Foundations of Faith
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT (I)
In our doctrinal studies concerning the nature of God, beginning in the July 1993 issue of GROWING, we first considered the attributes of God, and then the holy Trinity (that is, one God existing in three Persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Then we spent several issues discussing two specific Persons of the Trinity–God the Father and God the Son.
We now come logically to a consideration of God the Holy Spirit, sometimes called the Third Person of the Trinity. Why do people often refer to God the Father as the First Person, God the Son the Second Person, and God the Holy Spirit the Third Person of the Trinity? I don’t know for sure, since Scripture does not say it. Perhaps it comes from the order given in Matt. 28:19, “Teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost [or Spirit].” Also, it may have to do with the fact that it was the Father who sent the Son into the world (John 5:23; 1 John 4:14), and it was both the Father and the Son who sent the Holy Spirit into the world following the resurrection and ascension of Christ (John 14:16,26; 15:26; Gal. 4:6).
If by “Person” we mean a human being, or a being clothed in a human body, the answer is “no.” But if by “Person” we mean a rational being with personality, intellect, emotion, and will, the answer is “yes.” This is an important point since some groups, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, believe that the Holy Spirit is merely a term to describe the impersonal force of God which moves His servants to do His will. But what does the Bible say about the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit speaks (Acts 13:2; 21:11); He testifies (John 15:26; Heb. 10:15); He reproves (John 16:8); He teaches (John 14:26); He guides (John 16:13); He leads (Rom. 8:14); He forbids (Acts 16:6); He has a will (Acts 15:28); He can be lied to (Acts 5:3); He can be grieved (Eph. 4:30).
Later on when we discuss the truth of the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer, we shall clearly see the importance of understanding the Holy Spirit to be a real Person and not just an impersonal force.
The Holy Spirit is clearly identified with God in Acts 5:3,4:”But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?… You have not lied unto men, but unto God.” Furthermore, the Holy Spirit has the attributes of God. He is eternal (Heb. 9:14), all-powerful (Job 33:4; Eph. 3:16), all-knowing (John 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10,11), present everywhere (Psa. 139:7), and, as indicated by His very name, He is holy.
In the Old Testament we find the Spirit coming from time to time, briefly and temporarily, in order to work in man or in the earth for very specific purposes. The following are a few examples:
“The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” in preparing the earth for the creation of man (Gen. 1:2).
The Spirit of God filled Bezaleel to provide him with wisdom, knowledge, and skill in designing and making the furniture of the tabernacle (Exod. 31:1-11).
The Spirit of God came upon King Saul and stirred him up to carry out military action against the enemies of Israel (1 Sam. 11:1-11).
The Spirit of God came upon the Prophet Azariah, giving him a word of exhortation and warning to bring to King Asa (2 Chron. 15:1-8; see also Neh. 9:30; Ezek. 2:2; 3:24). (See Assignment 18)
The Holy Spirit “moved” or worked through holy men of God, not only to bring messages (or prophecies) from God to His people, but also to write down these messages along with historical events so that we might have the holy Scriptures, the Bible, today (2 Pet. 1:20,21).
And finally, making the transition from the Old to the New Testament, the Holy Spirit played a very important role in the Incarnation of Christ (that is, His coming to earth as a Man) and in the life of Christ on earth. The child that the Virgin Mary bore was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18-20; Luke 1:35). And the Lord Jesus carried out His earthly ministry “in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14; Matt. 3:16).
The Holy Spirit’s first work on behalf of Christians is preparing them in their sinful condition to be saved.
The Holy Spirit reproves or convicts sinners. The Lord Jesus instructed His disciples:”When He [the Holy Spirit] is come, He will reprove the world … of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:8-11). The Holy Spirit not only helps us in many ways after we become saved, but He is very active in the initial work in our hearts that leads to our salvation. We find in this passage that the Holy Spirit convicts mankind of three things:(1) our sin and need of a Saviour; (2) God’s righteousness or justice in showing mercy to repentant sinners; and (3) God’s justice in punishing those who follow Satan in rejecting Christ and not repenting of their sin.
By the way, speaking of our sin and need of a Saviour, what do you think is the worst possible sin for man to commit? Is it murder? rape? adultery? homosexuality? abortion? This passage tells us that it is the sin of not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ; in other words, it is being too proud to admit that one is a bad enough sinner to need a Saviour, or being so proud as to think that one can earn salvation by himself through his own good works. What about you? Are you committing this sin?
The Holy Spirit gives new birth or spiritual life. In our natural state, we are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1)–spiritually dead, having no life in God’s estimation, no communication with God. Every one of us needs to be made spiritually alive. We need to be “born again.” Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of water [a picture of the Word of God] and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Later, Jesus says, “It is the Spirit who quickens [or gives life]; the flesh profits nothing” (John 6:63; see also Rom. 8:11). So the Holy Spirit not only convicts sinful men and women of sin, righteousness, and judgment, but brings spiritual life to our poor, needy souls.
In the next issue we shall consider a variety of ways in which the Holy Spirit works in the lives of those to whom He has given new birth.
Running the Race
Assignment 18: Write out verses in 1 Chronicles 12, Job 26, and Isaiah 61 that describe works of the Spirit.