Who is the Holy Spirit

Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit

John 14:16–17 NIV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—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.

Understanding Theology, Volume One 1. Jesus’ Introduction of the Holy Spirit to His Disciples Implies that the Holy Spirit Is a Person Just as Jesus Is a Person (John 14:16–17)

1. He is ‘another Counsellor’. This implies two things:

(a) ‘Another’ refers to one in addition to what Jesus had been.

(b) Counsellor is the NIV translation of the Greek parakletos.

(1) It is difficult to translate parakletos into one word, e.g., Comforter, Advocate.

(2) It literally means ‘one who comes alongside’.

(c) In short: as Jesus had come alongside, so too would the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Came to the Church

Acts 2:1 NIV

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Acts 2:1

Acts 2:4 NIV

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Understanding Theology, Volume One 1. Jesus’ Introduction of the Holy Spirit to His Disciples Implies that the Holy Spirit Is a Person Just as Jesus Is a Person (John 14:16–17)

The Holy Spirit would never depart from them: ‘To be with you forever’.

(a) This promise coincides with Jesus’ words (Matthew 28:20; cf. Hebrews 13:5).

(b) Though the Spirit can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), he will never depart from us.

5. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. ‘The Spirit of truth’.

(a) Objectively, the Spirit cannot lie since God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2).

(1) The Holy Spirit witnesses only to the truth.

(2) The Holy Spirit leads only to the truth.

The Holy Spirit would never depart from them: ‘To be with you forever’.

(a) This promise coincides with Jesus’ words (; cf. ).

(b) Though the Spirit can be grieved (), he will never depart from us.

5. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. ‘The Spirit of truth’.

(a) Objectively, the Spirit cannot lie since God cannot lie (; ).

(1) The Holy Spirit witnesses only to the truth.

(2) The Holy Spirit leads only to the truth.

Understanding Theology, Volume One 1. Jesus’ Introduction of the Holy Spirit to His Disciples Implies that the Holy Spirit Is a Person Just as Jesus Is a Person (John 14:16–17)

The Holy Spirit would make Jesus real without having him with them physically.

(a) This was the hardest thing for them to believe.

(1) Jesus assured them that his departure was ‘for their good’ (John 16:7).

(2) This did not thrill them (John 16:6).

The Holy Spirit would make Jesus real without having him with them physically.

(a) This was the hardest thing for them to believe.

(1) Jesus assured them that his departure was ‘for their good’ ().

(2) This did not thrill them ().

Therefore they would not lose Jesus after all.

Kendall, R. T. Understanding Theology, Volume One. Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus, 1996. Print.

(a) Through the Holy Spirit they got him back.

(b) He was now as real by the Spirit as he had been in the flesh.

Understanding Theology, Volume One 1. Jesus’ Introduction of the Holy Spirit to His Disciples Implies that the Holy Spirit Is a Person Just as Jesus Is a Person (John 14:16–17)

Therefore they would not lose Jesus after all.

(a) Through the Holy Spirit they got him back.

(b) He was now as real by the Spirit as he had been in the flesh.

Kendall, R. T. Understanding Theology, Volume One. Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus, 1996. Print.