Who is the Holy Spirit?

By Pamela Rose Williams

In Christian Theology the study of the Holy Spirit is called Pneumatology and He is known as the Paraclete – an advocate or counselor (John 14:16, 26). The Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) is the Third Person of the Trinity and He is only seen in the Christian religion. Even though He is listed third in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) this does not mean He is any less equal as God to the Father and Son.

He Has Personality and Remains with Us

Just like God and Jesus, Holy Spirit has a personality and characteristics and abilities, and we can see that in His many names in Scripture. While not an exhaustive list, we see some of His names all throughout the Bible – from Genesis to Revelation and everywhere in between:

• • Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2, Job 33:4, 1 Corinthians 2:11)
  • The spirit of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2, Acts 5:9)
  • The spirit of wisdom and understanding (Isaiah 11:2)
  • The spirit of counsel and might (Isaiah 11:2)
  • The spirit of knowledge (Isaiah 11:2)
  • The fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2)
  • Spirit of judgment (Isaiah 11:4, 28:6)
  • Spirit of burning (Isaiah 11:1)
  • Free spirit (Psalm 51:12)
  • Good spirit (Nehemiah 9:20, Psalm 143:10)
  • Comforter (John 14:16, 26; 15:26)
  • Eternal spirit (Hebrews 9:14)
  • Holy Ghost and God (Luke 1:35, Acts 5:3-4)
  • Lord (2 Corinthians 3:16-17)
  • The power of the Highest (Luke 1:35)
  • Spirit of Christ (1 Peter 1:11)
  • Spirit of glory (1 Peter 4:14)
  • Spirit of Grace (Zechariah 12:10, Hebrews 10:29)
  • Spirit of truth (John 14:17, 15:26)
  • Spirit of life in Christ (Romans 8:2)
  • Spirit of the living God (2 Corinthians 3:3)
  • Spirit of your Father (Matthew 10:20)
  • Spirit of revelation (Ephesians 1:17)
  • Spirit of Prophecy (Revelation 19:10

The Holy Spirit abides with the believer forever and He teaches us all things and helps us to remember everything that God teaches through His Word (John 14:16, 26). He was there in the beginning when God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1-2). In the present, He indwells the believer beginning at the moment of salvation (Ephesians 1:9-14). In the future we will realize His guarantees of resurrection, inheritance, and glory. Dr. Williams, in his book Grow Closer to Christ in 30 Days, says it this way:

“First, the Bible teaches us that the moment we trusted Christ as our Savior, we were given the Holy Spirit as a nonrefundable guarantee on our inheritance in Heaven (Ephesians 1:9-14, 2 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Peter 1:3-5). Likewise, the Holy Spirit seals us until the day of redemption, which is the day we take our last breath on this earth and find ourselves in the presence of God in heaven (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Ephesians 4:30, 2 Timothy 2:19). Finally, the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit enables us to understand the Bible, discern God’s truth, and know the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-16). Likewise, people who are not saved, called the natural man by the Bible, do not have the Holy Spirit to give them this ability.” (Williams 2015, 16-17)

He is Fruitful and Giving

The Holy Spirit also produces fruit in the believer and sometimes this fruit reveals our new nature to others, just as lack of this fruit reveals false Christians to us. Jesus said,

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:15-23).

And Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit as:

… love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Galatians 5:22-24)

In addition to the fruit that is produced in the life of a believer (sometimes called graces), we also see gifts of the Spirit in the life of Christians. An important distinction between fruit and gifts is that while all nine things make up the fruit and are present in all believers, not all nine gifts are in all Christians. God is the One who decides what gift or gifts the Christian has.  I have heard it said that the fruit is to mature the believer so that others can see a difference and the gifts are used to prepare the Christian for service. We can find gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 as follows:

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. [emphasis mine]

He is Powerful

Holy Spirit gives believers the power to overcome life challenges. When they believe, then and only then will they possess the power for lasting change and deliverance. I defer again to Dr. Williams as he concludes “Day Two” in Grow Closer to Christ in 30 Days”, he sums it up this way:

“Since we received the Holy Spirit the moment we trusted Christ as our Savior, we possess the power and wisdom to make Jesus the Lord of our life (Micah 3:8, 2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Corinthians 3:18). Without the Holy Spirit, we do not have the power (1 Corinthians 12:3). Therefore, since we put our full faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save us, we must put our full faith and trust in the Holy Spirit to change us and help us to draw closer to Christ” (James 1:3-8) (Williams 2015, Ibid).

We can rest in the promise that when we encounter life challenges, the Holy Spirit has the power to convict and convince us of the need for change. He alone has the power to lead sinful people, even true Christians, into truth and He alone has the power to change people.

Things to Think on and Do

1. In the Bible what was a name Jesus gave to the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost)? Where in Scripture is this found?
2. In Romans 8 what did Paul say the Spirit does according to the will of God?
3. When Paul was speaking to the Thessalonians, what did he mean by “Quench not the Spirit?”