"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, . . . He will teach you all things." (John 14: 26.)
Very few people have learned to consider the Holy Spirit as a divine person. If people would learn to think of the Holy Spirit as they do God and Christ, much of the confusion would clear away.
This study of the person, work, and ministry of the Holy Spirit is under-taken with great humility; an approach to the subject is made with an awareness of the need for reverence, wisdom, and guidance by Him of whom these things are now written.
An effort here is made to lift this challenging theme from being hard to understand in Christian thought to the hilltops of clarity in our thinking. This subject must be restored to its proper place in the plan of salvation; it must be brought into the forefront of Christian thinking and living.
An effort here is made to lift this challenging theme from being hard to understand in Christian thought to the hilltops of clarity in our thinking. This subject must be restored to its proper place in the plan of salvation; it must be brought into the forefront of Christian thinking and living.
The Godhead
In a complete study of the Holy Spirit we must study the Godhead. "Godhead" is another form of "Godhood;” in many ancient forms these two words stand side by side; both have survived until today, though not in equally common use. "Godhead" is more frequently used now than "Godhood." The fundamental meaning of “Godhead” is the same as that of "Godhood"; these terms express the state, dignity, condition and quality of Jehovah. As “manhood” is used to express that which makes a man a man, and “childhood” that which makes a child a child, so Godhead is that which makes God God.
“We ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising." (Acts 17: 29.)
"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Col, 2: 9.)
The term "Godhead" is found but few times in the New Testament. In the Authorized Version it is found three times. (Acts 17: 29; Rom. 1: 20; Col. 2: 9.)
Paul says in Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
There are three members of the Godhead. Standing first always in the triune divinity is God the Father. He is the Creator, Jehovah, the Almighty, Lord God, and Father.
Christ is placed as the second member of the Godhead; He is given many names and titles in the Bible. Some of the names given to God are also applied to Christ. In His relation to man He is said to be the "Son of man;”
The third member of the Godhead is God, the Holy Spirit. This member is of the same nature and essence as God and Christ; the Godhead is thus composed of three coeternal and coequal persons; The Holy Spirit was present in the creation.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Genesis 1:26
God the Creator was present, the Word or Christ was present, and the Holy Spirit was present. The fact that the Holy Spirit is revealed in the Bible as a member of the Godhead makes this an important subject. Anything connected with the Godhead is important, and the more vitally connected with the Godhead the more important.
Only in the Bible may we find the names which have been given to the Holy Spirit by divine authority. His name is "The Spirit," and Jesus says, "God is a Spirit" or "God is Spirit." (John 4:24.) All the members of the Godhead are of the same nature; hence, - they partake of the nature of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit partakes of the nature of the other members of the Godhead. If we can learn the nature of the Godhead, we will then have gained information as to the nature of the Holy Spirit.
With this view of the Godhead, we are now ready to proceed with the unfolding of our sublime theme, the Holy Spirit. We should here resolve to consider prayerfully every statement that God has revealed to us of the Holy Spirit and get a clearer view of the Holy Spirit and his ministry in the redemption of our race.
The Holy Spirit is a Person
We should know who the Holy Spirit is, His nature, His essence, His ministry, His relation to God, to Christ, and to man; in fact, we should study everything that the Bible reveals concerning the Holy Spirit. As far as it is possible for us, we should clear away all superstitions and traditions and let the Holy Spirit stand out as definitely and prominently in our minds as he does on the pages of inspiration. We are to see that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; "the Spirit of God" is God the Spirit.
He is more than the vital element in Christ and His truth. The Holy Spirit vitalizes truth and makes it "sharper than any two-edged sword." The very being of God, as truly and fully personal, necessitates the possession of personal qualities that can thrive only in eternal communion between divine personalities. The personality of the Holy Spirit necessitates personal attributes. The personality of a solitary deity would have no associates with whom to communicate and exercise attributes.
Christ while on earth frequently spoke of the other two members of the Godhead; He spoke of God as His Father, and frequently prayed to Him. He also spoke of the Holy Spirit and His relation to the Holy Spirit. He said to his disciples, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14: 26.) Again, He said of the Holy Spirit that He would come from the Father, and "He will testify of Me." (John 15: 26.) And still again, He said, "However when He, the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak on His own authority ; but whatever He hears, He will speak: and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me: for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:13-15).
A "person" has life, thought, volition, action, individuality, character, and influence. The Holy Spirit has all of these; He lives; He wills; He acts; He has a separate individuality, a particular character and possesses influence. The Holy Spirit has all the marks of personality; He is one, and is always spoken of, like God and Christ, in the singular number. The Holy Spirit has life; the Spirit gives life. (Gal. 6:8.)
10 “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-12
The Spirit possesses individuality. This is another characteristic of personality. The word individuality includes personality of a particular kind. (John 16: 7-11.)
The Holy Spirit possesses character. (John 16: 13-15.) Whatever is predicted of the Father and Son is also ascribed to the Holy Spirit. The Father and the Son are life; so is the Spirit. (Job 33: 4; John 3: 5, 6.) God and Christ are light; so is the Spirit. (1 Cor. 2: 9-12.) God and the Son are love; so is the Spirit. (Rom. 5: 3-5.) There is no divine attribute which belongs to the Father and Son that may not likewise be ascribed to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has power to love. “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,” Romans 8:26-27