The Spirit of Christ

We are continuing our series on the fundamental doctrines of the faith. What are the core truths of the Gospel? Today, we are focusing on the Holy Spirit. Our statement about the Spirit tells us:

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. The Spirit is to be referred to as “He” or “Him,” not “it,” since He, like the Father and Jesus, is a personal being. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, assures of salvation, speaks the words of Christ, regenerates the sinner, and dwells in the believer, empowering him for service by giving spiritual gifts.

Paul tells us this about the Spirit:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom . . . . The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 3:17; 13:14).

If the subject of Jesus stirs of controversy in the world, the subject of the Holy Spirit stirs up almost as much controversy within the church. Though many segments of the church have moderated their stances in recent years, the church remains deeply divided about the Holy Spirit and His work. The Pentecostal denominations owe much of their growth to the renewed focus on the Holy Spirit (sometimes to excess according to some opinions), while some denominations and churches teach in a way that almost denies the reality of the Spirit. As in the previous discussions in this series, we will not examine every nuance of this subject (that would be impossible in this space). Rather we will discuss the fundamental biblical picture of the Holy Spirit.

First, the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. Paul refers to Him as the Lord, and places Him on equal ground with the Father and Jesus. In addition, Jesus taught that it is possible to commit “blasphemy against the Spirit” (Matthew 12:31-32). As Lord, Jesus made it clear that the Spirit’s work must not be attributed to Satan. The importance of this can hardly be overstated. In the Bible, the sin of blasphemy was always against God.

Second, the Holy Spirit is a personal being. Like the Father and the Son, the Spirit is not an ‘it,’ but is rather a “He.” Jesus referred to the Spirit exclusively in this way in His teachings (see John 15-16). The Spirit can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19), and lied to (Acts 5:3-4, incidentally in this passage Peter uses the Holy Spirit and God interchangeably).

Third, the Spirit is active in the believer’s life. At the time of salvation, the Spirit unites the believer with Christ through baptism (Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 12:13). The Spirit indwells the believer, remaining to teach and guide him (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:12-13). The Spirit illuminates Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:14-15, 2 Corinthians 3:6 and16, this is true of both regenerate and unregenerate humans). The Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers to equip for service (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).

Fourth, the Spirit is also active in the world. His primary work in the world is to draw people to Christ. As with believers, He illuminates spiritual truth to unbelievers. Without that enlightenment, no unregenerate person would ever come to Christ. Jesus gave another apt description of the Spirit’s work: And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged (John 16:8-11).

There are many other things that we could say (and debate) about the Holy Spirit. These, however, are the core truths concerning Him. In all of our talk and worship of Jesus and the Father, let us not forget Him (even though His job is to point back to the Father and the Son).