The Holy Spirit
By Ayooluwa
The Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity.
The Trinity holds that God is one but equally affirms that there are three Persons in the Godhead. The one Godhead exists simultaneously in three persons. Three persons does not mean three individuals, but three distinct forms of manifestation, and yet each is distinct from the other.
So we can say the Holy Spirit is God and therefore eternal; He is a person and He speaks. When Jesus came to earth to die for our sins, as previously discussed, He paid for the penalty, power and presence of sin, and before He ascended to heaven He promised us the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16-17
[16] 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.
He gave us the Holy Spirit, our advocate, as a promise.
The Lord also communicated this promise as prophecy through prophets like Joel:
Joel 2:28
[28] “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”
This was prophecy for them then, but now a reality for us as believers. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon only a few people, like Samson (Judges 13-16), but it was always “upon” and not from “within.” For us as believers, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling even from within.
For a believer, or for one who is saved, we have the Holy Spirit inherently dwelling in us. The scripture puts it this way:
Ephesians 1:13-14
[13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.
This goes to show that the guarantee and proof that we are God’s heirs and possess an inheritance in Him is the Holy Spirit, which every believer has.
Characteristics of the Holy Spirit
1. Salvation
The Holy Spirit is the mysterious power behind redemption. No one comes to Christ without being convinced and drawn by the Holy Spirit.
2. Sanctification
The Holy Spirit is the one who carries out the work of sanctification in the lives of those who have been regenerated.
3. Empowerment for Life and Ministry
The Holy Spirit empowers believers for life and ministry. Christian life and Christian ministry are practical impossibilities without the daily help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is why the Bible describes the Christian life simply as life in the Spirit.
4. Fruit of the Spirit
The Bible uses the metaphor of fruit to describe the development of Christian character in the life of a believer (Galatians 5:22-23). It is called the Fruit of the Spirit to show that these qualities are not something any person can produce in their own strength or ability. It is called the Fruit of the Spirit as an indication that it comes from a person whose life is controlled by the Spirit. In practical terms, the Fruit of the Spirit is the consistent and satisfying work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.
5. Spiritual Gifts
The Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts on believers (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4).
