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The Holy Spirit-Part 2 The Holy Spirit is most vitally and intimately involved in our initial conversion and birth into the family of God, as well as in the ongoing development of our Christian lives. Knowledge of and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit bring us power, joy, and hope. When we neglect Him, through ignorance or indifference, we insure spiritual poverty. It is of great importance that we be clear in our minds that God the Holy Spirit is as much a person as God the Father and God the Son. Many Christians are inclined to speak of Him as an impersonal "it." They give the impression that the Holy Spirit is no more than an influence. Perhaps this is partially due to the fact that we use the term "spirit," in casual conversation, in this sense. Misunderstanding may partially stem also from the fact that the work of the Holy Spirit is not as visibly prominent as that of the Father and of the Son. His work is never to call attention to Himself. Jesus, in speaking of the gift of the Spirit, said this: (John 16:13-15
KJV)
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 show you things to
come.
{14} He shall glorify me:
for he
shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
{15}
All things that the Father hath are mine:
therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show
it unto you.
Seemingly Impersonal Symbols Some of the names and symbols by which the Holy Spirit is called may seem to suggest that He is not a personal being. Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated "spirit" mean, basically, "breath" or "wind." The Greek word "pneuma" is in the neuter gender, which is why the King James version translates "the Spirit itself (Rom. 8:16, 26). Later versions read "Himself. (Rom 8:14-17
KJV)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God.
{15} For ye have not received the spirit of bondage
again to fear;
but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby
we cry, Abba, Father.
{16} The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God:
{17} And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him,
that we may be also glorified together.
(Rom 8:26-28
KJV)
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our
infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray for as we
ought:
but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered.
{27} And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth
what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.
{28} And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his
purpose.
The fact that the King James
translation uses the neuter "itself" when speaking of the Holy Spirit in these
verses, shows that the King James is trying to be true to the original greek
wording as inspired by God. It may add to the thought that the Holy Spirit is
not a person, but when you examine the things that the Spirit is doing in
these verses, it clearly shows that inspite His neuter gender, He is still a
person and not a nebulus thing. The only problem is one of language, in that
English speakers have a problem expressing a person of neuter gender as a person
without using the word "it" , and thereby intimating that he is a thing.
But observe the things the Spirit is
doing, activities which demonstrate His personhood :
Leading : as many as are LED
by the Spirit of God.
Causing people to recognize God's
Fatherhood: The spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba
Father.
Bearing witness with our spirit:
that we are the children of God
The Spirit helps us in our
infirmities: when we are unsure of how to pray.
The Spirit intercedes for us with
the Father:
The Mind of the Spirit:
God the Father searches the Holy Spirit's heart.
He makes intercession:
according to the will of God.
Why would the Holy Spirit be a
Person of Neuter gender? Perhaps so that He may indwell either a man or a woman
without changing their gender.
(John 14:16-17
KJV)
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give
you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever;
{17} Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:
but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall
be in you.
(Note: The term "Spirit of Truth" is
neuter of gender in the Greek, and the "him" 's are not in the original
greek.)
It is impossible to explain
many biblical references to the Holy Spirit apart from the fact that He is
equal, in His personal nature, to the Father and the
Son. Jesus gave some of the
clearest scriptural teaching about the Holy Spirit. He called the Spirit the
Comforter, or Counselor, "whom the Father will send in My name; He shall teach
you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said
unto you" (John 14:26). These titles also clearly imply personality. The terms
"Comforter," or "Counselor," convey the idea of a person, such as a lawyer, on
whom one calls for help. Obviously, counseling and comforting would not be
possible if the Spirit were merely an impersonal influence.
(John 14:26
KJV)
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom
the Father will send in my name,
he shall teach you all things,
and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
have said unto you.
Then, too, the symbols used in
Scripture to describe the influence of the Spirit include oil, fire, and water
all of which are impersonal. To a superficial student, these symbols could imply
that the Spirit is merely an influence. Yet the Father and the Son are described
in similar figurative ways as light, bread of life, living water, etc. Thus,
these terms are really "metaphors", figures of speech used by God to teach us
about things which are profound and complex in a way that a child can
understand.
When we speak of the personality of the Holy Spirit, however, we must remind ourselves of the significance of this term as applied to God. As we have observed, God was not made in the image of man, but man was made in the image of God. "Personality" is not a perfect term for use with God, but it is descriptive of the Spirit's nature. It is comforting to know that the Holy Spirit has a mind, feelings, and a will, as God the Father does. He is a person in this sense. In John 16:7, as in the previous reference, the emphasis is on Christ's going away and the Holy Spirit's being sent by the Father to replace our Lord Himself on this earth. This change, Jesus said, would be beneficial for His disciples. When He was in the form of a Man, Christ could physically be in only one place at a time. But now in the form of the Holy Spirit, He can once again be in all places at once and be living in he hearts of every Christian. An impersonal force could hardly improve on the personal presence of Jesus Christ. An Omnipresent Holy Spirit certainly is necessary to accomplish this. Praise God for His Wisdom. (John 16:6-16 KJV)
But because I have said
these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
{7} Nevertheless I tell you the
truth;
It is expedient for you that
I go away:
for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come unto you;
but if I depart, I will send him
unto you.
{8} And when he is come, he
will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of
judgment:
{9} Of sin, because they
believe not on me;
{10} Of righteousness, because I
go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
{11} Of judgment, because
the prince of this world is judged.
{12} I have yet many things to say
unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
{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 show you things to
come.
{14} He shall glorify me:
for he shall receive of mine, and
shall show it unto you.
{15} All things that the Father
hath are mine:
therefore said I, that he shall
take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
{16} A little while, and ye shall
not see me:
and again, a little while,
and ye shall see me,
because I go to the
Father.
IXTHEUS CHRISTIAN GROWTH DEVOTIONALS
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In Christ.....brother
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