In this study of the Holy Spirit, we shall ask and attempt to biblically answer two probative questions: Who is the Holy Spirit? Is the Holy Spirit active today and if so, what does He do?

The Holy Spirit possesses traits that reveal his identity.  The Spirit is omniscient.

“10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11: For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (I Cor. 2).

The Holy Spirit possesses traits that reveal his identity.  The Spirit is omniscient.  The Spirit is omnipresent.

“4: For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.5: Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7: Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Ps. 139.)

The Holy Spirit possesses traits that reveal his identity.  The Spirit is omniscient.  The Spirit is omnipresent.  The Spirit is omnipotent.

“8: But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin” (Micah 3). (See John 14, 15, 16.)

“12: I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13: 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 shew you things to come” (John 16, the first “he” is the Greek ekeinos, a strong masculine pronoun).

What the Spirit has done.  The Spirit took part in creation.

“1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2: And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen. 1).

What the Spirit has done.  The Spirit took part in creation.  The Spirit delivered the truth.

“26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you…. 13: 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 shew you things to come…” (John 14; 16).

What the Spirit has done.  The Spirit took part in creation.  The Spirit delivered the truth.  The Spirit miraculously assisted the infant church.

“7: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8: For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9: To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10: To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (I Cor. 12, cp. 13: 8-10).

What can be done to the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit can be despised.

“29: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10.)

What can be done to the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit can be despised.  The Spirit can be blasphemed.

“31: Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men” (Matt. 12).

What can be done to the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit can be despised.  The Spirit can be blasphemed.  The Spirit can be grieved.

“29: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4).

What can be done to the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit can be despised.  The Spirit can be blasphemed.  The Spirit can be grieved.  He can be resisted.

“51: Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52: Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers” (Acts 7).

What can be done to the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit can be despised.  The Spirit can be blasphemed.  The Spirit can be grieved.  He can be resisted.  Can lie to the Holy Spirit.

“1: But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2: And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3: But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” (Acts 5.)

What the Spirit possess.  He has a mind.

“26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27: And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8).

What the Spirit possess.  He has a mind.  The Spirit has a will.

“10: To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (I Cor. 12).

What the Spirit possess.  He has a mind.  The Spirit has a will.  He has affection.

“29: And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 30: Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Rom. 15).

What the Spirit possess.  He has a mind.  The Spirit has a will.  He has affection.  The Spirit has knowledge.

“10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11: For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (I Cor. 2).

The Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead. “13: All the saints salute you. 14: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen: (2 Cor. 13).

The Godhead or State of Being God IS God Deity Father SonHoly Spirit IS NOT (John 8: 16) (Acts 10: 38) (John 14: 26) (John 20: 17) (Acts 5: 3, 4)(Hebrews 1: 8)

What the Spirit does: Holy Spirit 1. He effects the new birth (John 3: 5). 2. The Spirit sanctifies ( I Pet. 1: 2 ). 3. The Spirit convicts ( John. 16: 8, ASV ). 4. The Spirit comforts ( Acts 9: 31 ). 5. Teaches ( I Cor. 2:13 ). 6. Saves ( Tit. 3: 5 ). 7. Purifies ( I Pet. 1: 22 ). 8. The Spirit also exerts power ( Rom. 15:13 ).

What the word does: Holy Spirit 1. It effects the new birth (I Pet. 1: 23). 2. The word sanctifies ( John 17: 17 ). 3. The word convicts ( Tit. 1: 9). 4. The word comforts ( I Thes. 4: 18 ). 5. Teaches ( 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17 ). 6. Saves ( Jas. 1: 21 ). 7. Purifies ( I Pet. 1:23 ). 8. The word also exerts power ( Rom. 1:16 ).

When the same action is ascribed to an instrument and a person, it is axiomatic that the person achieves the action through the specific instrument. A. Hence, the Holy Spirit (the "person" or being) works through the word. Any doctrine that presents the Holy Spirit in the mentioned matters working outside of the word and eliminating the need of the word is patently false. a. In the recorded instances of salvation, the word was preached (Acts 2: ff.). To resist the word is tantamount to resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7: 51-53).

The truth of the matter is, every case of salvation today is commenced, continued, and shall be consummated by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit, however, does not work irresistibly, mysteriously, and directly. He works through the word of God, the seed of the kingdom (Luke. 8: 11). In addition, the Holy Spirit has an active role in the prayer of the saved, along with Jesus, the Mediator (Rom. 8: 26, cp. I Tim. 2: 5).

Does the Spirit dwell in the Christian? The scriptures teach that the Father dwells in the Christian (I John 4: 12, 13). The Son and the Holy Spirit are also said to dwell in the Christian (Eph. 3: 17; I Cor. 6: 19). It is important that we notice that the scriptures also teach that the Christian dwells in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (I Jn. 4: 16; Gal. 3: 27; Rom. 8: 9).

Does the Spirit dwell in the Christian ? Those who contend for the personal and bodily indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the body of the believer must consistently contend for the personal and bodily indwelling of the Father and the Son in the body of the Christian. Moreover, to be consistent, they must argue for the Christian personally and bodily indwelling the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The truth of the matter is the scriptures do not teach the bodily and direct indwelling of the Spirit. To abide or dwell in often simply denotes a relationship and acceptance. The Father and the Son dwell in the Christian through the word (2 John. 9). Paul taught, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…" (Col. 3: 16). In the parallel verse, the same writer said, "…but be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5: 18).

Hence, the Spirit also dwells in the Christian through the agency of the word. Besides, the view of the personal and bodily indwelling of deity in the body of the Christian is a pantheistic concept of God. God is "bodily" in heaven, but his presence is everywhere and he influences men on earth (cp. 2 Chroni. 6: 21, 23; Ps. 139: 7ff.).

Holy Spirit

The gift of the Holy Spirit. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2: 38).

The prominent views relative to the meaning of the gift of the Holy Spirit may be simply mentioned as follows: (1). The Holy Spirit as a person is meant, hence, they were promised the direct, personal, and bodily indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Those who hold this view may be divided into two groups, those who contend that by virtue of the personal indwelling, miracle working ability is resident, and those who do not contend in miracle working capability.

(2). Others believe the gift of the Holy Spirit refers to something the Spirit gives, the Abrahamic promise of old that involved all the nations of the earth being blessed through Abraham (Gen. 12: 3, Gal. 3: 29).

If the gift of the Holy Spirit entails the miraculous, as some insist, then those who were scripturally baptized should have demonstrated miracle working ability by virtue of the gift of the Holy Spirit. However, this was not the case. About three thousand were baptized and did receive the remission of their sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, but we only read of the apostles performing miracles (Acts 2: 43). In fact, subsequent to the people receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, we only read of the apostles performing miracles (Acts 4: 16, 33, 5: 12).

It is not until Acts 6: 8 that we read of one other than an apostle performing miracles. It will be appreciated that just prior to the statement of Stephen performing miracles, it was said, "…they (apostles, dm) laid their hands of them" (Acts 6: 6). Please remember the historian's words: "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given…" (Acts 8: 17, 18).

The Christians at Rome had received the gift of the Holy Spirit upon baptism (Acts 2: 38, 39). Yet, they did not possess miracle working ability. I say this because one reason Paul wanted to journey to Rome was, "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established" (Rom. 1: 11, see chapter 6).

14: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith…. 16: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.…27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3).

The gift of the Spirit is universal and is eternal life and all associated with it, the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham. It is realized in Christ (Acts 2: 39, 3: 19). Holy Spirit

Conclusion: Alas, there is much ignorance regarding the Holy Spirit, his being, place the Godhead, his work in New Testament times, and His work today. Much needless superstition, mysticism, and pantheism abound.