesh--Rom. 8:2-4; Gal. 4:6 |
Indwells believers--Rom. 8:9-14; Gal. 4:6 | Worship helper--Phil. 3:3 |