The two most common mistakes believers make in considering the identity of the Holy Spirit are:
- to think of the Holy Spirit as merely a "concept" or an "influence" instead of seeing Him as a distinct person
- to think of Him as "significant" but still view Him as something or someone less than God the Father and Jesus
The names we will consider in this first lesson will help us identify the personality and the deity of the Holy Spirit.
The primary identity name of the Holy Spirit that emphasizes His personality is a PRONOUN! How about that?!
For the most part, the New Testament was originally written in the Greek language, which has three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The word for spirit is pneuma, which is a neuter noun. When it is used apart from the Holy Spirit, the neuter pronoun "it" is used. BUT - when it is used in reference to the Holy Spirit, the masculine form is used. Most of us aren't Greek scholars, are we? But don't let all this talk about masculine, feminine and neuter genders connected to words confuse you. The main thing we want to recognize is that if the Holy Spirit was only a concept or an influence, the neuter pronoun could be used. Instead, the masculine pronoun is used.
Grab your Bible, read the following four scriptures and note how the pronoun(s) He, Him or Himself are used to refer to the Holy Spirit:
John 14:17 - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
John 16:13 - However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Romans 8:16 - The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Romans 8:26 - Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Because the Holy Spirit is a Person, the masculine pronoun is used of Him just as it is used of God the Father and of Jesus. The Holy Spirit as a Person is demonstrated throughout scripture and, as a person, various attributes and actions of personality are attributed to the Holy Spirit.
Personality implies the existence of certain attributes in a person; like intellect, emotion or sensibility, and volition or willpower. As part of your personality you have the ability to think and reason, to feel emotion and to make decisions, don't you? The same is true of the personality of the Holy Spirit.
Paul emphasized the intellectual ability of the Holy Spirit to know things: For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:11
He also understood that the rational capacity of the Holy Spirit included wisdom and communication when he prayed: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. - Ephesians 1:17
The emotional aspect of the Holy Spirit is also evident in the scriptures. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Eph. 4:30 (negative emotion - grief, sorrow, sadness)
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayer to God for me. Romans 15:30 (positive emotion - love)
Romans 8:26 which you just read a few minutes ago shows the Holy Spirit's emotional ability to empathize with our inner emotional struggles. He clearly is able to respond emotionally to the ideas and experiences He encounters! I don't know about you, but that gives me great comfort!
The Holy Spirit has the faculty of will and the ability to make decisions. 1 Corinthians 12:11 - But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. Your spiritual gifts are the Holy Spirit's independent choice!
As a Person, the Holy Spirit has these definite attributes - and He also functions in definite actions. He is described as teaching (John 14:26); testifying (John 15:26); guiding (Rom. 8:4); speaking (1 Cor. 2:13); enlightening (John 16:13); striving (Gen. 6:3); commanding (Acts 8:29); interceding (Rom. 8:26); sending workers (Acts 13:4); calling (Rev.22:17); comforting (John 16:7); and working (1 Cor. 12:11).
These actions cannot be accomplished by a mere influence or force. Only a rational, emotional, active Person could do all that the Scriptures teach the Holy Spirit accomplishes!
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