What is the Holy Spirit?

            What is the Holy Spirit? The Spirit is something that we tend to shy away from. When we think about the Spirit, it is something that can make us uncomfortable. There are many different opinions concerning the Spirit. What he is and what he does are often questioned. We talk a lot about Jesus and God, but the Spirit is often skipped. Even when the Spirit is mentioned, it is often in confusing phrases like “walk in the Spirit.” This week, we will begin our journey to explore what the Holy Spirit is. We will look specifically at his nature.

            When discussing one’s nature, one should start with personality. What is the Holy Spirit’s personality? He is a person. He is not just an influence or power, it would be easy to think so because of his name. We see that he is viewed as having a name in a list with two other persons. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19). It makes sense then that he would be a person since he is being equated to two other persons. We also see in scripture that he can be grieved. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30) The Spirit wills and chooses his actions. “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Corinthians 12:11). All of this shows us that he has intellect, emotions, and will.

            We see throughout the New Testament that the Holy Spirit performs actions as a person. We see him speaking to people. (Acts 8:29). We also see him preventing people from traveling. (Acts 16:6-11). The Spirit helps us. (Romans 8:26). He also teaches us (1 Corinthians 2:10-13). There are many other examples of the Spirit performing actions like a person.

            Scripture clearly shows the Spirit’s deity. First, we see the Holy Spirit being called Lord. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) He is also called the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ. “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9).

            We see that the Spirit also has divine attributes such as omnipotence and omniscience. “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4). “Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor?” (Isaiah 40:13). Scripture also records the Spirit being omnipresent. “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7). The Holy Spirit is also recorded as being involved in activities that only God is able to do, like creation. “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:2). He was also involved in the virgin birth. “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35). There are many other actions that are recorded in scripture that he is involved in.

            What does this mean? All of this is good information about the Spirit, but what does it mean for me? First, the Holy Spirit is the personal presence of God. Second, the Holy Spirit is fully divine and equal with the Father and the Son. Third, the Holy Spirit is not only with us; he is in us. The Spirit is a gift to us from God. He is how we are able to discern right from wrong. The Spirit is how we are able to be comforted in times of distress. The Spirit lives within us. God lives within us. Our God is so personal that he dwells with us as believers. Isn’t that amazing how God wants such a personal relationship with us that he dwells within us! As we continue to explore the Spirit in the coming weeks, we will learn more about what that means for us as believers. For now, we can dwell on the reality that we have the Spirit dwelling inside of us.