Chapter 3
PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRITINTRODUCTION
The personality (i.e., the quality or fact of being a person) of the Holy Spirit is set forth as clearly in the Bible as the personality of the Father and of the Son. When men deny this truth it is evidence of a Satanic blindness. Satan, who assails every truth, has made a two-fold attack on the doctrine of the personality of the Holy Spirit:
1. A doctrinal denial.
The ancient heretic, Arius, spoke of the Spirit as the "Exerted energy of God." This is to reduce the Spirit of God to a mere display of the Father's power. This error is still held by several cults.
2. A practical denial.
There are many religious people who, while not denying the Spirit's personality in their creed, yet in practice seem to view him as a mere power. Because the Spirit works unseen they seem to confound Him with His gifts and workings. These people often refer to the Spirit of God as an "it" or speak of having "a lot" of the Spirit. The author recalls hearing a Baptist preacher say "'the Spirit was there in great power." This godly man then corrected himself by saying "The Spirit was there in infinite power and manifested great power." May we also be cateful how we speak of the blessed Spirit of God.
The early churches knew the Holy Spirit as a Divine Person who could be followed (Acts 13:2) and communed with (II Corinthians 13:14). We had better beware when this awareness of His Person and presence is lost. I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FATHER AND THE SON.
It is impossible to see how one could deny the Spirit's personality and still make sense out of many Scriptures (Matthew 28:19, II Corinthians 13:14, I John 5:7). Would anyone mention a mere "exercise of power" in a listing of persons? II. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ALL OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF A PERSON.
A. He thinks - I Corinthians 2:10-11, Acts 15:28.
B. He feels.
1. He may be grieved - Ephesians 4:30.
2. He may be vexed - Isaiah 63:10.
3. He loves - Romans 15:30 (We might mention that one cannot grieve a person who does not love him or her).
C. He exercises volition (power of choice) - I Corinthians 12: 11.
D. He acts.
1. He inspired the Scriptures - II Peter 1:21
2. He teaches - John .14:26.
3. He leads - Romans 8:4.
4. He speaks - Acts 8:29, 13:2.
5. He convicts - John 16:8-11.
6. He regenerates - John 3:5.
7. He comforts - John 14:16.
8. He testifies - John 15:26.
9. He intercedes - Romans 8:26.
10. He calls preachers - Acts 13:2, 20:28.
11. He creates - Job 33:4.
E. The Holy Spirit is never confused with His gifts - (I Corinthians 12:4, 7-11, Acts 2:38). All Christians have the "gift of the Spirit," but no one has all the gifts of the Spirit."
F. Christ comforted, the Apostles by promising them the presence of another divine person in His absence - John 14:16.
The word paraclete translated "comforter" in John 14:16 is translated "advocate" in I John 2:1 and refers to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our comforter and thus it follows that the Spirit as "another Comforter" must also be a divine person. The Greek word used in John 14:16 for "another" is allos which means "another of the same kind," as opposed to heteros which means "another of a different kind."
G. Men's actions toward the Spirit prove that He is a person.
1. Men blaspheme the Spirit - Matthew 12:31.
The nature of the unpardonable sin proves the Spirit's personality. It is the blaspheming of a person and not a mere power that is unforgivable.
2. Men lie to the Spirit - Acts 5:3.
3. Men tempt the Spirit - Acts 5:9.
4. Men resist the Spirit - Acts 7:51.
5. Men obey the Spirit - Acts 13:2-3.
H. Personal pronouns are used in reference to the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 1.3:2 - "me" and "I" are used; in John 14:16 - "he" (It is true that the word "it" is sometimes used in the New Testament to refer to God's Spirit. The reason for this is that New Testament Greek as with some other languages contains a grammatical gender. The neuter gender in these languages may be used to refer to a person).
Conclusion - In the following lessons we will be studying the gifts and workings of the Holy Spirit. Before we begin let me implore you to be certain that you understand Who the Spirit of God is. As a young Christian I noticed that many churches preached the work of Christ and the plan of salvation, yet seemingly forgot the person of Christ. Let us not make this same error in regard to the Holy Spirit. =========== Go to Chapter 4 of Holy Spirit Study
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