This is point 1.A of “Personality of the Holy Spirit” from our printed notes of the course, “Bible Doctrines 1”. The course is offered in our audio MP3 CDs. Go to Bible School courses to see the complete study.
I. The Personality of the Holy Spirit.
Many who deny certain attributes of the Lord Jesus Christ also deny the personality of the Holy Spirit. Proper belief regarding the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to understand and know the Father and the Holy Spirit. He who is “the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2: 8) opens our understanding of both the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Name of the Holy Spirit is never given. This is perhaps the most significant feature in the Bible regarding the Godhead. In order for God to bring about His will and purpose, He has revealed Himself as a Triune God: a Trinity, three Persons but One God. As the Father, He is the divine Source of all things; as the Son, He is the divine Channel of all things; as the Holy Spirit, He is the divine agent of all things. The Holy Spirit has no Name given in order that He might glorify the Son.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:13-14).
Like Arius of old who denied certain attributes of the Lord Jesus Christ and also believed the Holy Spirit was the “exerted energy of God”, modern apostates who deny the finished work of Jesus Christ do not know the Holy Spirit. Unscriptural, wild notions of the Holy Spirit are always accompanied by a corresponding denial of some aspect of the Person or work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Anyone who excludes Christ and continually speaks of the Holy Spirit and experiences of the Spirit, reveals that he does not have the Spirit of God. The work of the Spirit is to glorify Christ.
A. Titles indicate Personality.
- The Holy Spirit.
“Holy” and “Holiness” are not only references to His own nature, but also to the operation of holiness which He imparts to men. Only a Person can impart holiness and effect sanctification in men.
- “thy holy spirit”, Psalm 51: 11.
- “the Spirit of Holiness”, Romans 1: 4.
- “the Holy Spirit”, Luke 11: 13.
- The Good Spirit.
- “thy spirit is good”, Psalm 143: 10.
- “thy good spirit”, Nehemiah 9: 20.
Notice the Holy Spirit has the quality of “good” as well as the ability to be “good”. This indicates personality.
