The Person and Some Works of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is fully God, with all the divine attributes of God, yet He is distinguished from God the Father and God the Son. There are not three gods. There is one God in three Persons (Dt 6:4; Mt 28:19; Gal 4:6). In essence, they are one, but in personage, they are three. We will look more closely at some works of the Spirit, in order to see His role and functions more clearly.
First, we remember that God is Spirit (Jn 4:24). This was true of all three divine Persons, until the incarnation of God the Son (Jn 1:14). Jesus took on flesh, and with His glorified body, today, He remains the only God/man (Jn 1:1, 14; 1 Tim 2:5). Our Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man.
Second, the titles of the third Person also help us identify Him. He is the Holy Spirit (Ps 51:1; Mt 1:18); the Spirit of God (Gen 1:2; Mt 3:16); the Spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9; Phil 1:19; 1 Pet 1:1); the Spirit of the living God (2 Cor 3:3); Spirit of truth (Jn 14:17; 16:13; 1 Jn 5:6); and sometimes He is simply called “the Spirit.” Some other terms help introduce Him to us: Helper; Comforter (Jn 14:26); Eternal (Heb 9:14); indwelling (Jn 14:17); Spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15, 23); etc.
Third, some of the works of God are attributed to all three Persons of the Godhead, such as creation and the resurrection of Jesus. Other works, such as: baptism; indwelling; filling; etc. are attributed to the Spirit more exclusively. It is the Spirit who convicts the world of sin (Jn 16:8).
Fourth, Christians know and believe in Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord, by the work of the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit, who moved along the human authors, to write the sixty-six books of the Bible (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21). It is the same Spirit, who anoints men of God to be elders in the church (Acts 20:28) — men who are apt to teach (1 Tim 3:2; 2 Tim 2:24). Again, it is the Holy Spirit, who regenerates with the hearing of the Word (Rom 10:17; 1 Pet 1:23), and who grants faith (Phil 1:29), as a gift to those He makes alive (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13); by causing each elect, redeemed soul to be born again of God (1 Pet 1:3).
Fifth, it is the Holy Spirit, who guides the children of God into all truth (Jn 8:32; 16:13; 2 Jn 1:4; 3 Jn 1:4). He employs the Word to sanctify those He has regenerated (Jn 17:17; Rom 15:16; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2). Thus, it is the Spirit of God, who wills and does God’s eternal good pleasure in and through the saint (Phil 2:13). All of this is the will of God for Christ’s church members (Eph 1:11; 1 Thess 4:3).
It is the wisdom and power of God’s Spirit, at work in the regenerate believer that bears witness with our spirit that we know we are the children of God (Rom 8:16; 1 Jn 3:1). It is also the Spirit who testifies of Christ Jesus (Jn 15:26), to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8), causing the Christian to walk by faith, wherever he is sent (2 Cor 5:7). Walking by the power of the Holy Spirit is the Christian life because it is the Spirit of Christ living in the Christian (Gal 2:20; 5:25).
The Holy Spirit occupies the church. He calls the elect of God into the temple (in the Spirit) building site (Eph 2:20–22). Sanctification is like a stone mason fitting a stone into a grand edifice. Christ is building His church with living stones (Mt 16:18; 1 Pet 2:4–5). Each stone has its particular place in Christ’s church, being built up by the Spirit.
As the Holy Spirit effectually calls God’s chosen people with the Word of truth (Rom 8:30), it is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit to attribute His good works to the devil, who blinds the minds of unbelievers, by deceiving them with lies (Jn 8:44; 2 Cor 4:4). This is an unforgiveable sin that leads to the destruction of souls in eternal hell (Mt 10:28; 12:31; Mk 3:29).
It behooves us to grow in the knowledge of the Spirit of Christ, given to us as a gift (Rom 5:5), who serves as a token/pledge of God’s intention, to complete the good work He has begun in each Christian (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Phil 1:6). Here is our friend, who sticks closer than a brother because He lives and works in our hearts.
The works of the Holy Spirit are perfect works. The “in process” status, for those who remain in the body, should not deter us from rejoicing in the coming finished work. Even as the body of sin and death is put to its end, the Spirit will be at work on the day of resurrection (Jn 5:25–29), when Christ returns for His beloved bride (Mt 24:29–31). It will be the Spirit, who grants every believer in Christ, a glorified body to live in (Phil 3:21), for eternity with Christ (Rom 6:8; 8:17; Phil 1:23; Col 3:4).
It is easy for us to neglect our relationship to the Holy Spirit, who is ever pointing us to the Person of Jesus Christ. As we keep our eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2), let us not forget how much He revealed to His disciples about the Holy Spirit. The Son of God and God the Father have sent the third Person of the Trinity, to live in us, and to conform us to the image of Jesus (Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15; 3:10).
Do you believe in Jesus? Has the Spirit illumined your knowledge of the only Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Lk 2:11; Phil 3:20; 2 Pet 1:11; 3:18)? By reading this article, it is good evidence that He is at work. Now, take up and read the Scriptures, to learn even more of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit…for these testify of Him.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 19, 2022
