Introduction The term “Godhead” used three times in the New Testament: Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:20; Col. 2:9 Jesus accepted worship. Called Immanuel. Jesus is Creator. Forgave sins. He is equal to the Father. Explicitly called God. Jesus claimed to be God.
Knowing God (6): The Godhead The Holy Spirit John 17:3
False views of the Holy Spirit Three common themes (1) Holy Spirit is not a person, but a “thing.” (2) Holy Spirit is an impersonal “it,” not a person. (3) Hence, the Holy Spirit is not divine, not a distinct person of the God-head. Christadelphians: not a person, rather the “power or energy of the Father.” Jehovah’s Witnesses: “the active force of almighty God”; “the impersonal, invisible, active force…” Others: the Holy Spirit is not a distinct person of the Godhead, but a personification of God’s power. The Holy Spirit
Personification of God’s power? Personification: A thing, quality or idea is represented as a person; non-living things are assigned qualities of life and personality. The Bible employs personification: Jer. 22:29; Psa. 98:8; Lk. 19:40 Some claim the Holy Spirit is the personification of the Bible: The Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit Work/Action Bible 2 Cor. 3:6 Begets spiritual life Jas. 1:18 Jn. 3:3-5 Born again 1 Pet. 123 1 Cor. 6:11 Cleanses Jn. 15:2-3 Jn. 16:8 Convicts Titus 1:9 Gal. 5:22 Faith Rom. 10:17 Neh. 9:20 Instructs 2 Tim. 3:16-17 Justifies Gal. 216; Rom. 3:28 Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18 Leads Psa. 43:3; 119:105 Rom. 15:13 Power Rom. 1:16 1 Pet. 1:22 Purifies 1 Pet. 1:22-25 1 Pet. 3:18; Jn. 6:63 Made alive Psa. 119:50
Holy Spirit Work/Action Bible Rom. 8:11 Raised Jn. 5:28-29 Jn. 16:8 Reproves 2 Tim. 4:2 Acts 7:51 Resists 2 Tim. 3:8 1 Cor. 6:11 Sanctifies Jn. 17:17 Titus 3:5 Saves Jas. 1:21 Eph. 3:16 Strengthens Psa. 119:28 1 Cor. 2:13 Teaches 2 Tim. 3:16-17 Jn. 15:26 Testifies Jn. 5:39 Gal. 5:16 Walks in Psa. 119:10 Rom. 8:16 Witnesses Jn. 5:39; 1 Jn. 5:6-8
Personification of God’s power? The Holy Spirit possesses several qualities God’s Word does not; unlike the Word, the Holy Spirit: Intercedes: Rom. 8:26 Searches all things: 1 Cor. 2:10 Distributes as He wills: 1 Cor. 12:11 The Holy Spirit is NOT the Bible, rather He REVEALED the Bible: 1 Cor. 2:9-10; Eph. 3:3-4; 6:17 The Holy Spirit
Is the Holy Spirit a person? “One who has substance, completeness, self-existence, individuality, and rationality.” Substance: “something which has discrete existence” Completeness: “having all necessary parts, elements” Self-existence: “continued by one’s self, not by another” Individuality: “total character peculiar to and distinguishing an individual from others (personality)” Rationality: “possesses an intellect, ability to reason” The Holy Spirit
Is the Holy Spirit a person? Does the Holy Spirit possess the qualities of a “person” or an “it”? Jn. 16:12-14 The Holy Spirit possesses all five qualities of personhood: Mind: Rom. 8:27 Will: 1 Cor. 12:11 Fellowship: 2 Cor. 13:14 Emotions: Rom. 15:30; Eph. 4:30 Feelings: Matt. 12:31; Heb. 10:29; Acts 5:3; 7:51 The Holy Spirit
Is the Holy Spirit a person? The Holy Spirit ACTS: He testifies: Jn. 15:26 He convicts: Jn. 16:8 He guides, hears, speaks, tells: Jn. 16:13 He glorifies, acts, declares: Jn. 16:14 He sends: Acts 13:3-4 He exercises judgment: Acts 15:28 He forbids: Acts 16:6 The Holy Spirit
Is the Holy Spirit a person? The Holy Spirit ACTS: He leads: Rom. 8:14 He bears witness: Rom. 8:16 He helps, intercedes, groans: Rom. 8:26 He searches: 1 Cor. 2:10 He teaches: 1 Cor. 2:13 He works, distributes, wills: 1 Cor. 12:11 He speaks expressly: 1 Tim. 4:1 The Holy Spirit
Is the Holy Spirit a divine being? Divine in name: Acts 5:3-4; Matt. 12:28; Jn. 14:16 Divine in power: Gen. 1:2, 26; Heb. 2:3-4; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:10, 12-13 Divine in character: Heb. 9:14; Neh. 9:20; Matt. 19:17; Psa. 139:7-10; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; The Holy Spirit
Conclusion The Holy Spirit is not some intangible, vague, indefinable, ethereal “power.” The Holy Spirit is a divine person; a member of the Godhead: Rev. 22:17 Won’t you heed the Spirit’s invitation today?! Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:6; Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10; Acts 8:37; Acts 17:30; 2:38; 2:21; 22:16; Col. 1:21-23 The Holy Spirit