THE HOLY SPIRIT

(Lesson 05 on Bible Doctrines) 


  1. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A DIVINE PERSON
  • The Holy Spirit is a Person, as distinguished from an influence, emanation, or manifestation.
      1. The same words, implying personality, are used of Him in Scripture which are used of other persons (cf. John 14:16,17,26; 16:7,8,13-15).
      2. Men are said to act toward Him in ways which would be impossible or absurd if He were not truly a Person (cf. Isa.63:10; Matt.12:31,32; Eph.4:30).
      3. The Holy Spirit is said to perform actions which would be possible only to a person (cf. John 3:6; Acts 8:29; 10:19; 13:2; 16:6; Rom.8:26).
  • The Holy Spirit is a divine Person, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and God the Son.
      1. He is called God (Acts 5:3,4).
      2. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, we discover that He is Lord (Isa.6:8,9; cf. Acts 28:25,26; Jer.31:31-34; cf. Heb.10:15,16).
      3. He is joined on terms of perfect equality with the Father and Son in the baptismal formula (Matt.28:19; cf. II Cor.13:14).
      4. The Scriptures constantly ascribe to the Holy Spirit the attributes of God, such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and also His highest perfection, holiness. "Holiness, indeed, is the emphatic mark of the Spirit. And this not as having been made or become holy, but as being holy, and Himself the producer of holiness" (C.I. Scofield, Plain Papers on the Holy Spirit).
      1. Omnipresence – Ps. 139:7-10
      2. Omniscience – I Cor.2:9-14
      1. The Holy Spirit is represented as performing works possible only to God (cf. Job 26:13; 33:4; Ps.104:30; Rom.8:11).
      2. He is the author of the Bible (Acts 1:16; II Peter 1:21).
      3. He sanctifies, teaches, leads, directs, indwells, seals, and endues with power (cf. Luke 12:11,12; Acts 1:8; 20:28; I Cor.12:8-11; Eph.4:30; 5:18; Rev.2:7,11, 17, 29, etc.).

  1. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

    1. The work of the Holy Spirit in relation to man in the Old Testament was somewhat different than in the dispensation begun at Pentecost.
    2. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit is associated in the work of creation (cf. Gen.1:2; Job 26:13; 27:3; 33:4; Ps. 104:30); strives with wicked men (Gen.6:3); enlightens the spirit of man (Job 32:8; Pro.20:27); equips men for certain tasks (Ex.28:3; 31:1-5; 35:31; Num.11:25-29; Judges 11:29; II Sam.23:2); and bestows physical strength (Judges 14:6).
    3. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Old Testament times was not necessarily universally experienced among God’s people.
      1. The Holy Spirit was said to be in certain believers such as Joshua (Num.27:18) and Daniel (Dan.4:8; 5:11-14; 6:3).
      2. The Holy Spirit was said to come upon certain people (not necessarily saved people), such as Othniel (Judges 3:10), Gideon (Judges 6:34), Jephthah (Judges 11:29), Samson (Judges 13:25), Saul (I Sam.10:9,10), and David (I Sam.16:13; cf. Ps.51:11). This coming upon men seems to imply the temporary and transitory character of the Holy Spirit’s relationship to men in the Old Testament.
      3. The Holy Spirit is said to have filled some Old Testament saints (Ex.31:3; 35:31). This special indwelling and filling was rare in the Old Testament – that is why our Lord told His disciples that the Spirit was with them but would soon be in them (John 14:16,17).
      4. "In Old Testament times the Spirit came upon some men as God’s service required, but these cases were rare, occasional and exceptional. All was purely within the sovereign will of God. But now, to the whole body of disciples came the astonishing statement that any one of them, simply by asking, might receive the Spirit!" (Scofield, Ibid.).

  1. REGENERATION AND THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT

1. In this dispensation every believer is indwelt with the Holy Spirit the moment they are born again (John 3:3-8; Rom.8:9-11,14-16; I John 3:24) but not all believers are filled with the Spirit (Eph.5:18).
Pastor James Barker
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