GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Trinity, diverse from and yet one with God the Father and God the Son. He is called by various names proving His diversity and oneness at the same time. Those names include the following: The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, The Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Glory, the Spirit of Grace, and my (God) Spirit. The Scripture uses the personal pronoun "He," proving Him to be a person with a mind, will, and emotions rather than an impersonal force.
The Holy Spirit is eternal even as God is eternal. He was present and active during the creation of the world. He has the attributes of God, such as: He is present everywhere, knows all things, is all-powerful, holy, and sovereign.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Therefore, He is responsible for the revealing of Truth to man, the recording of Truth through man, and the illuminator of Truth for those who believe. He convicts people of sin through the Truth and aids them in turning in faith from themselves to trusting in Jesus Christ.
He was active in the conception, life, works and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, thereby, giving Him the spiritual life of God Himself. By the power of the Holy Spirit within Him, Jesus lead a sinless life qualifying Him to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
The Holy Spirit is the one who gives physical, intellectual, and spiritual life. Man, however, sinned in the garden and turned to his own way leaving him spiritually dead and incapable of producing good acceptable to God. Therefore, it is only by the Holy Spirit causing the new birth and applying the benefits of the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross, that man is acceptable to God.
For those who believe in Jesus Christ and have been born again, the Holy Spirit is active in the following areas: baptizing them into the body of Christ, indwelling and being with them forever, giving special gifts to them with which they serve the body, sealing them for eternity, filling (controlling) them, teaching and guiding them, giving assurance of being a child of God to them and He intercedes (prays) for them. He gives the power to know and understand the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. Believers are not to trust themselves but accept their death with Christ on the cross, count themselves dead to sin, and live in total dependence upon Christ through the power of the Spirit. As Jesus did nothing of Himself while on this earth, but was in total dependence upon His Father to work in and through Him, so we are to be in dependence upon Christ through walking according to the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit, although active in all area's of life and is the agent God uses to accomplish His work in us, does not take the glory for Himself. He instead brings all glory and focus to rest upon God the son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the "spotlight" that shines upon our Savior, drawing attention not to Himself but to Jesus Christ.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES BY PARAGRAPH
• Paragraph #1: Matthew 1:18; John 14:17; Acts 8:39; Genesis 1:2; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Matthew 10:20; Philippians 1:9; 1 Peter 4:14; Hebrews 10:29; Genesis 6:3; John 14:16,17; Isaiah 59:19
• Paragraph #2: Hebrews 9:14; Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Psalm 139:7; Isaiah 40:13; Isaiah 48:16
• Paragraph #3: 1 Peter 1:11,12; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 2:11,12; John 16:8,13
• Paragraph #4: Matthew 1:18; John 6:63; Romans 8:11; Luke 4:18
• Paragraph #5: Genesis 2:16; Romans 5:12; Romans 3:10-12; John 3:5,6; John 6:63
• Paragraph #6: 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 14:16,17; 1 Corinthians 12:4,11; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 6:18; John 16:13; Romans 8:14-17,26; Ephesians 3:14-19; Romans 6:3-6; John 5:19
• Paragraph #7: John 14:26: John 15:26: John 16:7-15
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