Foundations Edition

4.  The Holy Spirit

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Chapter 4

The Holy Spirit

Sections

  1. The Holy Spirit and God
  2. The Holy Spirit’s Divine Characteristics
  3. The Holy Spirit Is Personal

To have a good understanding of God, it is vital that we know about the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit. As such the Holy Spirit is closely linked with God and what he does.

Note that in regard to the Holy Spirit and God’s people, see the second half of 17. Keys to God’s Interaction.

The Holy Spirit and God

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God

The earth [in the beginning] was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water.   Genesis 1:2 CEV

The Holy Spirit is God’s spirit. As such one should bear in mind that when the Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit, it is in effect speaking of God himself. This is reflected by the Holy Spirit’s divine characteristics, spoken of later in this chapter.

The Holy Spirit is linked with God’s presence

[John, to believers:] The people who obey God’s commands live in God, and God lives in them. We know that God lives in us because of the Spirit God gave us.   1 John 3:24 NCV™

This verse links the Holy Spirit with God’s presence by teaching that because believers have God’s Spirit, God lives in them.

God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are very closely associated

[Jesus, to his disciples:] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, …   Matthew 28:19 NET

[Paul, to believers:] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.   2 Corinthians 13:14 NCV

The Holy Spirit’s Divine Characteristics

The Holy Spirit is everywhere

[David, to God:] Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight?   Psalms 139:7 CEV

The Holy Spirit is eternal

Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God and cleansed our consciences from the useless things we had done. Now we can serve the living God.   Hebrews 9:14b GW

The Holy Spirit has sovereign power

[John, to believers:] God’s Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world [Satan].   1 John 4:4b CEV

The description of the Holy Spirit as greater than Satan – “the one that is in the world” – shows the Spirit’s great power.

The Holy Spirit has complete knowledge

For the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.   1 Corinthians 2:10 ISV

This speaks of the Holy Spirit searching out or finding out all things (cf. CEV, NCV, NLT).

The Holy Spirit Is Personal

The Holy Spirit communicates

[Paul, to believers:] But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain.   Romans 8:26b NCV™

The Holy Spirit interacts in other ways

The church became stronger, as the Holy Spirit encouraged it and helped it grow.   Acts 9:31b CEV

[Paul, to believers:] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.   Galatians 5:18 NET

Pray for persecuted Christians