The Holy Spirit of God

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 10
The Holy Spirit is God, as the Father is God, and the Son is God„ in the Unity of the Godhead, of One Substance, One in knowledge, counsel, will, purpose. We are obliged in speaking of them together to put their names in a certain order. Scripture gives the order in baptism, that those baptized are baptized in the name (not names) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matt. 28:1919Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19)). But we must be careful not to make any distinction in the Persons of the Godhead in the way of One being more prominent than the Other.
An illustration has helped the writer. Think of a chandelier with three branches, the branches equally distant from each other, all fed from the central stem, diffusing the light equally, blending so perfectly that no one can say, which light belongs to this branch or that branch. If you were asked which was the most important branch, you would reply they are all one in the purpose of giving light, all fed by the same central stem, and no one can say where all are alike that there is any degree of differing. importance in respect of these three branches. But suppose for the sake of a very careful inventory of the furniture of the home, it is necessary to distinguish between these branches, the distinction would be arbitrary, and. should be so treated. We think this little illustration does help to some understanding of the matter in hand.
It has been largely taught that the Holy Spirit is not a Person, but an influence radiating from God. But here is language that only can be 'attributed to a Person, and that Person Divine, for Scripture clearly attributes sovereignty, which is one of the attributes of God, to the Holy Spirit. "But all these worketh that one and the Selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as HE WILL." (1 Cor. 12:1111But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:11)).
In the following Scripture again the Holy Spirit is seen acting only as God can act, that is in full sovereignty, "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate ME Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I HAVE CALLED THEM." (Acts 13:22As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (Acts 13:2)).
An influence cannot speak, and give authoritative instructions as these are with their vast implications in connection with the impact of Christianity on Judaism and a pagan world. Then we read of the Holy Spirit as THE ETERNAL SPIRIT (Heb. 9:1414How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)). None can have the word, eternal, describing their being, but A Divine Person, only God Himself. It is to be noted that whilst the Scriptures clearly teaching the eternity of the Father and the Son, it is reserved to the Holy Spirit to have the description given in these actual words, ETERNAL SPIRIT.
The three Persons of the Godhead are bracketed together, which could not have been if the Spirit were impersonal. We read, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. 28:1919Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19)).
In similar fashion we have the charming doxology at the close of the second Corinthian epistle, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen." (2 Cor. 13:1414The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. <<The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.>> (2 Corinthians 13:14)).
Here is the Apostle Peter's testimony to the same truth. We read, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of THE SPIRIT, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:22Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2)). Here again we have the activities of Three Divine Persons bracketed together in one activity of sovereign grace.
In this present dispensation, since the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, as sent of the Father (John 14:1616And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16)), as sent of the Son (John 15:2626But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)), as come of His own volition (John 16:77Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)), the Holy Spirit has been pleased to indwell all believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, who have received the gospel of their salvation (Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)), as the Seal, the Anointing, the Earnest, and as forming the one body of Christ on earth, Christ Himself being the glorious Head in Heaven, believers being members of that body on earth for the continuance of the life of Christ on earth in the persons of His members. Thus the Holy Spirit is the Inspirer of our worship and prayers till the moment comes when prayer shall be no longer necessary, when we shall be in the realized companionship of Christ in glory. One day all Christian activity on earth will cease. Then,
"From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
ALLELUIA."
Blessed happy prospect! AMEN.