The Holy Spirit: Who is He and What Does He Do?

The Holy Spirit: Who is He and What Does He Do? June 26, 2021 o “The Holy Spirit” – is the 3rd person of our Triune God. We have one God who is three persons. [Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2] o “Spirit” – in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word is “ruach”, which means “wind” or “breath” and often points to the divine energy and power that can only be of and from God. In the New Testament, the Greek word is “pneuma”, which also means “wind, breath, or air”; the invisible force of the Lord’s power at work. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 12 13 Who is The Holy Spirit? 1. The Holy Spirit is a Unique Person Within the Trinity ü ü ü ü The Big Idea: We have been saved by and we worship a Trinitarian God. What the Father plans for our salvation, the Son procures and what the Son procures, the Holy Spirit applies to our lives. Understanding who the Spirit is and what He uniquely does is essential for our Christian living. John 14:18, 26–28 (ESV) 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. As a person, He may be grieved. [Ephesians 4:30] His work can be quenched. [1 Thessalonians 5:19] His will may be resisted . [Acts 7:51] There is an Un-Biblical teaching called “modalism”. This teaches that God takes on different modes from time to time – sometimes Father, sometimes Son, sometimes Spirit. 2. The Holy Spirit is God ü ü He is both co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. He is sent by the Father and His work is never separate from the person of the Son. Father, Son, and Spirit are in perfect unity, carrying out the will of the Lord. 26 John 16:7–15 (ESV) Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 7 What Has the Holy Spirit Done (or, What Is He Doing)? 1. He was the agent of Creation [Genesis 1:1-2] 2. He is the essential 3rd person of our Triune God and is, therefore a part of our being created in the image of God. [Genesis 1:26] 3. He is the agent of the re-creating, redemptive work of God in those who are saved. [John 3:5] 4. He is the Author of Scripture. [2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21] 5. He is God’s presence in you and with you. [John 14:16-17] 6. He works in Christians to transform our lives, seen in the character of Christ manifest in us that Paul called “the fruit of the Spirit”. [Galatians 5:22-23] 7. He gives spiritual gifts to those who are saved. [Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4]