BIBLICALIST
CLOSEBeliefs Examined
A biblical examination of the Holy Spirit’s personhood and deity, His speaking, teaching, willing, grieving, intercession, and work in believers.
BELIEFS EXAMINED
IS THE HOLY SPIRITA PERSON ORMERELY A FORCE?
The Holy Spirit is a divine Person, not an impersonal energy, influence, or force. He speaks, teaches, wills, guides, intercedes, can be grieved, and is identified as God. His power is real, but power is something He exercises; it is not all that He is.
“The Holy Spirit is only God’s active power, like electricity or an invisible force.”
In Acts 13 the Holy Ghost speaks in the first person, calls men to a work, and directs the church to separate them. An impersonal force does not say “me” and “I” or appoint missionaries.
Throughout Acts, the Spirit forbids, permits, witnesses, and directs. These are personal actions, not merely descriptions of religious emotion.
Jesus consistently used personal language for the Spirit and promised that He would teach the disciples, bring Christ’s words to remembrance, testify of Christ, and guide into truth.
Guidance can include the exercise of power, but guidance itself involves knowledge, purpose, and communication.
Spiritual gifts are distributed according to the Spirit’s own will. Scripture does not describe believers manipulating a spiritual force through techniques.
The Spirit sovereignly works within the body of Christ, giving diverse gifts for the common good.
A force may be resisted physically, but it cannot experience grief. Believers are commanded not to grieve the Holy Spirit through corrupt speech, bitterness, malice, and other sin.
This personal grief should deepen reverence. The indwelling Spirit is not a tool in the believer’s hands; the believer belongs to God.
Romans describes the Spirit helping believers’ infirmities and making intercession according to the will of God. Intercession requires personal knowledge and intention.
He searches all things and knows the things of God. These are not qualities of an unconscious power.
Peter told Ananias that he had lied to the Holy Ghost and then said he had lied unto God. The Spirit is not merely an angel or created person.
The baptismal name joins Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Scripture distinguishes the Persons while affirming the one divine name.
The KJV sometimes uses “itself” in constructions such as Romans 8:26. English usage does not erase the many passages where personal acts, knowledge, will, speech, and grief are attributed to the Spirit.
Doctrine must be formed from the whole testimony of Scripture rather than one English pronoun isolated from its context.
Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Inspiration involves intelligent divine communication, not merely an emotional surge or religious atmosphere.
The Spirit who inspired the written Word never leads believers to contradict that Word. Claims of spiritual guidance must therefore be tested by Scripture rather than accepted because they feel powerful.
Jesus commanded baptism in the singular name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The Spirit is neither omitted from the divine identity nor treated as an impersonal attachment.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are personally distinguished while sharing the one divine name.
Why must the Spirit be confessed as a divine Person?
He speaks and calls servants.
He teaches and guides into truth.
He distributes gifts according to His will.
He can be grieved by sin.
He intercedes and knows the mind of God.
Lying to the Holy Ghost is lying to God.
He is named with the Father and the Son.
Do not treat the Holy Spirit as a power to activate or control. Honor Him as God, submit to the Word He inspired, refuse the sins that grieve Him, and depend upon His indwelling work to glorify Jesus Christ.
1. What personal words does the Spirit use in Acts 13:2?
2. What did Jesus say the Spirit would do?
3. How does the Spirit distribute gifts?
4. Why does grief demonstrate personhood?
5. How does Acts 5 identify the Holy Spirit?