The Holy Spirit
Table of Contents:
Q2. What are the strong bases that the Holy Spirit is not a person?
Q4. When does the Holy Spirit live in a person?
Q5. How powerful is the power of God that is the Holy Spirit that is accepted and dwells in man?
Q6. Is there an attribute from God, which is not a person, but described as person-like?
Q1. What is the Holy Spirit?
A. Power from above, who indwells with his people.
“ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) (NIV)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) (NIV)
“2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:2-4) (NIV)
The Holy Spirit is the power from above, from God, who provides the heavenly character or ability to the person who receives it. But the Holy Spirit is not a person, but personification of the power of God. It is because of its wonderful character that it can act or speak to the glory of God who gave it to man.
Q2. What are the strong bases that the Holy Spirit is not a person?
A. The Holy Spirit is poured out, applied and shared.
““‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people…”(Acts 2:17) (NIV)
“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.” (Acts 10:45) (NIV)
“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” (Acts 10:38) (NIV)
“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,” (Heb. 6:4) (NIV)
The Holy Spirit manifested not a person in the Scriptures can easily be understood by man such as being poured out, anointed, divided, and shared, unlike God the Father and the Son of God.
Q3. For the Holy Spirit is reflected in people who believe in God (such as the apostles). The Holy Spirit is understood to be poured out, applied, or shared to people. What does the Scripture mention about when people receive the Holy Spirit?
A. The Holy Spirit lives in us.
“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Tim. 1:14) (NIV)
Q4. When does the Holy Spirit live in a person?
A. If a person is worthy of being God's temple.
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Cor. 3:16) (NIV)
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” (1 Cor. 6:19) (NIV)
When the Holy Spirit decides to dwell upon a man, is when it is pleasing to God to make him a temple. That is why through the Holy Spirit, a man becomes a temple of God, which means that God dwells in man by means of the Holy Spirit. This is why the Scripture says, that a man is God's home in the Spirit. Through the "power of God" the Holy Spirit, which is a part of man, the Scripture says that, “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph. 4:6) (NIV) Through the Holy Spirit, God the Father conveys his "presence" to all his dear people. God the Father dwells with those who love him, through his or power or spirit, which the believer receives and carries out his will.
Q5. How powerful is the power of God that is the Holy Spirit that is accepted and dwells in man?
A. It gives power or the capability to a person who can do wonders.
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:4) (NIV)
“Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor. 12:3) (NIV)
“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55) (NIV)
Because the Holy Spirit is the power of God, the one who possesses it, can do what a normal man cannot do. Man can do wonders, by the Holy Spirit. And this happens through the will of God, by the power that he has given man, called the Holy Spirit. Because of the power of God which is the Holy Spirit. Whatever is done by the Holy Spirit, such as teaching, sending disciples, and any other works that explains that God is with man. The Holy Spirit guides his children who do God’s will (Romans 8:14; I Cor. 12: 4-11).
Q6. Is there an attribute from God, which is not a person, but described as person-like?
A. Love.
“4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others,…”
If we continue to read the verse, it is seen that love is personified as:
“…it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
To continue this,
“8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” (1 Cor. 13:4-8) (NIV)
Does it mean that because love speaks as if it is a person, it is already a person? No.
The 'word of God' also has this category, indicating its 'effect'. Let's read Hebrews 4:12.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) (NIV)
The word of God is not person, but it is alive. It seems like a person. It has understanding, wisdom and intellect, though it is not a person. These characteristics are used to perceive and understand how 'powerful' God’s word is. It does not show that the word of God is already a person. it is to show man that God's word is different than any other word. Just as the Holy Spirit represents God where it originated, so is also the word of God which is spoken by God. As the Holy Spirit is God's power, his word is also his power. If this is the common belief of man, that the Holy Spirit is a person, it must also be believed and acknowledged that 'love' and 'word of God' are both human. It is not belief in the truth, but truth is ever the truth, whatever beliefs a person has, even if it is contrary to truth, the truth will remain true, because the word of the Lord Jesus is clear and firm about this, and He says:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (Jn. 14:16-17) (NIV)
Q7. If the Holy Spirit really is a person, should not he have a throne, like the Father and the Son who has a throne? Is there?
A. The Father and the Son have a throne, but there is nothing written that the Holy Spirit does have a throne.
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2) (NIV)
“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Rev. 3:21) (NIV)
“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.” (Rev. 22:3) (NIV)
For the Holy Spirit does not have a throne like the Father and Son is not a person.
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