The Holy Spirit

Who is the Holy Spirit?

He is not some impersonal force a la Star Wars. He is the 3rd person of the Trinity. He is the Person who actively operates in and through our lives and binds all Christians together in an unbreakable unity.

The Bible contains many descriptors of Him. As with the Names of Jesus in an earlier post, meditation on the Names of the Holy Spirit constitutes an incredible personal Bible study.

Here are a few of Scripture’s descriptions. I invite you to reflect on them and let the Holy Spirit direct your thoughts and spirit as He sees fit.

Also, Sunday is coming. If you don’t have a church family, please feel very welcome to come and visit Calaveras Presbyterian Church. We would love to worship the Triune God with you.

Author of Scripture: (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16)

The Bible emerges from divine inspiration, described as “God-breathed” through the work of the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Trinity. This Spirit guided the human authors of the 66 books, ensuring their words reflected His influence on their thoughts and emotions. Much like a vessel propelled across the sea by the force of wind filling its sails, these writers were carried forward by the Spirit’s direction.

Comforter / Counselor / Advocate: (Isaiah 11:2; John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7)

These terms stem from the Greek word parakletos, giving rise to “Paraclete,” an alternate title for the Spirit. After Jesus departed, His followers felt a deep void without His reassuring presence. Yet He vowed to send the Spirit to soothe, support, and lead those who follow Him. The Spirit also confirms within us our connection to God, reinforcing our confidence in salvation.

Convicter of Sin: (John 16:7-11)

The Spirit brings God’s truth to human consciousness, persuasively revealing our sinful nature through compelling inner conviction. He stirs an awareness of our unworthiness before a perfect God, our need for His righteousness, and the inevitability of judgment awaiting all humanity. Those who resist this realization push back against the Spirit’s prompting.

Deposit / Seal / Earnest: (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14)

The Holy Spirit serves as God’s mark of ownership on His followers, signifying that we belong to Him. His presence in believers acts as an initial assurance of the eternal inheritance Christ has guaranteed through His sacrifice. This divine seal offers unshakable certainty of our redemption, a bond no force can sever.

Guide: (John 16:13)

In the same way the Spirit directed the biblical authors to capture truth, He commits to leading believers into a deeper grasp of that truth. To those outside of faith, God’s wisdom seems illogical, understood only through spiritual insight. For Christ’s followers, the indwelling Spirit illuminates the knowledge essential to our spiritual journey.

Indweller of Believers: (Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Corinthians 6:19)

The Holy Spirit dwells within God’s people, marking the defining trait of a transformed life. From this inner residence, He directs our paths, offers comfort, shapes our character, and fosters the virtues listed as the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). He forms the vital link between God and His children, present in every genuine believer.

Intercessor: (Romans 8:26)

Among the Spirit’s most uplifting roles is His intercession for those He inhabits. When we struggle to find words or direction in prayer, He steps in, lifting our needs to God with inexpressible groans. In times of hardship or despair, He supports us, upholding our cause before God’s throne.

Revealer / Spirit of Truth: (John 14:17; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16)

Jesus assured that the Holy Spirit would arrive post-resurrection to lead His followers into all truth. Through His presence, we gain insight into spiritual realities that remain elusive to those without faith, who see such truths as nonsense. With the Spirit, we possess the perspective of Christ Himself.

Spirit of God/the Lord/Christ: (Matthew 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Peter 1:11)

These titles affirm the Spirit’s place within the triune Godhead, equal in divinity to the Father and the Son. His role emerges at creation, hovering over the waters, and collaborates with Jesus, the creator of all (John 1:1-3). This unity reappears at Jesus’ baptism, with the Spirit descending and the Father’s voice resounding.

Spirit of Life: (Romans 8:2)

The term “Spirit of Life” highlights His role in imparting vitality, not as the origin of salvation but as the source of renewed existence. Upon receiving eternal life through Christ, the Spirit nourishes our spiritual growth. This reflects the cooperative work of the Trinity: salvation from the Father, accomplished by the Son, and sustained by the Spirit.

Teacher: (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13) Jesus promised the Spirit would instruct His disciples comprehensively, recalling His teachings to their minds. The New Testament authors, under the Spirit’s influence, documented Jesus’ guidance for the Church, His identity, standards for living, and future revelations.

Witness: (Romans 8:16; Hebrews 2:4; 10:15)

The Spirit earns the title “Witness” by confirming our status as God’s children, validating the divine mission of Jesus and His followers, and affirming the inspiration of Scripture. Through the gifts He bestows, He testifies to both believers and the world of our belonging to God.