The Holy Spirit is a Person LESSON 8 THE HOLY SPIRIT Lesson Plan There is no denying the Holy s Spirits presence in Scripture. Debate is often centered on whether the Holy Spirit is a power or a person. The answer we give to this question will have a direct bearing on our relationship with Him. If He is a power we will ask, How can I get more of Him? If He is a person we will ask, How can He get more of me? Once the biblical evidence is examined, it is clear that the Holy Spirit is a Person. Consider the evidence below: 1. Only personal pronouns are used to refer to the Holy Spirit (not it ). But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the 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 (Jn. 16:13). 2. We can enjoy a relationship with the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all (2 Cor. 13:14). 3. The Holy Spirit expresses emotions. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). 4. The Holy Spirit can be sinned against. Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven (Mt. 12:31). 5. The Holy Spirit prays for believers.
In the same way the Spirit also 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 (Rom. 8:26). 6. The Holy Spirit has a will. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills (1 Cor. 12:11). 7. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (Jn. 16:8). 8. The Holy Spirit assists believers. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. (Jn. 14:16-17). A.W. Tozer said, Spell this out in capital letters: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON. He is not enthusiasm. He is not courage. He is not energy. He is not the personification of all good qualities, like Jack Frost is the personification of cold weather. Actually, the Holy Spirit is not the personification of anything... He has individuality. He is one being and not another. He has will and intelligence. He has hearing. He has knowledge and sympathy and ability to love and see and think. He can hear, speak, desire, grieve and rejoice. He is a Person. The Holy Spirit is God One it is determined that the Holy Spirit is a person, the next step is to determine whether He is a created being or the Creator Himself. Perhaps the best evidence for His deity comes off the lips of Jesus Christ. Our Lord promised after His departure that He would send the Spirit to be another Helper (Jn. 14:16). In the original Greek there are two words for another. There
is the word heteros which means totally different (e.g. heterosexual). Then there is the word allos which means another just like the first one. Jesus uses the word allos. In other words, Jesus promises to send a person that is just like Himself, a person who is fully divine. After all, would it really have been any comfort to the disciples if all they were to receive after the departure of their Master was an impersonal force or another created being? The Bible gives further support that the Holy Spirit is God (the third Person of the Holy Trinity): 1. The Holy Spirit is said to be God. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? You have not lied to men but to God (Ac. 5:3-4). 2. The Holy Spirit has divine attributes. Eternality- How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb. 9:14). Omniscience- For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 1:10-11). Omnipresence- Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there (Psm. 139:7-8). Omnipotent- The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. (Lk. 1:35). 3. The Holy Spirit participated in creation.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (Gen. 1:1-2). 4. The Holy Spirit imparted Scripture. For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Pet. 1:21). 5. The Holy Spirit regenerates hearts to salvation. But if 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 dwells in you (Rom. 8:11). 6. The Holy Spirit is mentioned as an equal with the Father and the Son. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19). What is the Holy Spirit Called Throughout Scripture Title Emphasis Reference One Spirit His unity Eph. 4:4 Seven Spirits His perfection Rev. 1:4 The Lord the Spirit His sovereignty 2 Cor. 3:18 Helper His care Jn. 14:16 Eternal Spirit His eternity Heb. 9:14 Spirit of Glory His glory 1 Pet. 4:14 Spirit of Life His vitality Rom. 8:2 Spirit of Holiness His holiness Rom. 1:4 Spirit of Wisdom His wisdom Isa. 11:2 Spirit of Might His omnipotence Isa. 11:2 Spirit of Fear of the Lord His reverence Isa. 11:2 Spirit of Truth His truthfulness Jn. 14:17 Spirit of Grace His grace Heb. 10:29 Spirit of Supplication His prayerfulness Zech.12:10
Adapted from Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, p. 250. Your Response Based Upon What We ve Covered How would you identify the Holy Spirit in your own words? How does the Holy Spirit bring you comfort and encouragement? How do people grieve the Holy Spirit? How can you bring greater honor to the Holy Spirit? Bible Memorization John 14:16- I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.