Theology Position Ten: Pneumatology

(Doctrine of the Holy Spirit)

“Holy Spirit, rain down, rain down

Oh Comforter and Friend

How we need Your touch again

Holy Spirit, rain down, rain down

Let Your power fall Let Your voice be heard

Come and change our hearts

As we stand on Your word

Holy Spirit, rain down

No eye has seen, no ear has heard

No mind can know what God has in store

So open up heaven, open it wide

Over Your church and over our lives”[1]

These are the words to a popular praise song, “Holy Spirit Rain” by Australian church Hillsong. The Holy Spirit is part of the trinity, equal to God the Father, and Jesus the Son, but how often do we praise Him as such? There are some who do not see the Holy Spirit as part of the triune Godhead. Let us look at what the Bible has to say concerning the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Is God

Holy Spirit has the Attributes of God

* He is Omnipresent

Psalm 139:7 - “Where can I go from Your Spirit?”

* He is Omniscient
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 – “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing toeach one individually just as He wills.”

* He is Eternal

Hebrews 9:14 – “…Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish toGod.”

Holy Spirit Does the Work of God

* He is part of creation. Genesis 1:2 – “The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.”

*He brings conviction of sin. John 16:8 – “And He [Holy Spirit], when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

*He was part of raising Jesus from the dead, and He is part of the promised resurrection for all Christians. Romans 8:11 – “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

The Holy Spirit Is Part of the Trinity

He is One with the Father and Son

* He is called the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ. Romans 8:9 – “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”

* He is the Spirit of the Son, Jesus. Galatians 4:6 – “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts.”

* Jesus includes Him in his final directive to his disciples concerning evangelizing and baptizing. Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit Is an Individual Personality

Distinct actions of the Spirit

* He anointed Jesus. Acts 10:38 – “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit”

* He resurrected Jesus from the dead. Romans 8:11 – see above.

As God, the Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus Christ and are Christians. The Bible tells us “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16)? He is a spirit of truth “whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you” (John 14:7). As Christians we are to obey Him. We do this as we walk by the Spirit “and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh…If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25). The Spirit also helps us to overcome our weakness “for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).

The Holy Spirit works with Christians in many areas:

He gives eternal life (John 3:3-8; 6:63).

He is here to teach us (Luke 12:12; 1Corinthians 2:12).

He will guide us into truth (John 16:13).

He controls the ministry of believers (Acts 10:19-20; 16:6).

He gives power to witness of the Gospel of Christ (Acts 1:8).

He leads the believer in the way of the Son (Romans 8:14).

He comforts us (John 14:18, 26; 16:7).

He seals us with the promise of redemption (Ephesians 1:13).

He testifies of Christ (John 15:26; 16:14).

He will abide with us forever (John 14:16).

He assists us in prayer (Romans 8:26, 27).

The Holy Spirit is a mysterious personage of God:

He is described as wind (Job 3:8).

He is like water to a thirsty land (Isaiah 44:3).

He is like a dove (Matthew 3:16).

He is like fire (Acts 2:3-4).

As with the Father and the Son, we will never know Him fully.

[1] Hillsong United, “Holy Spirit Rain Down”, viewed November 26, 2006, http://www.uppercutmusic.com/artist_h/hillsong_united_lyrics/holy_spirit_rain_down_lyrics.html.