Basic Bible Doctrine
Lesson Nine
"Holy Spirit"

The study of Holy Spirit is called, "Pneumatology". It is derived from the Greek word pneuma, meaning spirit, wind, or breath. The Bible is the only source from which we can secure any information concerning Him, and, the Christian Faith alone has the Holy Spirit.

With this said, let jump right into the study

Holy Spirit is a Person.

1. He is not just an influence. Notice the word ‘He’ in 1 John 4:4 (KJV) - not ‘it’; and compare the pronouns referring to the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and the disciples in John 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15. Now see from these verses what He does. He teaches, reminds, testifies, bears witness, convicts, guides, speaks, hears, shows, glorifies Christ. Only a person can do these things. In 1 John 2:20 and 27 we read that He is our teacher; in 1 John 5:6-8 that “it is the Spirit who testifies”; and in 1 John 5:10 (KJV) that He is the “witness” within.

He is the Divine Person.

That is, He is the very Spirit of God, who proceeds from ”the Holy One” (Christ) who is God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16) Now, look up 1 John 2:20; 1 John 4:2, Acts 5:3-4,  and compare how Holy Spirit is referred to. From these verses as well as others, it is clear that Holy Spirit is God Himself. He should not be referred to as "The Holy Spirit", but "Holy Spirit".  In other words, Holy Spirit is God Himself dwelling in all true believers. Holy Spirit is "the spirit of God" that moved upon the face of the deep in Genesis. He is the comforter that God promised to send. In John 14:16, Jesus promises to send the comforter (Holy Spirit), to abide with us forever. Then, in verse 18 Jesus says, "I WILL COME TO YOU" Remember in previous lessons we saw that Jesus IS the very God of the Old Testament...that Jesus IS the one that did all the creating, and that Jehovah God of the Old Testament told us that it would be HE HIMSELF that came to be our Saviour  So, Jesus is God himself, and here in John, Jesus is saying the the Holy Spirit who is the "Comforter", will come and dwell within all true believers, and that HE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. Jesus is God, and He is the Holy Spirit.

He is one with the Father and the Son in the Trinity.

Several times in this epistle we read of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit - look up 1 John 1:2,3; 2:1. The Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son in the unity of the Godhead. Many teaches about the doctrine of the Trinity, i.e. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but, we should never understand this to mean that there are three God's, or three parts of God. No, there is only one God ( Isaiah 44:6). The teaching of the Trinity then is not that there are three Gods, or that there are three parts of one God, but that there is only one God who has made Himself known to us in three ways, as the Father in the Old Testament, as the Son (Saviour) in the New Testament, and now as Holy Spirit during this age of Grace we live in now. ONLY ONE GOD, and we know Him as Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit within us, AND as our heavenly Father.

The Holy Spirit is God’s Gift to every one of His children.

John was writing to all believers, all born again ones, all who were in the family of God, and not just to a select few. See the force of the words “you have” in 1 John 2:20. You cannot be a child of God and not have Holy Spirit - look up Romans 8:9, and compare John 14:16; Acts 2:37-39. So, if you are a child of God, He has given you the Holy Spirit - but where is He?

Holy Spirit indwells every one of God's Children

He is not only with u,s He is in us. It is important to emphasis this because some have taught that Acts 19:2 proves that one can be a Christian, a child of God, and not have Holy Spirit. But this is simply not true. The twelve in Acts 19 were not Christians at all, in the full sense of the word, until Paul explained the gospel to them, and then, when they believed, they received the Holy Spirit - as you did when you believed! Again look at 1 John 2:20 (”you have”); and 2:27 (”you…in you”); and compare John 14:17  (last two words – “in you”); 1 Corinthians 6:19. So if you are a child of God, He is now in you!

The Holy Spirit permanently indwells every child of God.

Does the Holy Spirit indwell the child of God and then leave him? In the old dispensation David prayed, “Do not take your Holy Spirit from me”. look up Psalm 51:11; but we do not need to pray this prayer now, nor should we, for He who indwells us has come to ‘abide’, that is to stay, in us - John 14:16 (KJV). That settles it! Of course, when we sin we ”grieve” Him  (Ephesians 4:30); and when we disobey Him we quench Him (1 Thessalonian 5:19). In both cases we restrict His operations in and through us; but we do not drive Him away. This point also goes along with the Biblical doctrine of "once saved always saved". We will look at that doctrine later.

The Holy Spirit is the source and supplier of all that we need for holy living and for effective service.

Notice the three special ministries of the Holy Spirit referred to by John:

1. He assures us.  He gives us the absolute assurance that we are born again and are members of God’s family. He does this outwardly through the Word of God (1 John 5:13); but also by His inward indwelling ( 1 John 5:10; 3:24; 4:13); Also compare Romans 8:16; Galatians 4:6.

2. He teaches us. Think about the wonderful truth revealed in 1 John 2:20,27. Within us we have the fountain of all wisdom! The ’Spirit of truth Himself’ (1 John 2:18-27), and compare John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13. This is the explanation of such promises as Psalms 25:12; 32:8; Isaiah 28:26; Luke 12:12; and read the testimony of the psalmist in Psalm 119:99 as well. How wonderful to have this great Teacher with and in us!

3. He fortifies us. The indwelling Holy Spirit is greater than the Devil or anything outside us as 1 John 4:4 tells us! The Devil is certainly great in his power - a real, diabolical personality, the enemy of God and of God’s children (John 8:44; 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4); and compare 2 Corinthians 11:14 and 1 Peter 5:8. But, the Holy Spirit within us is greater! The power to live a life of holiness, victory and service, which is glorifying to the Lord, lies not in us but in Him, the Person of God the Holy Spirit, which lives in every true believer of God. look up Isaiah 59:19, and compare it with Zechariah 4:6.

In Closing this short lesson

There is much more that could be said about Holy Spirit, but for now, this is enough. Remember, He is God Himself, dwelling in us, teaching us, convicting us, sealing us unto the day of redemption, and will ultimately catch us up to be with the Lord on resurrection day.  Do not grieve Him, do not quench Him. Always listen and follow, for it is Him who points you to Jesus Christ.