A STUDY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part One) By Bob Myhan There is much disagreement in the religious world regarding the Holy Spirit. Some teach that the Holy Spirit is not God but an impersonal force which God uses in the accomplishment of His purposes. Others teach that the Holy Spirit is God, but is not a distinct person from the Father and Son. But what does the Bible teach about the nature of the Holy Spirit? Is the Holy Spirit a person or a mere impersonal force? There are also many who believe they have experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit either as a part of their salvation experience or as a “second work of grace” following salvation. Those who view it as part of the salvation experience, generally, do not believe they can speak in tongues, while those who view it as subsequent to salvation, generally, believe they can and do speak in tongues. But, again, what does the Bible teach? May anyone living today legitimately expect to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? And what does the Bible teach about the gift of tongues and other miraculous, spiritual gifts? What were the gifts, what was their function, how were they received and what was the intended duration of them? There is also much misunderstanding concerning the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence in the lives of Christians. Does He indwell Christians indirectly or directly, non-miraculously or miraculously? Does He do so via natural or supernatural means? The Nature of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is not a mere impersonal force but a person. A person is “a being conscious of self, subsisting in individuality and identity, and endowed with intuitive reason, rational sensibility, and a free will” (H. Leo Boles: The Holy Spirit, His Personality, Nature, Works; page 33). It is here affirmed that the Holy Spirit is “conscious of self” – is aware of having a personal, independent existence; “subsisting in individuality and identity” -- exists as an individual, having his own identity, separate and distinct from all other individuals; and is “endowed with intuitive reason” -- possesses the ability to analyze and explain. The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit in such a way as to warrant the conclusion that He is a person. Notice the following scriptures. 1. “Of all persons set Barnabas and Saul apart for me for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2, NWT). The Holy Spirit, in this place, used the first person pronoun, “I,” and is therefore “conscious of self.” 2. “But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name” (John 14:26, NWT). Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as being separate and distinct from both the Father and the Son. Therefore the Holy Spirit “subsists in individuality and identity.” 3. “That one will teach you all things” (John 14:26, NWT). The Holy Spirit has the ability to analyze and explain and is, therefore, “endowed with intuitive reason.” 4. “That one will…bring back to your minds all things I told you” (John 14:26, NWT). Thus the Holy Spirit is in possession of mental faculties with which to retain information and impart the same to others and is “endowed with…rational sensibility.” 5. “However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things coming” (John 16:13, NWT). The Holy Spirit has His own impulses, but chooses not speak of them, but to speak “what things he hears.” He is therefore “endowed with…a free will.” [Note: We quote from the New World Translation, which was produced by the New World Bible Translation Committee, and copyrighted by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of Pennsylvania, because those involved in the translation deny both the personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit, yet their translation supports both.]
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 03:02:38 +0000
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