- This topic has 6,304 replies, 115 voices, and was last updated 2 years ago by Proclaimer.
- AuthorPosts
- November 5, 2009 at 10:03 am#155077kerwinParticipant
Nick Hassan:
Quote The spirit in man is still with us after we receive the Spirit of God.[Rom8.16]
I do believe that since we instructed to live according to the ways of the Spirit of Righteousness and not the ways of the spirit of man. We also know that even though the old spirit of man died with the Anointed One we are instructed to allow it to rule our bodies.
Nick Hassan:
Quote You find evil in the spirit God lends man and receives back?[eccl 12]
Try “breath” instead of spirit as I have my doubts a “haughty spirit” returns to God.
Proverbs 16:18(KJV) reads:
Quote Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Still, this scripture appears to agree with your interpretation which would seem to make the point that even a corrupt spirit, i.e. haughty or other sinful spirit, returns to God.
Ecclesiastes 3:21(KJV) reads:
Quote Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
I still do not understand what you believe “reborn in spirit” means.
November 5, 2009 at 12:14 pm#155092ConstitutionalistParticipantQuote (kerwin @ Nov. 04 2009,22:23) Quote (Lightenup @ Nov. 05 2009,02:33) Hi Kerwin,
Many people claim to have gone to heaven or somewhere in the spiritual realm and then return. They claim that the body that they are in while visiting the spiritual realm is different, for instance their arm can pass through their body, they can convey thoughts telepathically, they can go from one place to another by just thinking it, or they just show up. These people are the ones claiming near death experiences. It is quite remarkable how common these stories are and how similar they speak about their different bodies and then they return into their original body. I think there is so much that we do not know about in this area of out of body experiences. I know that sometimes I would have preferred to have gone “out of body” rather than remained in tact.Blessings,
Kathi
I am not quite sure how to respond. I do know that angels who have immortal flesh are able to touch others but I also know their form seems to be able to shift their shape so I suppose that they can allow their arm to pass through their body. From what I have read I believe Jesus appeared in a locked room after his death and resurrection even though the disciples were able to touch him. So everything you state appears to be plausible.
I do not believe Angels have immortal bodies, I believe they have conditional immortality, thus the wicked ones and the father of Lies will be destroyed at the last day. Otherwise they could not be destroyed, and the New Heavens and the New Eath would not be sin free. Just my personal opinion.November 5, 2009 at 4:55 pm#155116NickHassanParticipantHi KW,
Th spirit of man gives him life only.[Jas2]November 6, 2009 at 1:06 am#155186942767ParticipantQuote (Nick Hassan @ Nov. 06 2009,03:55) Hi KW,
Th spirit of man gives him life only.[Jas2]
Hi Nick:The spirit of life in Christ Jesus gives man life. That other spirit gives him spiritual death.
Love in Christ,
MartyNovember 6, 2009 at 3:14 am#155217NickHassanParticipantHi 94,
No the Spirit of God gives us eternal life.[Jn7]
The spirit of man returns to God Who gave it.[ecc12]
Does not your spirit agree with the Spirit of God?[Rom8.16]November 6, 2009 at 6:13 am#155232GeneBalthropParticipantTo all………Spirit is Intellect there is Godly intellect, there is carnal intellect, but either of them are Spirits , when a man dies His thoughts Parish, and the Spirits (intellects) go back to him who gave it in the first place, Spirit (intellect) can be changed, unclean spirits can be caused to leave and clean Spirit can come into a person our minds can be renewed and changes . WE who have GOD'S spirit (intellect) of TRUTH in Us, have been give this and it (the spirit of truth) both accused us and defends us, this is the earnest of the Spirit of GOD, But we still have the pulls of the flesh on us and this never goes away completely as long as we are in these bodies, But when we recieve our new bodies from GOD, the problem with sinful Flesh will be removes and then we will be completely free from sin, Like it says whoever is (BORN) of the Spirit can (NOT) sin, That has not happened yet but it will. Paul said no good thing dwelt in his body, because to Will was still present in him. So our flesh pulls and God's spirit are contrary to one another and this struggle will exist as long as we have these bodies. IMO
peace and love to all……………gene
November 6, 2009 at 7:09 am#155239kerwinParticipantQuote (Nick Hassan @ Nov. 05 2009,22:55) Hi KW,
Th spirit of man gives him life only.[Jas2]
You are making the false assumption that “spirit” or “Pneuma” has only one definition. That is not the case.I believe that would be the “vital principle by which the body is animated” as opposed to the “the disposition and influence that governs the soul”.
November 6, 2009 at 7:30 am#155242NickHassanParticipantHi KW,
So are you speaking of the spirit that returns to God at death?
Soul is often spoken of in scripture as spirit and this does confuse some.
So also the lodgers in our rooms which can be tossed out and return-these are also spirits.
Such sin that lives in the flesh was what Paul struggled with till death was for him the preferred option.[Rom7]November 6, 2009 at 7:53 am#155254kerwinParticipantQuote (Nick Hassan @ Nov. 06 2009,13:30) Hi KW,
So are you speaking of the spirit that returns to God at death?
Soul is often spoken of in scripture as spirit and this does confuse some.
So also the lodgers in our rooms which can be tossed out and return-these are also spirits.
Such sin that lives in the flesh was what Paul struggled with till death was for him the preferred option.[Rom7]
I am speaking of a corrupt spirit as in a spirit that wants to sin. It is what makes us servants of sin and Jesus frees us by giving us the holy spirit thus making us servants of righteousness because it strives to do right and has the power to do so.November 6, 2009 at 8:07 am#155262NickHassanParticipantHi KW,
Where are such corrupt spirits shown?
Man is ruled by serpent since Adam's submission.
It is the natural state of man in the domain of darkness to sin.
The spirit of man knows himself and so in the Spirit of God we can know God[1Cor2]
But the spirit of man gives life and when it leaves the soul awaits the judgement of God. It can be given back and the person can revive[Lk8.55]The spirit of man is the lamp of God.[Prov20]
November 6, 2009 at 8:12 am#155264Ed JParticipantHi Everybody,
I personally believe that the “Holy Spirit” has been defined incorrectly on this thread;
however, here are all the verses relative to the topic (that I’m aware of) in the N.W.T.
(JW’s version) of the bible; I choose to stay out of this discussion. The JW’s will NOT
accept any other translation, so don’t even bother.All these verses I present come from the N.W.T. I prefer the AKJV Bible myself, because
it has the least amount of errors in it; and can be proven to be inspired as the original Texts.
check out the thread “English Gematria” proof of God’s existence; or read my free e-book
called “HolyCityBibleCode” located at my Web site, the link is located at my signature.John 16:7; …“For if I (Jesus) do not go away, the helper will by no means come to you;
But if I do go my way, I will send “him” to you.”
(He, She, Him, Her, It, chosen by the translators, are all translated from the same Greek word [αυτος] autŏs!)Acts 16:6: “Moreover, they went through Phrygia and Galatia, because they were
forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in the [district of] Asia.”Acts 20:23: “except that form city to city the Holy Spirit repeatedly bears witness to me
as “it” says that bonds and tribulations are waiting for me (Paul).”
(He, She, Him, Her, It, chosen by the translators, are all translated from the same Greek word [αυτος] autŏs )!I believe this verse illustrates the Holy Spirit correctly; because the “Holy Spirit” is “The Word”!
(John 1:1) …“ And [ο λογος] Hō Lōgôs was [θεος] Thēôs; And “The Word” was “God”!
Acts 20:28: “Pay attention to yourselves and all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has
appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which “HE” has purchased
with the blood of his (Jesus) own [Son].” Science suggests blood comes from the father (Matt.1:18).Acts 21:11; “and he came to us and took up the girdle of Paul, bound his own feet and hands
and said: “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘the man to whom this girdle belongs the Jews will bind
in this manner in Jerusalem and deliver into the hands of the people of the nations.’ ”1 Cor. 12:11: “But all these operations the one and same (Holy) Spirit performs, making a
distribution to each one respectively just as “it” wills.”
(He, She, Him, Her, It, chosen by the translators, are all translated from the same Greek word [αυτος] autŏs!)You cannot rely on the translator’s choice of personal pronoun as anything definitive!
God bless
Ed J
http://www.holycitybiblecode.orgNovember 6, 2009 at 8:27 am#155266ConstitutionalistParticipantThere are several differing opinions as to what or who the Holy Spirit is.
Is it the third person of the “trinity,” a figure of speech, a “ghost,” a force or power?
As with any Biblical doctrine, we must dig deep into Scripture to uncover the truth.
A superficial reading will undoubtedly lead to a false understanding.
Let's begin with the concept of “ghost.”
This word comes to us from the King James Version where the Greek 'pneuma' was translated 'ghost' whenever it was used in conjunction with the Greek word ' agios ' translated “Holy.”
The definition of 'ghost' is “the soul of man; a disembodied spirit.”
The English understanding of a ghost has led many to believe it is a person.
Our Heavenly Father certainly cannot be a ghost for He never had a body to be disembodied from.
His Son the Messiah certainly wasn't a ghost since that word was used prior to his birth at which time he did not have a body either.
The KJV sometimes used “Holy Spirit” instead of “Holy Ghost” (Lu.11:13).
Since the two terms are interchangeable in the KJV and since all other modern Bible translations use “Holy Spirit,” we should use the correct term 'Spirit.'
Yahshua the Messiah is not Almighty Yahweh and how Yahshua did not pre-exist in any form prior to his earthly birth.
Yahweh and Yahshua are two separate, distinct beings.
Since the Father is Yahweh and Since the Son is not, that means the Father and the Son must be two separate, distinct beings.
Since the Son did not pre-exist, the concept of a trinity (three co-equal, co-eternal persons comprising the one Godhead) is untrue.
The concept of the Holy Spirit being a person that is separate from the Father and the Son, yet still part of the one “godhead” is indeed a mystery.
It is such a mystery that those who espouse that claim cannot explain it either.
1) If the Father is separate from the Son, and the Holy Spirit is a serperate person from them, then who is Messiah's father?
Mt.1:18-20 reads, “Now the birth of Yahshua Messiah was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of Yahweh appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
Is the Holy Spirit Yahshua's Father and not Yahweh?
The only way to understand this is through Lu.1:35, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of Elohim.”
The Holy Spirit is the power by which Yahweh caused the conception.
2) Why doesn't the Apostle Paul invoke the Holy Spirit in the introduction to his epistles as he does the Father and the Son?
This would seem rather offensive to the Holy Spirit if he were a co-equal person.
3) Why is the Holy Spirit never depicted as sitting on or standing near the throne as are the Father and the Son? (Acts 7:55,56; Col.3:1; and Rev.5:1-9; 7:10).
We do not even see an empty throne for him.
4) 1 Cor.11:3 gives a hierarchy in which women, men, and Messiah each have a head with Elohim (Yahweh the Father) being the uppermost in authority. Where is the Holy Spirit?
5) Eph.5:5 tells us the “kingdom” that believers shall inherit is “of Messiah” and “of Elohim.” Why is the Kingdom not of the Holy Spirit as well?
6) The Father and the Son converse with each other, but why don't they converse with the Holy Spirit?
Those are just a few of the many questions that arise if the Holy Spirit is a person.
There are, however, several points that may lead one to believe the Holy Spirit is a person.
It is said that the Holy Spirit has personal attributes and therefore is a person.
Among a few of these attributes are that the Holy Spirit searches the deep things of Elohim (1 Cor.2:10); speaks (Rev.2:7); cries out (Gal.4:6); intercedes (Rom.8:26); gives testimony (Jn.15:26); leads or directs us (Rom.8:14); commands us (Acts 16:6,7); can be lied to (Acts 5:3); can be grieved (Eph.4:30); etc.
However, the Holy Spirit also has attributes that cannot be applied to a person, ie; it fills people (Acts 2:4); can be poured out (Acts 2.17,18); is upon people (Acts 19:6); people can drink it (1 Cor.12:13); it is a down payment (2 Cor.1:22); it is a seal (Eph.1:13); it is symbolic ink (2 Cor.3:3); etc.
To explain this, I appeal to Ro.8:9,10;
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Elohim dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Messiah, he is none of his. And if Messiah be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
The Spirit of Messiah dwells in us, but verse 10 tells us it is Messiah himself.
The same holds true for Yahweh's Spirit.
It is the mind, affections, and will of Almighty Yahweh.
So the Holy Spirit's personal attributes are those of Yahweh and Yahshua dwelling within us.
It is their personalities and dispositions. Yahweh has given Messiah the full measure of His Holy Spirit (Jn.3:34; Col.1:19).
Now that Messiah is glorified via resurrection, the Spirit that he has consists of that of his Father and that of his own.
Their spirits are united in one and are placed within believers (Jn.15:26; Ro.8:9-11), though not in its fullness. On the other hand, since the Spirit also has non-personal attributes, we should attribute that to the fact that the Holy Spirit is Yahweh's power or influence.
That the Holy Spirit is the power of Yahweh can be seen in the following verses;
“But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Yahshua from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Messiah from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom.8:11).
“And Elohim hath both raised up the Master, and will also raise up us by His own power.” (1Cor.6:14).
“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Messiah, when He raised him from the dead, and set him at His own right hand in the heavenly places” (Eph.1:19-20).
Those verses clearly show that the power of Yahweh is His Holy Spirit and by that Spirit He resurrected His Son.
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (Eph.3:20).
What power works in us?
The power known as the Holy Spirit.
“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of Elohim.” (Lu.1:35).
Did a person or a spirit being mate with Miriam or did Yahweh's miraculous power cause the conception?
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Lu.24:49).
To be “endued with power from on high” is an idiom for “to receive the Holy Spirit.”
It is Yahweh's power that works in us.
A literary technique often used in the Bible is that of personification.
Many “personal attributes” of the Holy Spirit as listed above can be the result of this technique.
For example, Paul says of sin it “deceived me,” and “slew me.” (Rom.7:11).
He also says “death reigned from Adam to Moses.” (Rom.5:14).
Neither sin nor death are people.
Other examples are; “charity suffers long…thinks no evil” (1 Cor.13:4-5); “righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Ps.85:10); “The moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed” (Is.24:23); “Sing, O ye heavens” (Is.44:23); “You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost His savour, wherewith shall it be salted…” (Mt.5:13); etc.
In all these examples, the subject being personified is not a person.
Neither is the Holy Spirit.
Another point that misleads people to believe the Holy Spirit is a person are the personal pronouns “he,” “his,” “him,” and “whom” used in such verses as Jn.14:17; 15:26; 16:7,8,13,14.
In most European languages nouns have gender; that is, it is either masculine, feminine, or neuter.
The masculine pronouns are used in these verses because 'Comforter' /parakletos/ is masculine. 'Spirit,' however, /pneuma/ is neuter and would properly require the pronoun “it.”
Interestingly, the Hebrew word for Spirit (ruach) is usually feminine.
Grammatically, all Greek pronouns must agree in gender with the word they refer to.
Consider 1 Cor.13:4,5 in the KJV. One verse refers to charity as 'itself' and the next verse refers to it as 'her.'
Is charity a person?
In Ro.8:26 (KJV), the Spirit is referred to as 'itself.'
In Acts 12:10, an iron gate is referred to as 'his' in the KJV.
1 John 5:7,8
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth , the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” (KJV).
Verse 7 is often used by Trinitarians to prove there are three persons in heaven that comprise the one “Godhead.”
The RSV [Revised Standard Version] of 1881 omits all the words in italics.
The phrase should properly read, “For there are three that bear record, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”
Only two modern Greek manuscripts and one or two ancient versions of little value contain the spurious words.
It is not found in the Syriac, Arabic, Ethiopic, Coptic, Sahidic, Armenian, Slavonian, etc.
Additionally, no Greek father even quotes 1 Jn.5:7 in any discussion concerning the Trinity doctrine.
It is clearly a questionable addition to the New Testament and should not be in our Bibles.
The Holy Spirit, as we have seen, is not a third person of a “Trinity.”
It is not a person at all.
It is the power, mind, and disposition of Almighty Yahweh Himself.
It has been joined to the spirit of Yahshua the Messiah, now that he has been glorified, and indwells all true believers.
It is the means by which we are guided into all truth and it is the power that makes the resurrection from the dead a reality.
When we first receive the Holy Spirit we only get a small measure of it.
It is like a down payment until we are resurrected at which time we will receive it in full.
The Holy Spirit is a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father, but it is not a third person of a fictitious trinity.
November 6, 2009 at 8:31 am#155269Ed JParticipantYHVH is God's Name transliterated into English.
GOD’s most sacred Holy Name [יהוה] was given to us directly from the Hebrew language.
Correctly translating Hebrew into other languages can be difficult however.
Some basic linguistical rules need to be considered when translating Hebrew texts.
These include a lack of spacing between words, as a general rule has no written vowels
and the basic direction in which Hebrew is written (opposite: from right to left).
Hebrew word spacing is a modern advent that distinguishes one word from the next,
aiding both translators and multi-linguists alike. Unwritten “implied” vowel sounds
are a concern because, correct pronunciations of Hebrew words are at risk.GOD’s Name (יהוה) transliterates directly into English as YHVH because the Hebrew alphabet
lacks vowels. Hebrew has No [W] sound, No [J] sound and the symbol ש is pronounced “Sh”.[יהוה] GOD’s Name [י] Yod [ה] Ha [ו] Vav [ה] Hey is pronounced YÄ-hä-vā & [יה] YÄ
Strong’s con. Heb. # 3068, 3069 & 3050The “Divine=63” “Deity=63” of “The Bible=63” is “YHVH=63”!
God bless
Ed JNovember 6, 2009 at 8:34 am#155270ConstitutionalistParticipantQuote (Ed J @ Nov. 06 2009,00:31) YHVH is God's Name transliterated into English. GOD’s most sacred Holy Name [יהוה] was given to us directly from the Hebrew language.
Correctly translating Hebrew into other languages can be difficult however.
Some basic linguistical rules need to be considered when translating Hebrew texts.
These include a lack of spacing between words, as a general rule has no written vowels
and the basic direction in which Hebrew is written (opposite: from right to left).
Hebrew word spacing is a modern advent that distinguishes one word from the next,
aiding both translators and multi-linguists alike. Unwritten “implied” vowel sounds
are a concern because, correct pronunciations of Hebrew words are at risk.GOD’s Name (יהוה) transliterates directly into English as YHVH because the Hebrew alphabet
lacks vowels. Hebrew has No [W] sound, No [J] sound and the symbol ש is pronounced “Sh”.[יהוה] GOD’s Name [י] Yod [ה] Ha [ו] Vav [ה] Hey is pronounced YÄ-hä-vā & [יה] YÄ
Strong’s con. Heb. # 3068, 3069 & 3050The “Divine=63” “Deity=63” of “The Bible=63” is “YHVH=63”!
God bless
Ed J
Tanx for the imformation.
November 6, 2009 at 8:54 am#155275NickHassanParticipantHi CON,
As you say the Spirit is more than just the power of God-such powers are the gifts of the Spirit[1Cor.12].
The fruit of the Spirit is the nature of our God expressed through His Spirit.[Gal5]November 6, 2009 at 8:58 am#155276NickHassanParticipantHi CON,
The downpayment of the Spirit is the oil given for our lamps at our rebirth from above.[zech 4]
But unless we seek more oil our lamps become dysfunctional and ineffective.[Mt25]
The investment given us must be added to or we lose what we have[Mt25]November 6, 2009 at 9:11 am#155279kerwinParticipantQuote (Nick Hassan @ Nov. 06 2009,14:07) Hi KW,
Where are such corrupt spirits shown?
Man is ruled by serpent since Adam's submission.
It is the natural state of man in the domain of darkness to sin.
The spirit of man knows himself and so in the Spirit of God we can know God[1Cor2]
But the spirit of man gives life and when it leaves the soul awaits the judgement of God. It can be given back and the person can revive[Lk8.55]The spirit of man is the lamp of God.[Prov20]
A haughty spirit is a corrupt spirit. That is not the only corrupt spirit mentioned in scripture, so I am not quite sure why you are asking where they are.I still believe you a confusing the same word when it is used to mean different things.
It is through our corrupt spirit that man has been ruled by the serpent and that is why Jesus taught us that we must be born again of the spirit.
November 6, 2009 at 9:12 am#155281ConstitutionalistParticipantI think you will be my fortune cookie!
November 6, 2009 at 9:13 am#155282NickHassanParticipantHi CON,
Eat up.
Spit out the pith.November 6, 2009 at 6:33 pm#155317GeneBalthropParticipantQuote (Constitutionalist @ Nov. 06 2009,19:27) There are several differing opinions as to what or who the Holy Spirit is. Is it the third person of the “trinity,” a figure of speech, a “ghost,” a force or power?
As with any Biblical doctrine, we must dig deep into Scripture to uncover the truth.
A superficial reading will undoubtedly lead to a false understanding.
Let's begin with the concept of “ghost.”
This word comes to us from the King James Version where the Greek 'pneuma' was translated 'ghost' whenever it was used in conjunction with the Greek word ' agios ' translated “Holy.”
The definition of 'ghost' is “the soul of man; a disembodied spirit.”
The English understanding of a ghost has led many to believe it is a person.
Our Heavenly Father certainly cannot be a ghost for He never had a body to be disembodied from.
His Son the Messiah certainly wasn't a ghost since that word was used prior to his birth at which time he did not have a body either.
The KJV sometimes used “Holy Spirit” instead of “Holy Ghost” (Lu.11:13).
Since the two terms are interchangeable in the KJV and since all other modern Bible translations use “Holy Spirit,” we should use the correct term 'Spirit.'
Yahshua the Messiah is not Almighty Yahweh and how Yahshua did not pre-exist in any form prior to his earthly birth.
Yahweh and Yahshua are two separate, distinct beings.
Since the Father is Yahweh and Since the Son is not, that means the Father and the Son must be two separate, distinct beings.
Since the Son did not pre-exist, the concept of a trinity (three co-equal, co-eternal persons comprising the one Godhead) is untrue.
The concept of the Holy Spirit being a person that is separate from the Father and the Son, yet still part of the one “godhead” is indeed a mystery.
It is such a mystery that those who espouse that claim cannot explain it either.
1) If the Father is separate from the Son, and the Holy Spirit is a serperate person from them, then who is Messiah's father?
Mt.1:18-20 reads, “Now the birth of Yahshua Messiah was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of Yahweh appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
Is the Holy Spirit Yahshua's Father and not Yahweh?
The only way to understand this is through Lu.1:35, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of Elohim.”
The Holy Spirit is the power by which Yahweh caused the conception.
2) Why doesn't the Apostle Paul invoke the Holy Spirit in the introduction to his epistles as he does the Father and the Son?
This would seem rather offensive to the Holy Spirit if he were a co-equal person.
3) Why is the Holy Spirit never depicted as sitting on or standing near the throne as are the Father and the Son? (Acts 7:55,56; Col.3:1; and Rev.5:1-9; 7:10).
We do not even see an empty throne for him.
4) 1 Cor.11:3 gives a hierarchy in which women, men, and Messiah each have a head with Elohim (Yahweh the Father) being the uppermost in authority. Where is the Holy Spirit?
5) Eph.5:5 tells us the “kingdom” that believers shall inherit is “of Messiah” and “of Elohim.” Why is the Kingdom not of the Holy Spirit as well?
6) The Father and the Son converse with each other, but why don't they converse with the Holy Spirit?
Those are just a few of the many questions that arise if the Holy Spirit is a person.
There are, however, several points that may lead one to believe the Holy Spirit is a person.
It is said that the Holy Spirit has personal attributes and therefore is a person.
Among a few of these attributes are that the Holy Spirit searches the deep things of Elohim (1 Cor.2:10); speaks (Rev.2:7); cries out (Gal.4:6); intercedes (Rom.8:26); gives testimony (Jn.15:26); leads or directs us (Rom.8:14); commands us (Acts 16:6,7); can be lied to (Acts 5:3); can be grieved (Eph.4:30); etc.
However, the Holy Spirit also has attributes that cannot be applied to a person, ie; it fills people (Acts 2:4); can be poured out (Acts 2.17,18); is upon people (Acts 19:6); people can drink it (1 Cor.12:13); it is a down payment (2 Cor.1:22); it is a seal (Eph.1:13); it is symbolic ink (2 Cor.3:3); etc.
To explain this, I appeal to Ro.8:9,10;
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Elohim dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Messiah, he is none of his. And if Messiah be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
The Spirit of Messiah dwells in us, but verse 10 tells us it is Messiah himself.
The same holds true for Yahweh's Spirit.
It is the mind, affections, and will of Almighty Yahweh.
So the Holy Spirit's personal attributes are those of Yahweh and Yahshua dwelling within us.
It is their personalities and dispositions. Yahweh has given Messiah the full measure of His Holy Spirit (Jn.3:34; Col.1:19).
Now that Messiah is glorified via resurrection, the Spirit that he has consists of that of his Father and that of his own.
Their spirits are united in one and are placed within believers (Jn.15:26; Ro.8:9-11), though not in its fullness. On the other hand, since the Spirit also has non-personal attributes, we should attribute that to the fact that the Holy Spirit is Yahweh's power or influence.
That the Holy Spirit is the power of Yahweh can be seen in the following verses;
“But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Yahshua from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Messiah from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom.8:11).
“And Elohim hath both raised up the Master, and will also raise up us by His own power.” (1Cor.6:14).
“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Messiah, when He raised him from the dead, and set him at His own right hand in the heavenly places” (Eph.1:19-20).
Those verses clearly show that the power of Yahweh is His Holy Spirit and by that Spirit He resurrected His Son.
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (Eph.3:20).
What power works in us?
The power known as the Holy Spirit.
“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of Elohim.” (Lu.1:35).
Did a person or a spirit being mate with Miriam or did Yahweh's miraculous power cause the conception?
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Lu.24:49).
To be “endued with power from on high” is an idiom for “to receive the Holy Spirit.”
It is Yahweh's power that works in us.
A literary technique often used in the Bible is that of personification.
Many “personal
attributes” of the Holy Spirit as listed above can be the result of this technique.For example, Paul says of sin it “deceived me,” and “slew me.” (Rom.7:11).
He also says “death reigned from Adam to Moses.” (Rom.5:14).
Neither sin nor death are people.
Other examples are; “charity suffers long…thinks no evil” (1 Cor.13:4-5); “righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Ps.85:10); “The moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed” (Is.24:23); “Sing, O ye heavens” (Is.44:23); “You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost His savour, wherewith shall it be salted…” (Mt.5:13); etc.
In all these examples, the subject being personified is not a person.
Neither is the Holy Spirit.
Another point that misleads people to believe the Holy Spirit is a person are the personal pronouns “he,” “his,” “him,” and “whom” used in such verses as Jn.14:17; 15:26; 16:7,8,13,14.
In most European languages nouns have gender; that is, it is either masculine, feminine, or neuter.
The masculine pronouns are used in these verses because 'Comforter' /parakletos/ is masculine. 'Spirit,' however, /pneuma/ is neuter and would properly require the pronoun “it.”
Interestingly, the Hebrew word for Spirit (ruach) is usually feminine.
Grammatically, all Greek pronouns must agree in gender with the word they refer to.
Consider 1 Cor.13:4,5 in the KJV. One verse refers to charity as 'itself' and the next verse refers to it as 'her.'
Is charity a person?
In Ro.8:26 (KJV), the Spirit is referred to as 'itself.'
In Acts 12:10, an iron gate is referred to as 'his' in the KJV.
1 John 5:7,8
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth , the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” (KJV).
Verse 7 is often used by Trinitarians to prove there are three persons in heaven that comprise the one “Godhead.”
The RSV [Revised Standard Version] of 1881 omits all the words in italics.
The phrase should properly read, “For there are three that bear record, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”
Only two modern Greek manuscripts and one or two ancient versions of little value contain the spurious words.
It is not found in the Syriac, Arabic, Ethiopic, Coptic, Sahidic, Armenian, Slavonian, etc.
Additionally, no Greek father even quotes 1 Jn.5:7 in any discussion concerning the Trinity doctrine.
It is clearly a questionable addition to the New Testament and should not be in our Bibles.
The Holy Spirit, as we have seen, is not a third person of a “Trinity.”
It is not a person at all.
It is the power, mind, and disposition of Almighty Yahweh Himself.
It has been joined to the spirit of Yahshua the Messiah, now that he has been glorified, and indwells all true believers.
It is the means by which we are guided into all truth and it is the power that makes the resurrection from the dead a reality.
When we first receive the Holy Spirit we only get a small measure of it.
It is like a down payment until we are resurrected at which time we will receive it in full.
The Holy Spirit is a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father, but it is not a third person of a fictitious trinity.
CT………Good Post, To me SPIRIT simply put, is (INTELLECTS) connected with Powers. Scripture says there are (SEVEN SPIRITS) of or (from) GOD These seven are connected with POWERS and all compose ONE GOD POWER or ELOHIM. It is these intellects connected with POWERS the said let (US) create man in our own (IMAGE) in Genesis. Jesus is now pictured in REV, as having these seven (eyes or intellects) of GOD and Notice they are all on SEVEN HORNS, these horns are represent (POWER) and the eyes represent the seven Spirits (intellect) of ONE GOD. That go two a fro through out the whole earth.What i see as a major problem in religion is over complicating some many simple thing. Like the words , spirit, law, covenants, God, doctrines about devils and demons, doctrines of the trinity, it is incumbent on all of us to simplify all these things, So they are understandable and makes sense to us all. As long as we keep being scattered around with all these different teachings we will never come to the truth. Truth understood is alway in its simplest form is what i believe. IMO
peace and love to you and yours…………………..gene
- AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.