The Bible Research Library Topic page Salvation
The Bible Research Library
Search The Scriptures
As You "Investigate The Truth"
The Holy Spirit (Part
1)
The Holy Spirit is a person. He has the same personal
characteristics and qualities as God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus said about the Holy Spirit, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of
truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak
of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will
show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine,
and shall show it unto you." John 16: 13-14. In these two verses alone,
the Holy Spirit is identified by the masculine personal pronoun "he"
eight times. Obviously the Holy Spirit is a person as he is identified
by a personal pronoun by our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit is one of three divine persons composing
what the Bible calls "The Godhead". The term "Godhead"
is used three times in the Bible. In Acts Chapter 17, verse 29, the Apostle
Paul said, "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought
not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven
by art and man's device". In Colossians Chapter 2, verse 9, we read
concerning Christ, "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead
bodily". The other Godhead reference is Romans 1, verse 20.
From these three references, we would not know who compose
the Godhead, nor how many there would be. But this we know by reading First
John Chapter 5, verse 7, which says, "There are three that bear record
in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are
one". There is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Our Lord Jesus Christ recognized these three divine persons when he taught
that we are to be baptized "In the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost".
Matthew Chapter 28, verse 19. The inspired Apostle Paul
recognized these three divine persons when he wrote, "The grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy
Ghost, be with you all". 2 Corinthians 13: 14. These three differ
in function, but they are one in nature, attributes, and purpose.
Just as God the Father had a part in the creation of
the physical universe, and just as God's Son, called in John Chapter 1,
verse 1 and 14 "the Word", had a part, so also the Holy Spirit
had a significant part in creating the physical universe. In Genesis Chapter
1, verse 2, it is said, "Job said, and the spirit of God moved upon
the face of the waters; by His spirit He hath garnished the heavens"
Job 26: 13.
Just as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit each had a part in the creation of the physical universe, so each
also had a part in our salvation from sin. This salvation is thought of
as a new "creation", as II Corinthians Chapter 5, verse 17 says,
"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature". God the Father
planned our salvation "Before the foundation of the world" Ephesians
1: 4. God the Son died on the cross for our sins and shed his blood which
"Cleanseth us from all sin" I John 1: 7. The Holy Spirit also
functions in our salvation. He was promised by Christ to the apostles,
to "Teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance"
John 14: 26. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles "into all truth"
John 16: 13, thus they presented a perfect message of salvation to the
world, which is preserved in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit influences
men through the instrument of the word of God, which Paul says is the "Sword
of the Spirit" Ephesians 6: 17. May God bless you as the Holy Spirit
works through God's word in your life.
|
Click
here to look up Bible Passages
Any
suggestions, comments, or questions for more Bible related messages
BACK
TO HOME PAGE