The Personality Of The Holy Spirit

Come near Me, hear this;

I have not spoken in secret

From the beginning. From

The time that it was, I was there.

And now the Lord God and his Spirit

Have sent Me.

Isaiah 48:16

            This Scripture is clearly speaking of the Godhead, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is plain that the Father and the Spirit sent the Son. The baptism of Jesus Christ is another proof of this fact: “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16–17; cf: John 14: 16, 26; xvi. 7; Acts 10: 19, 20; 13. 2; 15: 28; 20: 28; Eph. 4: 30; Matt. 26: 19). Scripture is abundant with such proof so that we are not without a witness to the fact that God is Three in One. At this point in our discussion of God, the Godhead we are discussing that the Holy Spirit is a Person; a doctrine that many cavil over making for themselves what they want, or possible see in their theology that this orthodox doctrine is not true.

            The Orthodox Doctrine: the Holy Spirit is a Person, and not just an influence of some power of operation. Let us examine these following arguments and the Scriptures that used to support the argument:

1. The coming of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Jesus Christ, the Comforter, it is from the language used in reference to the Holy Spirit that the Holy Spirit is not an “it” rather a Person: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” (John 14:16). The Greek word, “μένη” which is a purpose clause due to the Greek word associated with the word, “ΐνα” and the Greek word, “μένη” is third person subjunctive, therefore this is speaking of “He” and this is a personal pronoun designating that the one sent is a person and not an ‘it.” It is clear that human qualities are applied to the One sent: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you of things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you”(John 14:26). Once again all three Persons of the Godhead are mentioned together doing the one thing, in this case sending, and teaching, and once again the pronoun “He” is applied to the Holy Spirit.
2. The Bible attributes that which can only be true of a person to the Holy Spirit: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1Corinthians 12:11). “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Hoy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself” (Acts 5:2)? “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

It is plain and clear that the Holy Spirit has the same attributes as man inasmuch as He can be grieved, and He can speak, and call, and be lied too. The Holy Spirit is a Person.

3.      The Great Commission is to make disciples, (not save anyone, as some teach) baptizing them in: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of he Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The Holy Spirit is not a simple virtue or an influence, for the Holy Spirit is associated and conjoined with the Father and the Son and this is seen in many Scriptures: “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen” (2Corinthians 13:14). We don’t, as this would simply be silly, to have communion with a simple power or influence; the analogy is clear that this analogy of our faith is that all are in similar manner the same and connected as One. In 1 Corinthians 12:4–6 the Holy Spirit is introduced as to be together with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal agent, one that is equal with each person mentioned.

Some may be opposed to these arguments because the Scriptures do often use the words Spirit, Holy Spirit, to denote divine influence. Yet, we must admit that it is common, in language for an influence designated by the name of the source from which it emanates. Example: We often say, ‘this plant thrives in the shade; but withers in the sun.’ We do not mean the literal body, the sun, but the light or the rays that emanate from the sun. Let us look at: “And thus the secretes of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you” (1Corinthians 14:25). Does this mean that the general omnipresence of God is equally true of all person and places? Yes! God’s omnipresence is equally true of all persons and places. This peculiar presence in this verse is implying a special divine influence. Yet it would be improper to argue from this passage that God is nothing more than and influence. This same argument is true of the Holy Spirit for it would also be improper to argue that the Holy Spirit is not a person because the Scriptures use the name Holy Spirit as also an influence; the Holy Spirit is a person agent. It is frequent that the name used to denote influence, the Holy Spirit, and accounted for, from the fact that the name given to the agent, because of His influence. It cannot denote anything peculiar in the nature of the agent. Why? The first and the second Persons of the Godhead are in their nature spirit, and holy; as truly the third Person of the Godhead. The Name, Holy Spirit, regarded as that which distinguishes Him in reference to His operation. The Holy Spirit is holy. Why? Because He is the immediate agent that gives the invisible, life–giving, a divine influence that proceeds from God. To say that the Holy Spirit is distinct from the Father and the Son is that in the same passages that prove His personality prove this as well. The Holy Spirit could not be the Comforter that God sent unless He was distinct from the Father. We see this distinction as well in the commission to baptize, each has the same manifestation, while distinct, and neither Person is greater than the other is, for all are the Godhead.

Return, O LORD!

            How long?

And have compassion

            On Your servants.

Oh, satisfy us early with Your

            Mercy, that we may

Rejoice and be glad all our days.

                                    Psalm 90:13–14

Live by faith: not works

Richard L. Crumb