The Holy Spirit is not just a person; He is a divine Person. John F. Walvoord, long-time president of Dallas Theological Seminary, was one of the most prominent evangelical scholars of his generation. Whenever his difficulties come between his heart and the Lord, he is evidently not enjoying the Lord’s presence, but suffering in the presence of his difficulties.-Selected. … (2) The work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration (John 3:6) likewise is clearly in the realm of a work of God. Men may influence, but only God can sanctify. 1 KINGDOM for ALL 164,468 views. The context indicates spiritual or eternal life is in view, which, originally, was the possession of God alone, now bestowed on some of His creatures through regeneration. (1) It may be noted that the Holy Spirit possesses the essential of mind or intelligence. While the variations in the views of doctrine on the Person of the Holy Spirit have been many, the great body of orthodox and conservative theology has held to the personality of the Spirit, the proofs of which may be here considered. It is customary when speaking of persons to use the personal pronouns, I, thou, he, they. The possession of the Holy Spirit by the believer was not permanent in every case.10 The Spirit had a ministry of restraining sin and in the creation of the world.11, The Holy Spirit today plays a major role in the application of salvation to the individual. In reference to the Spirit, then, water speaks of eternal life, of cleansing by washing, of the unlimited abundance of blessing, and spiritual refreshment. In like manner, the presence of the Holy Spirit is said to be the presence of God. In connection with the sovereign bestowal of spiritual gifts on men, the Spirit is said to accomplish this “as he will” (1 Cor 12:11). As πνεῦμα is neuter, it would naturally take neuter pronouns to have grammatical agreement. Without a doubt, the most tangible and conclusive evidence for the personality of the Holy Spirit is found in His works. For the sake of analysis, however, His Person will be considered first, with reference to His work only where necessary, leaving to later discussion the aspects of His work throughout the ages. Jehovah is used of all three Persons of the Trinity severally as well as of the Trinity corporately. A comparison of Isaiah 6:8-9 and Acts 28:25 will reveal that the Jehovah of Isaiah is the Holy Spirit of Acts. In the tribulation period the Spirit will be involved in salvation and filling.25 In the coming kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Spirit will be in God's people and the Spirit will be upon the King.26, 1 John 14:26; Romans 8:14; John 14:26; Romans 8:26, 2 Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 2:10–14; 1 Corinthians 12:11, 5 Acts 5:1–4; Isaiah 6:8–9 with Acts 28:25; Jeremiah 31:31–34; with Hebrews 10:15, 6 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Ephesians 2:22, 7 1 Corinthians 2:10–11; Psalm 139:7; Zechariah 4:6; Hebrews 9:14, 8 Genesis 1:2; John 3:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 11 Genesis 6:3; Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 40:12, 16 Romans 12: 1, 2; Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 3:16, 21 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30, 23 Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4, Dr. John Perkins with wise words to the church on race, Moody Bible Institute820 N. LaSalle Blvd. 6 Ordination - THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Likewise the apostolic benediction as recorded in 2 Corinthians 13:14 indicates an equality in respect to personality of the members of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is a person, as Scripture makes clear. Every aspect of the truth regarding the Holy Spirit speaks in eloquent terms of His deity. Personality, which is an attribute of His Person, is demonstrated by the actions of the Person. The identification of God and the Holy Spirit is further illustrated by the fact that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is declared by Christ to be unpardonable (Matt 12:31-32). He is not a force or a genie; He is fully God. From these several identifications, an inescapable conclusion is reached of the deity of the Holy Spirit. In the former instance it is significant of eternal life in abundance; in the latter case, it indicates the unending blessings flowing from His Person and work, the meaning made clear by the use of the term, rivers of living water. The place itself he never can lose, inasmuch as his Head and Representative, Christ, occupies it on his behalf. In the nature of the case, every discussion of any portion of either the Person or work of the Holy Spirit has a bearing on the doctrine of His personality. The matter of interpretation enters into the problem. The field of typology is rich, and has been unfortunately ignored by theologians. That He is the third Person of the Holy Trinity is made clear by His inclusion with the Father and the Son in such Bible passages as Matthew 28:19. 3. fire, Matt 3:12). The Holy Spirit is a divine person in the Godhead. It may be concluded therefore, without further summation of the arguments, that the case for the deity of the Holy Spirit is impregnable. Accordingly, it is of great significance that this title is given the Holy Spirit. While the doctrine of procession is more theological than Biblical, it is in harmony with the Scriptures as will be seen later, and an important evidence for the deity of the Holy Spirit. In the baptismal formula of Matthew 28:19, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are related on an equal basis. The Spirit of wisdom (Eph 1:17), the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Might, the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord (Isa 11:2) speak of the several ministries of God in teaching, guiding and strengthening the saint. Hence, the Holy Spirit is accorded the same honor, position, and ministry as the other members of the Trinity. (2) The Holy Spirit possesses life (Rom 8:2) which is an essential of personality. PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The person of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune God. The eternity of the Spirit (7) is evidenced also in Scripture (Heb 9:14). All of these characteristics or How do fire and the Holy Spirit often accomplish the same purpose? 2.1. Oh, Peace. No other mention is made of them in the New Testament, but the Old Testament reference is more frequent. Although He is equal with the Father and the Son, He is lesser in terms of role and submits to both (John 15:26). No valid reason may be found for this except as indicating His personality. Yet He is also distinct from them. The inconsistency of this position drove Arius and his followers finally to renounce completely the personality of the Spirit, and, as Hodge points out, no further attempt in this direction has been made since. • He has a purpose, which is leading us into all truth. The Spirit as one who manifests grace is revealed in the titles, Spirit of Grace (Heb 10:29), and the Spirit of Grace and Supplication (Zech 12:10). Shedd states that though the Socinians deny the personality of the Spirit they affirm the eternity of the Spirit as proceeding from the eternal God: “Socinians deny the distinct personality of the Holy Spirit; they concede eternity, because they regard the Spirit as the influence or effluence of the eternal God.”1 Centuries before, Arius had much the same idea, affirming that the Spirit did not have personality, as Watson indicates, “His personality was wholly denied by the Arians, and he was considered as the exerted energy of God.”2 Arius, however, denied the eternity of the Spirit, making him a creature. All instances, of course, do not involve typology, but the connection of physical life with spirit is interesting. Sucks. We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son and is of the same essence. The Work of the Holy Spirit in Salvation; 7. • The Holy Spirit is the one who leads us into all … It is inconceivable that the Scriptures should turn from the normal neuter to the masculine unless a person is in view. 20 Unpublished notes on Genesis, taken stenographically, Oct 10, 1931. This is done unconsciously rather than deliberately, their relation to the Spirit effecting this response. A study of the references to the Holy Spirit by various titles in Scripture will reveal some significant facts. 8:11, “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 indwells you.” (5) Spirit of Glory connotes His glory as being the same as the Father and the Son (1 Pet 4:14). The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity–equal with the Father and Son in essence. The work of the Holy Spirit in creation and all subsequent operations involves the procession of the Spirit. Does debt affect giving in modern times in light of the Israelite tithe and slaves? "22, The Holy Spirit sovereignly bestows spiritual gifts or abilities for service to every believer.23 Although His restraint of evil in the world today will cease with the rapture,24 He will continue to be present in the earth. (1) The Holy Spirit is revealed as possessing life (Rom 8:2). From the nature of the dove, however, it may be inferred that it speaks of beauty, gentleness, peace, and a heavenly nature. ), and in the books of Moses. In the plural, it sometimes signifies distress and tribulation (Ps 69:2, 14). The Spirit of Holiness (Rom 1:14), the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20), and the Holy One (1 John 2:20) is our sanctifier. His sovereign purposes may not be understood, but it is clear that all is according to an infinite plan. People. It should be clear from these citations that personality is absolutely necessary to explain these ministries. (4) Omniscience belongs to the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:10-11), and (5) omnipotence, as illustrated in His work of creation (Gen 1:2). It reveals the Holy Spirit as one who is always ready to help the Christian. Without denial of the one Essence of the Godhead, the personality of the Holy Spirit must be affirmed and is subject to proof unassailable by any who accept the Scriptures as authoritative. The use of the masculine form, ἐκεῖνος, makes the personality of the Holy Spirit clearly the intent of the passage. The transcendence of the Spirit is indicated (15) in the title, Free Spirit (Ps 51:12). Without the Holy Spirit, the Godhead would not be what it is. We may conclude as Charles Hodges does: “He is therefore presented in the Scriptures as the proper object of worship, not only in the formula of baptism and in the apostolic benediction, which bring the doctrine of the Trinity into constant remembrance as the fundamental truth of our religion, but also in the constant requirement that we look to Him and depend on Him for all spiritual good, and reverence and obey Him as our divine teacher and sanctifier.”8. Without denial of the one Essence of the Godhead, the personality of the Holy Spirit must be affirmed and is subject to proof unassailable by any who accept the Scriptures as authoritative. Accordingly Hodge states, “Since the fourth century his true divinity has never been denied by those who admit his personality.”5 In the fourth century Arius held originally according to Watson6 that the Spirit was created and hence affirmed in part His personality without affirming His deity. Two approaches are possible for the doctrine of the attributes of the Spirit. The Search OF the Savior: Why Jesus Came, Part 2 (Gal. It may be concluded that the reference to fire in connection with the day of Pentecost had in view the sanctification and preparation for fellowship and service necessary for the ministry that lay ahead. It was used to induct kings into office (1 Sam 10:1; 16:13; 1 Kgs 1:39; etc.). HOLY SPIRIT: The Most Important Person on Earth —Dr. He is spoken of as God and is identified with the title of Jehovah.5 The Christian who is indwelt by the Spirit is indwelt by God.6 The Holy Spirit possesses the attributes of deity, such as omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence and eternality.7 He does works only God can do, such as creating, regenerating and sanctifying.8 He is equally associated with the other members of the Trinity.9, The work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament differed somewhat from His work in the New Testament. The third proof that the Holy Spirit is a real person is from the fact, that personal qualities are, in Scripture, ascribed to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the trinity. It is the believer’s privilege ever to be in the presence of God. As a division of the doctrine of the Trinity, it affirms that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, the same in substance and essence, and equal in power, eternity, and glory. This subordination without detracting from the eternal glory and divine attributes which characterized all three Persons is illustrated abundantly in the Scriptures (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). While the statements vary, the fact of the procession is clearly stated in all as being eternal and distinguished from generation. The two doctrines are mutually sustaining. The terms cannot be reversed. If it may be assumed here that God possesses personality, if the Holy Spirit is a Person of the Trinity, He in turn possesses personality. 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