One of the most misunderstood and mischaracterized persons of the Trinity of God himself is the person of The Holy Spirit. Man gets confused with feelings, emotions, wind, or just thought of as a 'force'. Yet, scripture makes it clear He is a unique, co-equal, divine person of the Trinity that makes God himself. This simple study will help understand him more clearly.
First we need to recognize that He, the Spirit, The Holy Spirit; is God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16).
Second we need to recognize that He is subordinate to the Father and the Son, yet unique, equal, and divine (John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7, John 16:13-14).
Third we see his uniqueness in his purpose and tasks and how it relates to us.
Here is where people misunderstand and mischaracterize Him. They simply confuse their sinful heart and the feelings, thoughts, and emotions it generates with The Spirit guiding, helping, and teaching. The defining factor is that The Holy Spirit will ALWAYS cause people to look to Christ. He does NOT ever cause people to seek carnal solutions or worldly things but he will ALWAYS point to the person and work of Jesus Christ. So if Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is not the means to the end than it is not the Holy Spirit.
In charismatic and Pentecostal influenced churches the confusion of the Spirit is very prevalent. The focus on The Holy Spirit and the desire for spiritual gifts tend to take priority over The Gospel and the complete focus on the person and work for Jesus Christ. This alone shows that it is not The Holy Spirit that is moving but either the hearts of men or a different spirit. This is the very reason John commanded the Church to test the spirits in 1 John 4. The Holy Spirit would compel the desire for The Gospel and will constantly point to and worship the Christ.
Also read: The Holy Spirit or Emotionalism? and Gold Teeth, Fillings, Flakes Cloud, and more
First we need to recognize that He, the Spirit, The Holy Spirit; is God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16).
Second we need to recognize that He is subordinate to the Father and the Son, yet unique, equal, and divine (John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7, John 16:13-14).
Third we see his uniqueness in his purpose and tasks and how it relates to us.
- He is our "helper" (John 14:16)
- He is our "teacher" (John 14:26)
- He will help us remember God's commands and help us be obedient (John 14:26).
- He will bear witness about the true Jesus (John 15:26).
- He is also called "The Spirit of Truth" in that he will proclaim the truths of God to us (John 15:26).
- He is our "guide" to truth (John 16:13)
- He will glorify Jesus, not himself. He will guide people to Jesus, not himself. (John 16:14).\
- He is the means by which the Father creates and maintains the universe (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30);
- He is the means by which the Father reveals divine truths (John 16:12-15; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21);
- He is the means by which the Father brings believers into salvation (John 3:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2);
- He is the means by which the Father did Jesus' earthly works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38).
Here is where people misunderstand and mischaracterize Him. They simply confuse their sinful heart and the feelings, thoughts, and emotions it generates with The Spirit guiding, helping, and teaching. The defining factor is that The Holy Spirit will ALWAYS cause people to look to Christ. He does NOT ever cause people to seek carnal solutions or worldly things but he will ALWAYS point to the person and work of Jesus Christ. So if Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is not the means to the end than it is not the Holy Spirit.
In charismatic and Pentecostal influenced churches the confusion of the Spirit is very prevalent. The focus on The Holy Spirit and the desire for spiritual gifts tend to take priority over The Gospel and the complete focus on the person and work for Jesus Christ. This alone shows that it is not The Holy Spirit that is moving but either the hearts of men or a different spirit. This is the very reason John commanded the Church to test the spirits in 1 John 4. The Holy Spirit would compel the desire for The Gospel and will constantly point to and worship the Christ.
Also read: The Holy Spirit or Emotionalism? and Gold Teeth, Fillings, Flakes Cloud, and more
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