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from what I know from being in the baptist church for so long they say God is a person, Jesus is a person , and the Holy spirit is a
person
How can a person live inside you?
God is a spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth. john 4:24
If God is a spirit isn't He the holy spirit?
My thought is that if God is a spirit He is not seperate from the Holy SpiritQuote (Lightenup @ Aug. 17 2009,15:37) Trinitarians believe that the Holy Spirit is a separate “being” of the triune God. I suggest this was not the message of scriptures. It is never mentioned of the Spirit as being the “third person of the trinity” anywhere in scriptures. As Michael L. Brown says in Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus,” p. 53:
Quote …Is the “Spirit of God” the same as “God”? Yes and no. The Spirit clearly has personality, since the Holy Spirit instructs the people of Israel and can be grieved or angered. Yet the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God-i.e., God's very Spirit, he is both giving himself as well as giving of himself. The key is always this: God touches us, teaches us, interacts with us, and empowers us by his Spirit. With that understanding it is very easy to understand why the “Holy Spirit” is not mentioned along with the Father in these following verses since references speaking of the person of the Father would assume that the innermost part of the Father to obviously be included in His person. See below and you will find plenty of scriptures that you would think would mention all “three persons” of the trinity but doesn't:
Matt 24:36
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
NASUJohn 5:23
23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
NASUJohn 5:26
26 “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;
NASUJohn 6:40
40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
NASUJohn 6:46
46 “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.
NASU1 John 2:23-24
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
NASU2 John 3
3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
NASU2 John 9
9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
NASUPeace and love,
Kathi
Kathi,
How do you figure that statements which do not mention the Holy Spirit imply that He is not a distinct person? This is not a valid inference. Jesus said that he who blasphemes the Son may be forgiven and he who blasphemes the Holy Spirit may not be forgiven. There is no mention of the Father being blasphemed in Jesus' statement.And what about the scriptures which speak of the fellowship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? And what about the fact that Jesus said that He would send the Spirit who would be under His subjection? The Spirit was “sent.” Did the Father send Himself or did Jesus send the Father? The Spirit would speak what He hears from Jesus (John 16). Was the Father under Jesus?
As usual you pit scripture against itself. Have you considered that the absence of one or the other in any given statement may be for the sake of emphasis or to serve a particular point?
thinker
Gene,
we are not going to get anywhere here unless we can get a biblical definition of “spirit.” I am not certain offhand how to define it. It is used in many ways. God is spirit. Man has a spirit/intellect, There is the HS, There are ministering Spirits and on and on. There is no way we can call all of these just intellect because they have bodies and DO things.
The demons I have seen and cast out spoke to me. They were not simply minds. Angels/spirits are not just minds. They war! And sing and praise etc.
So….to make your point and mine more clear, we need to define spirit as the bible does. I am very open and excited to see some type of definition put forth. Much like Nicks explanation of “God” (if you read the articles) we need something like that for spirit. And it may be that its just like his god explnation.
Lets here what you think here!
Jeff
It is the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He received from His Father. “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6)
Jeff……….You are right on, in fact because people don't know what SPIRIT really is Has caused much, much. confusion . It is a basic question that must be understood to understand many scriptures. So i offer the words of Jesus describing Spirit.
Joh 6:63….> It is the spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing: the (words) that i speak unto you, they (ARE) spirit and they (ARE) life. Now what (ARE) SPIRIT and WHAT IS LIFE ( WORDS). Now we need to understand what words are, they are the (expression) of (INTELLECT)> Both of man and of GOD and the Words of Man express His life, and the words of GOD express GODS life , word are identified as Spirit because they come forth fro the spirit (intellect) in Us as well as GOD.
Now if we understand that we can see where scripture backs this up. Spirit is in the mind it drives it and it animates the body also, it's all a result of intellect at work through our knowledge, and there is both good and evil Spirit (intellect), clean and unclean, Spirit (intellect), that is why it is important we refrain from what is unclean thoughts by not participating in porn and other filthy things of the flesh, because it becomes impressed in our minds it is (unclean) SPIRIT (intellect) and by sowing to it we will become unclean, Paul said what ever is lovely, pure, clean, of a good report to think on these things, Why because we are adding these Spirits (intellect) to our thinking and they become part of US, our very thinking, we are also told we can be washed (made clean) by the washing of the (WORD) this spiritual cleansing takes place through words because words give forth thoughts (intellect) And these make up our SPIRIT. There are (NO) Spirit beings (EXCEPT GOD HIMSELF), there is spirit (IN) beings. And GOD who is SPIRIT can be in us just as He was in Jesus, He can indwell us, and does so you His Spirit, (intellect) “let this (MIND) be in you that was also (IN) Christ Jesus or lord” , The mind is the center of our intellect, and if it is guided by the SPIRIT of GOD them we have the mind of GOD in US. AS Jesus did.
You are right this is a very important subject to understand, Is Spirit a being or is it what is (IN) the being. Many think Angles are (Spirit beings) because it say GOD makes His angles Spirits and send them forth to minister, but that does not say GOD make his angles spirit (Beings) no it say He makes their SPIRITS, thats in them, in other words.
I wish we could all come to a solid understanding of what SPIRIT really is, it would greatly help us understand a lot.. IMO
peace and love to you and yours……………….gene
Quote (thethinker @ Sep. 08 2009,07:55) Quote (Lightenup @ Aug. 17 2009,15:37) Trinitarians believe that the Holy Spirit is a separate “being” of the triune God. I suggest this was not the message of scriptures. It is never mentioned of the Spirit as being the “third person of the trinity” anywhere in scriptures. As Michael L. Brown says in Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus,” p. 53:
Quote …Is the “Spirit of God” the same as “God”? Yes and no. The Spirit clearly has personality, since the Holy Spirit instructs the people of Israel and can be grieved or angered. Yet the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God-i.e., God's very Spirit, he is both giving himself as well as giving of himself. The key is always this: God touches us, teaches us, interacts with us, and empowers us by his Spirit. With that understanding it is very easy to understand why the “Holy Spirit” is not mentioned along with the Father in these following verses since references speaking of the person of the Father would assume that the innermost part of the Father to obviously be included in His person. See below and you will find plenty of scriptures that you would think would mention all “three persons” of the trinity but doesn't:
Matt 24:36
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
NASUJohn 5:23
23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
NASUJohn 5:26
26 “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;
NASUJohn 6:40
40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
NASUJohn 6:46
46 “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.
NASU1 John 2:23-24
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
NASU2 John 3
3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
NASU2 John 9
9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
NASUPeace and love,
Kathi
Kathi,
How do you figure that statements which do not mention the Holy Spirit imply that He is not a distinct person? This is not a valid inference. Jesus said that he who blasphemes the Son may be forgiven and he who blasphemes the Holy Spirit may not be forgiven. There is no mention of the Father being blasphemed in Jesus' statement.And what about the scriptures which speak of the fellowship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? And what about the fact that Jesus said that He would send the Spirit who would be under His subjection? The Spirit was “sent.” Did the Father send Himself or did Jesus send the Father? The Spirit would speak what He hears from Jesus (John 16). Was the Father under Jesus?
As usual you pit scripture against itself. Have you considered that the absence of one or the other in any given statement may be for the sake of emphasis or to serve a particular point?
thinker
thinkerWhy did Jesus say, he “has” to go to the Father? if he didn't go the Father would not send the Holy Spirit? Only after Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the apostles, and ours, and only after he presented his sacrifice to the Father, after his ascension, and only after the Father excepted his sacrifice, were the apostles cleansed from their sins, and God could then send them his Holy Spirit.
God does not dwell in sinful men, (Is. 59:2) only after we accept Jesus sacrifice for our sins, can the Father forgive us, and dwell in us.
If the Holy Spirit was a person, what is his name?
If the Holy Spirit was a person, why did Paul never thank him? Rom. 1:8, 1 Cor. 1:4, Phil. 1:3, Col. 1:3, 1 Thes. 1:2; is not the Holy Spirit credited with teaching us all things? would he not deserve some thanks too?
The apostle John says, “if we abide in the doctrine of Christ we have BOTH, the Father and the Son”; 2 John 9, should we not have all three?
I don't know of a scripture where Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit as of a person.Georg
Gene,
I think I finally understand what YOU mean by intellect. On one level I think I agree. Let me give a fuller view of what I see and I think we are closer in agreement then I originally thought.
God, in eternity existed as FATHER. Nothing existed except him. Hence when He created he would have had to create within himself as there was no place to create into. (Also if he created his creation over there, it would make him over here and thus he wouldnt be omnipresent.)
God created the heavens and the earth first. But I think this is more the blocks of creation. Heavens being spiritual stuffs and places and the earth being gross matter.
Then God manifest HIMSELF into His creation as the Spirit Of God. This would make the Father and the HS one and yet seperate from OUR perspective. Through this HS he created all things out of the building blocks.
This would be akin to you thinking or dreaming (not saying gods dreaming). The Gene doing the dreaming would be the father. You create your dream world by your mind. To be IN this dream world, you would have to manifest a dream character made of the same stuff as the dream. That character would be your intellect put into something, ie a dream body. (This also explains why we cant see god as you cant see what you are IN.)
So God and his spirit are not seperate and yet they are, if that makes sense. It is also this Spirit that was manifested in the flesh of Jesus at his baptism. The HS IS a person in that it is the spiritual manifestation of the intellect of God. (Just like in the dream example above.)
Some interesting side thoughts:
1. Did the vessel that was to be called the Set Apart Spirit have its own mind, like the physical jesus did, that had to permit Gods mind to take up reseidence or did God just make a spiritual “shell” that his mind occupied? (If it had a mind then it could be Michael.)
2. When I call the WORD the Spirt of God, I mean that it is the spiritual body that housed the mind of the Father as in the dream example again.
Does this make sense? It is difficult to describe this because from our perspective we see 2 when from Gods perspective there is just 1. He is IN the HS as you are IN your dream character. This would also make the HS a spiritual Son of God because it came forth from the father as it says in Proverbs 8.
As for the other “spirits” or angels, they are no different then we are, just a different created stuff. We are of gross matter, they are of spiritual matter. Whatever “spark” we have in us, they to must have to give them life. The “breath of life” must be in them as well as us. And that breath is the will of God.
Ok, thats all for now. I want to be sure we get each other first.
God Bless
JeffHi Jeff,
No not really.
Dreams often don't.
Poor old Michael gets given all sorts of jobs.Anyone who thinks God is just a cold intellect does not know the God of love.
Quote (Cindy @ Sep. 08 2009,17:10) If the Holy Spirit was a person, what is his name?
His name is Jesus as is God's name these three are one
1john 5:7Nick………..Sorry if your intellect is (COLD) most are not , but loving and caring intellects,that is if you have GOD mind in you. That was the mind that was in Christ Jesus sorry if you feel it was just cold (INTELLECT). I believe all who have GOD'S spirit in them have a loving (INTELLECT) in them. You need to understand what intellect is it is the way the mind thinks and it is not cold unless it is evil and wicked.
peace and love brother………………………gene
Irene said:
Quote If the Holy Spirit was a person, why did Paul never thank him? Rom. 1:8, 1 Cor. 1:4, Phil. 1:3, Col. 1:3, 1 Thes. 1:2; is not the Holy Spirit credited with teaching us all things? would he not deserve some thanks too? Irene,
Your question is easy to answer. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would not speak of Himself but would “glorify Me.” It is not the Spirit's work to bring glory to Himself. This is why Paul never thanked Him. The one who has the Spirit in Him will thank the Father and the Son.Irene said:
Quote …is not the Holy Spirit credited with teaching us all things? would he not deserve some thanks too? Of course the Spirit deserves some thanks. But He doesn't seek it. Don't you get it? You say that the Spirit teaches us. Please tell me if you ever had a teacher in school that wasn't a person. You admit to the Spirit's personality by saying that He teaches.
thinker
TO ALL:
Romans 8:9 says that the Holy Spirit is the Father's Spirit and is also Christ's Spirit. So it cannot be said that the Holy Spirit is the Father. If the Spirit is Christ's also then we could as easily say that the Holy spirit is Christ. The Holy Spirit is a distinct Person and not an “it?”
Jesus said that blasphemy against the Son may be forgiven but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not forgiven men. This should settle the matter. If the Holy Spirit is indistinguishable from the Father or Christ then how can blasphemy against the Son be forgiveable but not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? And how to men sin against an “it?”
thinker
Personal Attributes Of The Holy Spirit, Part 1.
MANY CHARACTERISTICS THAT ONLY A PERSON CAN POSSESS ARE ASCRIBED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit has knowledge.
1 Corinthians 2:10-11 [10] but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. [11] For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
“Doesn't a computer have 'knowledge'? That's a thing, not a person.”
The concept of 'knowledge' must not be confused with the concept of 'information' or 'data'. 'Knowledge' is a concept that requires a living being. A book may contain 'data' or 'information', but the book doesn't 'know' the information.
Admittedly, at least in theory, man might some day produce computers so advanced that we would consider them 'alive', but nothing like that currently exists. Even the most advanced computers simply store and retrieve characters, do mathematical operations and logical comparisons such as determining whether one quantity is greater than, less than, or equal to another quantity.
The Holy Spirit has will — He makes determinations.
1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
The Holy Spirit has a mind.Romans 8:27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
Compare Romans 8:7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
The Holy Spirit has love.
Romans 15:30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
The Holy Spirit is intelligent.
The Holy Spirit is sentient.
Nehemiah 9:20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Obviously, intelligence and sentience are needed to instruct and to call for particular work. 'Sentience' is not the same as intellect or intelligence. A sentient being understands that there is a 'big picture'. It understands abstract concepts such as honesty, loyalty, community, and honor. It can conceive of events in the distant future, e.g., retirement or graduation from college.
A sentient being is alive and has intelligence, but a creature can be alive and intelligent yet not be sentient. Cats, dogs, and horses are intelligent, but probably not sentient.
Compare Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will ….
The Holy Spirit is described as good (as opposed to evil).Nehemiah 9:20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.
Rain is 'good' because it allows crops to grow; when 'good' is used in that sense it simply means 'beneficial'. When the Spirit is described as 'good' it means good in the moral sense, i.e., good as opposed to evil.
The Holy Spirit is able to grieve.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
The Holy Spirit is blessed.
John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Compare Psalms 118:26a Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
MANY ACTS THAT ONLY A LIVING ENTITY CAN PERFORM ARE ASCRIBED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
The Holy Spirit speaks.Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Hebrews 3:7-9 [7] So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, [9] where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.”
Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Note: This does not necessarily mean “speak” in the literal sense, i.e., to cause air to vibrate or to form words. In many instances when people say “the Spirit spoke to me” they mean that they had an overwhelming feeling that they knew was from God. Most often, this will be after they have been praying specifically for an answer regarding a specific problem, e.g. “Should I take the job I'm being offered?”
The Holy Spirit calls out.Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
The Holy Spirit hears.John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
The Holy Spirit intercedes.
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
The Holy Spirit has feelings.
He “intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
Sometimes a feeling such as love, joy, sadness, sorrow, frustration, or anger is so strong that it cannot be fully expressed in words.
Romans 8:26 … the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
The Holy Spirit gives testimony.
John 15:26 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
The Holy Spirit teaches all things.
John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 16:13-14 [13] But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. [14] He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.
Nehemiah 9:20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.
The Holy Spirit reveals.1 Corinthians 2:10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
The Holy Spirit reminds men of things past.John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
The Holy Spirit leads or directs men what to do.
Romans 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping t
he Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”The Holy Spirit commands men.
Acts 16:6-7 [6] Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. [7] When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
The Holy Spirit prevents men from doing things.
Acts 16:6-7 [6] Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. [7] When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
The Holy Spirit calls men to work and appoints them to office.Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
The Holy Spirit goes forth upon the mission to which He is sent.John 15:26 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
Psalms 104:30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
The Holy Spirit tells what is yet to come.
John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of guilt in regard to sin.John 16:8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
In biblical usage, “to convict” does not mean a criminal conviction. It means the Spirit will make men realize their sinfulness and feel guilt for their misdeeds.
The Holy Spirit takes sides in disputes.Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
The Holy Spirit changes sides in disputes.
Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
To be continued…Personal Attributes Of The Holy Spirit Part 2
MANY CHARACTERISTICS THAT ONLY A PERSON CAN POSSESS ARE ASCRIBED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit fights against those who rebel against Him and grieve Him.Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
Hebrews 3:7-9 [7] So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, [9] where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.”
The Holy Spirit chastises, disciplines, rebukes.
Hebrews 3:7-9 [7] So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, [9] where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.”
Compare Proverbs 3:11-12 [11] My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, [12] because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
The Holy Spirit makes decisions on the basis of events and reasoning.Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
The Spirit did not change sides like the wind — out of pure coincidence; He changed sides because they rebelled against Him. When He saw rebellion He had several choices:
ignore the rebellion and continue to support them
punish them and continue to support them
ignore them and let them fend for themselves
change sides and actively fight them
He made a conscious decision to respond in a particular way.
1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
The Holy Spirit performs works.1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
The Holy Spirit lives with believers and lives in believers.John 14:16-17 [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to 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.
The Holy Spirit fellowships with believers.2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
To “fellowship” means to commune, to join together, to socialize, to “hang out with” someone.
The Holy Spirit takes direction.John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
The Holy Spirit creates.Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Psalms 104:30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
The Holy Spirit dwells.1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16 New English Bible Surely you know that you are God's temple, where the Spirit of God dwells.
An Office is predicated of the Holy Spirit that could only be predicated of a person.John 14:16-17 [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to 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.
It is the office of the Holy Spirit to be “another Counselor” (or paraclete) to take the place of the absent Savior. Is it possible that Jesus Christ could use such language in speaking of an impersonal influence or power?
John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
The Holy Spirit is treated in ways that only a person, not a thing, is treated.
The Holy Spirit is rebelled against.
Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
Hebrews 3:7-9 [7] So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, [9] where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.”
People cause the Holy Spirit to grieve.
See Isaiah 63:10 in the previous point.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
The Holy Spirit can be insulted.Hebrews 10:29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
The Holy Spirit is lied to.
Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?”
The Holy Spirit is blasphemed against.
Matthew 12:31-32 [31] And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. [32] Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
“To blaspheme” means to slander a celestial being.
I find it amazing how anti-trinitarians attack Trinitarians because they say the Doctrine is illogical, yet with all this evidence of the Personal attributes of the Holy Spirit they say the Spirit is just a “THING” or an “IT of God!
A dog has more identity than that!
It seems to me they are leaving their brains at the door on this one!
WJ
WJ………I think we are in agreement on some of this one. As far as i can tell from what you posted. HOLY (set aside or special) SPIRIT is INTELLECT OF GOD, who (IS) SPIRIT. I whole heartily agree. The spirit of the world is the (INTELLECT) that comes from the WORLD. Driven by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes , and the pride of LIFE. I don't think blasphemy is to speak against a spirit being, I think blasphemy is to speak against the SPIRIT of TRUTH, and the reason it can't be forgive man is the man or anyone else either in this life or the life to come is the person who speaks against the truth is going against the truth He MUST change now or in the future it makes no difference, Truth is Truth and to go against it is unforgivable person must change to accept it there is no forgiveness to speak against the truth it must be repented of it can not be over looked. We need to understand what forgivable and unforgivable means. IMO
peace and love to you and yours……………………..gene
TO WJ:
Thanks for all the info on the personality of the Spirit. The points are indisputable and even Gene agrees with some of it.
thanks,
JackQuote (Nick Hassan @ Sep. 09 2009,06:30) Hi WJ,
Yes is not the Spirit of God amazing?
But should you teach from your implications?
See WJ,
Gene agrees with a lot of what you said and Nick can't even make a coherent criticism.Again, well done!
thinker
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