Bible Study # 17
The Holy Spirit
Introduction:
The Holy Spirit is known as the third person of the Godhead. He is not called that because He is inferior to the Father and the Son. We have already studied that the three persons possess the same, identical and individual divine nature, substance or essence.
Those who deny the doctrine of the Trinity have so dangerously and scandalously twisted the biblical teaching about the Holy Spirit that the church finds itself in the imperative need to “contend earnestly for the faith that was once given to the saints” (Jude 3)
Naturally, what motivates us to study the person of the Holy Spirit is not theological argument, but to know the ineffable and glorious scriptural revelations about the tender, compassionate and gentle Comforter.
1. Those who refute the doctrine of the Trinity teach that the Holy Spirit is not a person, but a force or influence. What did Jesus call the Holy Spirit?
John 14:16,17
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, to be with you forever: 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him, nor know Him; but you know Him, because He dwells with you, and will be in you”
Note:
The Lord Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as “another Comforter.” The Greek word used for “another” is allos. This term “expresses a numerical difference and denotes another of the same kind.”
In Greek there is another word for the indefinite pronoun “another”, and it is heteros. This word “expresses a qualitative difference, and denotes another of a different kind.”
“Christ promised to send “another Comforter” (allos, another like Himself; not heteros). Paul says: “But I see another law,” heteros, a law different from that of the Spirit of life (not allos, a law of the same kind) (Rom. 7:23). Paul speaks of “another gospel” (heteros): not that there is another (allos, another like the one he preached) (Gal. 1: 6, 7 ).” (Quoted from: Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Vol. 3, p. 106, W.E. Vine, Editorial Clie 1984)
We conclude that Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as “another Comforter” with the intention of revealing that He was another of the same kind as Himself and the Father.
2. In what other way does the Bible reveal that the Holy Spirit is a person?
A. He possesses the faculties of a person:
(1) Intelligence 1 Cor. 2:10,11
(2) Emotions Ephesians 4:30
(3) Will Rom. 8:26, 27
(4) Desire 1 Cor. 12:11
(5) Knowledge 1 Cor. 2:11
(6) Opinion Acts 15:28
(7) Decision and determination Acts 16: 6, 7
B. He behaves like a person:
(1) Speaks John 16:13
(2) Guides John 16:13
(3) Convicts John 16: 7-10
(4) Glorifies the Son John 16: 14
(5) Teaches John 14:26
(6) Comforts John 14:16; 16:7
(7) Testifies John 15:26
(8) Commissions Acts 13:2
(9) Forbids Acts 16:6,7
(10) Intercedes Rom. 8:26
(11) Searches 1 Cor. 2:10, 11
(12) Calls Rev. 22:17
C. He is treated like a person:
(1) He can be tempted Acts 5:9
(2) He can be lied to Acts 5: 1-4
(3) He can be blasphemed Matt. 12:31, 32
(4) He can be insulted Heb. 10:29
(5) He can be grieved Ephesians 4:30
(6) He can be resisted Acts 7:51
3. How can we prove biblically that, besides being a person, the Holy Spirit is also God with the Father and the Son?
A. He is named as a different person, but one and the same thing with the Father and the Son – Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Acts 5: 1-9
B. He has the divine attributes just like the Father and the Son. The Comforter is:
- God Acts 5: 3, 4
- Eternal Hebrews 9:4
- Creator Job 33:4, 26:1
- Omniscient 1 Cor. 2:10, 11; John 16: 12, 13
- Truth John 16:3
- Holy Ps. 51:11
- Omnipresent Ps. 139: 7-10
- Omnipotent Luke 1:35
4. What difference does the Bible make between the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ?
Rom. 8:9; Ephesians 2:18; 4: 4-6
“But you do not live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His”
“because through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father”
“one body, and one Spirit, as you were also called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all”
5. What was the Holy Spirit’s part in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ?
A. Christ was conceived by the Spirit – Luke 1:35
B. Christ was baptized by the Spirit – John 1:32, 33
C. Christ was led by the Spirit – Luke 4:1
D. Christ was anointed by the Spirit – Luke 4:18 Acts 10:38
E. Christ was authorized and empowered by the Spirit – Luke 10:38; Matt. 12. 28
F. Christ was offered by the Spirit to God as an atonement – Hebrews 9:14
G. Christ was raised by the Spirit – Rom. 8:11
H. Christ was made alive by the Spirit – 1 Pet. 3:18
I. Christ gave commandments by the Spirit – Acts 1:2
6. Of whom does the Holy Spirit speak and testify?
John 16: 13-15
“But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears, and He will let you know the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify Me; for He will take of what is Mine, and will let you know it. 15 All that the Father has is Mine; that is why I said that He will take of what is Mine, and will let you know it”
7. What is the work of the Holy Spirit in the world?
John 16: 7-10
“But I tell you the truth: It is better for you that I go away; for if I did not go, the Comforter would not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He comes, He will convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. 9 Of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no more”
8. Who is the one who works the new birth in man?
John 3: 3-6
“Jesus answered and said to him: Truly, truly, I say to you, that he who is not born again cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus said to Him: How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you, that he who is not born of water and of the Spirit cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”
9. What is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer?
A. He dwells in the believer – 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Ephesians 2:22
B. He sanctifies the believer – 1 Pet. 1:2; Rom. 15:16
C. He seals the believer – Ephesians 1:13; 4:30
D. The believer is baptized with the Holy Spirit – Acts 4: 4,5
E. He gives assurance to the believer – Rom 8:16
F. He fills the believer – Acts 2:4; Ephesians 5:18
G. He teaches the believer – John 14: 26
H. He guides the believer into all truth – John 16:13
I. He gives life to the believer – Rom 8: 11
J. He intercedes for the believer – Rom. 8: 26,27
10. What is the sin against the Holy Spirit?
Matt. 12: 22- 32
“Then a demon-possessed man, blind and mute, was brought to Him; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man saw and spoke. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said: Could this be the Son of David? 24 But the Pharisees, when they heard it, said: This man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons. 25 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has surely come upon you. 29 For how can anyone enter the house of the strong man and plunder his goods, unless he first binds him? And then he can plunder his house.30 He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 31 Therefore I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven them. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come”
11. What does the Holy Word want to teach us when it mentions the divine persons and of the three uses the expression “is the same”?
1 Cor. 12: 4-6
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the Spirit is the same. 5 And there are diversities of ministries, but the Lord is the same. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but God, who works all things in all, is the same”
12. By what power does God overcome every impossibility?
Zech. 4:6
“Then he answered and spoke to me, saying: This is the word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel, which says: Not by an army, nor by strength, but by My Spirit, says Jehovah of hosts”
