The Deity of the Holy Spirit

Review We are still trying to grasp the nature of the Holy Spirit We looked at the fact that He is a personal being –His works –His characteristics –The slights and injuries He can suffer

A Divine Being His attributes –Omniscient (“all-knowing”) – 1 Cor 2:10-11 –Omnipresent (“all-present”) – Ps 139:7- 10 –Eternal – Heb 9:14

A Divine Being His works –He was involved in the "creation" of the world - Gen 1:2 –He was involved in the "working of miracles" - Ro 15:18-19 –He was involved in the "redemption" of man - He 9:14 –He is involved in the "regeneration" of man - Ti 3:4-6

A Divine Being If He has the attributes of God and does the works of God, and if He is a personal being, then mustn’t He be God? –Acts 5:3-4, 8 –Lying to the Holy Spirit = lying to God

Questions Does that mean the Bible teaches a polytheistic concept of God? Are there three Gods, or only one God? What relationship does the Holy Spirit maintain with the Father and with Jesus Christ?

Different Concepts of God TRITHEISM... –This view holds that there are three gods –That is, that the "Father" is a god, the "Son" (Jesus) is a god, and the "Holy Spirit" is a god three separate and distinct gods –This is truly polytheism (a belief in more than one god) –Mormons hold to a slight variation of this view, in that they do not limit it to just three gods, but believe there many more gods

What’s wrong with this view? TRITHEISM... –Would require more than one God (Dt 6:4)

Different Concepts of God ARIANISM... –Named after Arius, who lived in Alexandria around 300 A.D and taught this view God the Father existed from eternity Jesus (God the Son) was created in time by the Father The Holy Spirit is a creation of the Son (therefore, a creature of a creature) –Members of Jehovah's Witnesses hold similar views, believing that... Jesus is a created being The Holy Spirit is just an impersonal force sent by God to accomplish His purpose

What’s wrong with this view? Arianism –Would require the Son to be created (Jn 1:1-3) –Would require the Spirit to be created (Gn 1:2) –Or require the Spirit to be non-personal (our last lesson dealt with this impossibility)

Different Concepts of God SABELLIANISM... –After Sabellius, who lived in the 200s A.D. –This view holds that God is one person... Who has manifested Himself in three different ways or three different modes Not simultaneously, but successively; for example... –At one moment God presents Himself as Creator (or Father) –At another moment, as Redeemer (or Son) –Then again, as Revealer (or Holy Spirit) –This view is held by many modern theologians, and by those who emphasize baptism in the name of Jesus "only" (United Pentecostal Church)

What’s wrong with this view? Sabellianism –Would require that God could only be present in one person at a time (Mt 3:16-17)

Different Concepts of God TRINITARIANISM... –This is the doctrine of the trinity From a Latin word, trinus, which means "threefold" Meaning a triad, or "group of three", suggesting both unity and diversity –This view holds that God is one God... But that the one God exists eternally in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) That in this one God there is both unity and diversity: –The unity consists, not in the unity of purpose only, but in one common nature, in the sameness of "Godhood" –The diversity is seen in that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinguishable

FATHERSON HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT – 1 Jn 1:3 IS NOT – Mt 3: IS NOT – Jn 16:7 GOD IS 1 Cor 1:3 IS Jn 1:1 IS Acts 5:3-4

Is this view biblical? God (Gen 1:1) Elohim – a plural form –“Us”, “Our” (Gen 1:26, Gen 11:5-7, Isa 6:8) –It harmonizes the several passages referring to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each as God Can more than one be one? –Jn 10:30, 17:11, 17:20-21; Mt 19:4-6 –Not a numerical count, but one in purpose –Unity

Conclusion Not an easy concept to grasp. We must … –Let the Bible reveal the nature of God Accept what it reveals by faith Even when we cannot comprehend it –Avoid developing a concept of God (and the Holy Spirit) Through humanistic and rationalistic thinking Twisting the Scriptures to fit such concepts