The Holy Spirit is the third in the Trinity and is unquestionably the one who is least understood. Christians can readily relate to God the Father and Jesus Christ, who are both. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, appears remote to many because he lacks a physical form and a name, but he resides inside every sincere believer and is a constant companion in the path of faith.
The Holy Spirit has existed throughout all of time as God. He is also known as the Spirit, the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of the Lord in the Old Testament. He is occasionally called the Spirit of Christ in the New Testament. In the second verse of the Bible’s narrative of creation, the Holy Spirit first appears: Now the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2).
When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit appeared to Jesus as a dove after having brought about the Virgin Mary’s conception. He appeared to the apostles as tongues of fire on the Day of Pentecost. He is frequently represented as a dove in religious artwork and church logos.
After his resurrection, Jesus breathed on his apostles and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” because the Hebrew term for the Spirit in the Old Testament meant “breath” or “wind.” (John 20:22). He also instructed his followers to perform baptisms in which the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are invoked.
Both publicly and covertly, the Holy Spirit’s supernatural actions advance God the Father’s goal of salvation. He assisted the apostles and Jesus in their missions, helped create the world alongside the Father and Son, inspired the men who wrote the Bible, led the church, and sanctified Christians in their walk with Christ today.
He distributes spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ. As Christ’s representative today, he helps and uplifts Christians as they resist the world’s temptations and the devil’s forces.
THE HOLY SPIRIT: WHO IS HE?
His main characteristic is that he is a sinless, immaculate, fully holy God, as implied by the name of the Holy Spirit. He possesses the same attributes as Jesus and God the Father, including omniscience, omnipotence, and eternality. He is also infinitely compassionate, merciful, forgiving, and just.
The Holy Spirit is shown as giving believers power throughout the Bible. Though we may feel we have little in common with such towering giants as Joseph, Moses, David, Peter, and Paul, the truth is that the Holy Spirit assisted each of them is changing. He is prepared to assist us in making the necessary changes to become more like Christ and less like who we are right now.
The life of a believer cannot be lived without the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 states But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now, if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
The Holy Spirit plays a variety of roles in a believer’s life. The Holy Spirit is a Comforter, Truth-Revealer, Teacher, Gift-Giver, and Fruit-Harvester, but first…
The Holy Spirit speaks to the hearts of people.
Jesus warns his followers in John 16:8–9 that he would send a comforter to reprove the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me.” Unbelievers are reproved of sin, righteousness, and judgment by the Holy Spirit.
1. Sin – a sign that they have failed to live up to God’s expectations.
2. Righteousness – demonstrating that they lack their righteousness and depend on God’s perfect righteousness and,
3. Judgment – demonstrating that they will be held accountable for how they lived their lives and that there is everlasting life in addition to bodily life.
People are shown that they are sinners who need God’s righteousness and that there will be a day of judgment by the Holy Spirit speaking to their hearts and minds.
The Holy Spirit instills these facts in their minds to convince people that they are sinners. People are saved as a result of their responding to this conviction and hearing the gospel. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,” says Titus 3:5 about how God saved us. The Holy Spirit moves into our hearts after we are rescued, giving us the confidence of our souls’ everlasting status.
To be continued……