GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Scriptures teach that the Holy Spirit is a distinct person to be interacted with as seen in John 14:16-17, 15:26 and Acts 10:19-20. The Holy Spirit as God is seen less in direct statements, but is clear in complementary passages of Scripture. For example, Paul says that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God. . .” (2 Tim. 3:16) and in 2 Peter 1:21 we read that “prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”Luke in Acts 28:25-26 attributes the origination of Isaiah’s words (Isaiah 6:8-10) to the Holy Ghost, while Isaiah says their source was God. His divine attributes include being eternal (Heb. 9:14), being the Creator (Gen. 1:2), being omnipresent (Ps. 139:7), being omniscient (1 Cor. 2:10) and being life-giving (John 3:8).

The Holy Spirit is often perceived as having been inactive on earth until after Jesus ascended to Heaven. However, the Old Testament includes many direct references to the Spirit of the Lord and to the Holy Spirit. Some of these refer to God’s working in the judges and prophets, and others refer to King David or King Saul. As Elijah the prophet was parted from Elisha, a double portion of the Spirit was promised to Elisha. God gave the Holy Spirit to men in a measure, but to Jesus, the Spirit was given without measure. “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand” (John 3:34-35). 

In the time of the ancients God seems to have reserved the Holy Spirit to those whom he called to some special work. Since the resurrection of Jesus and as evidenced at Pentecost, those who put their faith in him through repentance and conversion are assured of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives as a sign of the Father’s commitment to give his children the Kingdom. “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:12-14).

See also : Who Is God