What or Who is the Holy Spirit?

John Zain · Aug 16, 2011

Some people exclaim …
How can they say the Trinity is one God in 3 “Persons”?
The Holy Spirit sure doesn’t sound like a “Person” to me.
Of the 3, the Holy Spirit is the least likely to be a “Person”.

But, the Holy Spirit does have the attributes of a person

has wisdom,knowledge,understanding Isaiah 11:2
has a mind ----------------------- Romans 8:27; Acts 15:28
has a will ----------------------- 1 Corinthians 12:11
has joy -------------------------- 1 Thessalonians 1:6

bears witness -------------------- Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:6
comforts ------------------------- Acts 9:31; John 14:16,14;26,15:26,16:7(KJV)
commissions ---------------------- Acts 20:28
declares ------------------------- John 16:14
devises plans -------------------- Isaiah 30:1
distributes ---------------------- 1 Corinthians 12:11
fellowships ---------------------- Philippians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14
forbids -------------------------- Acts 16:6-7
guides --------------------------- John 16:13
hears ---------------------------- John 16:13
helps ---------------------------- Romans 8:26; John 14:16,14;26,15:26,16:7(NKJV)
intercedes ----------------------- Romans 8:26-27
justifies (declares righteous) --- 1 Corinthians 6:11
knows things --------------------- 1 Corinthians 2:11
leads ---------------------------- Romans 8:14
loves ---------------------------- Romans 15:30; Galatians 5:22
reveals things ------------------- Luke 2:26, Ephesians 3:5
sends ---------------------------- Acts 13:4
sets people apart (separates) ---- 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2
speaks --------------------------- John 16:13; Acts 8:29,10:19,13:2; Rev 2:7,2:17
teaches -------------------------- 1 Corinthians 2:13
testifies ------------------------ John 15:26; Acts 20:23
warns ---------------------------- Acts 20:23

can be lied to ------------------- Acts 5:3-4
can be tested -------------------- Acts 5:9
can be insulted ------------------ Hebrews 10:29
can be grieved (saddened) -------- Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30
can be quenched (hindered) ------- 1 Thessalonians 5:19

My very own personal contribution to "Ripley's Believe it or not" is the incredible fact that
some church leaders have been deceived into believing that the Holy Spirit is only "a force".
Witness the former Moderator (for 8 years?) of the large (Protestant) United Church of Canada.

lawrance · Aug 23, 2011

John Zain said:
Some people exclaim …
How can they say the Trinity is one God in 3 “Persons”?
The Holy Spirit sure doesn’t sound like a “Person” to me.
Of the 3, the Holy Spirit is the least likely to be a “Person”.

But, the Holy Spirit does have the attributes of a person

has wisdom,knowledge,understanding Isaiah 11:2
has a mind ----------------------- Romans 8:27; Acts 15:28
has a will ----------------------- 1 Corinthians 12:11
has joy -------------------------- 1 Thessalonians 1:6

bears witness -------------------- Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:6
comforts ------------------------- Acts 9:31; John 14:16,14;26,15:26,16:7(KJV)
commissions ---------------------- Acts 20:28
declares ------------------------- John 16:14
devises plans -------------------- Isaiah 30:1
distributes ---------------------- 1 Corinthians 12:11
fellowships ---------------------- Philippians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14
forbids -------------------------- Acts 16:6-7
guides --------------------------- John 16:13
hears ---------------------------- John 16:13
helps ---------------------------- Romans 8:26; John 14:16,14;26,15:26,16:7(NKJV)
intercedes ----------------------- Romans 8:26-27
justifies (declares righteous) --- 1 Corinthians 6:11
knows things --------------------- 1 Corinthians 2:11
leads ---------------------------- Romans 8:14
loves ---------------------------- Romans 15:30; Galatians 5:22
reveals things ------------------- Luke 2:26, Ephesians 3:5
sends ---------------------------- Acts 13:4
sets people apart (separates) ---- 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2
speaks --------------------------- John 16:13; Acts 8:29,10:19,13:2; Rev 2:7,2:17
teaches -------------------------- 1 Corinthians 2:13
testifies ------------------------ John 15:26; Acts 20:23
warns ---------------------------- Acts 20:23

can be lied to ------------------- Acts 5:3-4
can be tested -------------------- Acts 5:9
can be insulted ------------------ Hebrews 10:29
can be grieved (saddened) -------- Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30
can be quenched (hindered) ------- 1 Thessalonians 5:19

My very own personal contribution to "Ripley's Believe it or not" is the incredible fact that
some church leaders have been deceived into believing that the Holy Spirit is only "a force".
Witness the former Moderator (for 8 years?) of the large (Protestant) United Church of Canada.

The Person ? is a Hypostasis.
The trinity is Hypostatic 'existential' an adjectival noun. and the Holy Spirit is a Hypostasis being a part that is not a part, it's also the whole.
The word Person is not 3 people at all, but it is referred to as in a sense. and this is what some go barking up the wrong tree all about missing the whole point.

Miss Hepburn · Aug 24, 2011

I only know the Holy Spirit from experience.
I just called my experiences "God". ( "God came to me again", for example.)
In Jan 2006 when I opened a Bible and listened to Christians on TV - I had a dawning insight...
"OHHHH, what I have been calling God all my life, Christians call the Holy Spirit..."
Ok, I can do that, I thought - it's just words so we all can relate better, fine.

A rose is a rose - in my book - my Father, Creator comes to me in awing, supernatural moments
for some unknown reason infusing me with soul transforming, mystical insights - and He is a Spirit.
A Spirit that is nothing but f-e-e-l-i-n-g -------if anyone needs to interpret that with words and call
Him a Person or Spirit - or part of a Trinity or not part of the Trinity - I don't care or concern myself
with any of that, personally - knock yourselves out, though, really.

I only care about the next time He graces me again with His Divine Presence.
I can't split hairs trying to understand Him - I only grovel for His next Magnificent Visit.
Blessings,

Miss Hepburn

Btw, Hi Ron.

Perspectives · Aug 24, 2011

The Holy Spirit is not a person,(many try to percieve Him in human terms). He's God! God the Father(above all else), God the Son, God the Spirit. Jh. 4:24 in the K.J. says God is A Spirit, as in one of many, no He IS Spirit. All things emanated from Him. Does He have personality? Of course, that's where our personality was derived from. Have you ever been to the circus? Did you see three rings? In the three ring circus there are three different things going on at the same time, but it's still ONE show. The Spirit that He is has no eyes, mouth, hands or arms, He's dipicted as having a body, which is only a starting point for us. He is pure Spirit. If you can hear it, God the Father was being a Son to Himself in Jesus, and God the Son was a Son to Himself the Father! All by the Spirit that He is. One must begin to think spiritually. The Jews still have an empty chair for Elijah at the sader during passover thinking that he will return. Elijah is dust in the ground. It's the Holy Spirit that made Elijah a mighty Prophet. So many christians today have a god that can only do so much, if it doesn't make natural sense, if it seems impossible, then He can't pull it off.

tomwebster · Aug 24, 2011

John, you have asked this same type of question many times now, why don't you just read the answers you got before? Or are you just enjoying arguing?

Angelina · Aug 24, 2011

This is the 'oneness doctrine' that I was referring to on another thread...

God the Father was being a Son to Himself in Jesus, and God the Son was a Son to Himself the Father!

please provide scriptures that clearly show that Father God became God the Son and died on the cross on our behalf, then is now the Holy Spirit... <_<

Shalom...

John Zain · Aug 25, 2011

Big Picture said:
The Holy Spirit is not a person,(many try to percieve Him in human terms). He's God! God the Father(above all else), God the Son, God the Spirit. Jh. 4:24 in the K.J. says God is A Spirit, as in one of many, no He IS Spirit. All things emanated from Him. Does He have personality? Of course, that's where our personality was derived from. Have you ever been to the circus? Did you see three rings? In the three ring circus there are three different things going on at the same time, but it's still ONE show. The Spirit that He is has no eyes, mouth, hands or arms, He's dipicted as having a body, which is only a starting point for us. He is pure Spirit. If you can hear it, God the Father was being a Son to Himself in Jesus, and God the Son was a Son to Himself the Father! All by the Spirit that He is. One must begin to think spiritually. The Jews still have an empty chair for Elijah at the sader during passover thinking that he will return. Elijah is dust in the ground. It's the Holy Spirit that made Elijah a mighty Prophet. So many christians today have a god that can only do so much, if it doesn't make natural sense, if it seems impossible, then He can't pull it off.

Thanks for the big picture.
Since the Holy Spirit has the ATTRIBUTES of a person ...
Christians include Him in with the Other Two (who also have the ATTRIBUTES of a person)
when they talk about the Three "Persons" of the Triune Godhead.
Just what does the big picture recommend that we call Them ... spirits, entities, spirit entities?

Maybe, just maybe, They prefer to be regarded as "Persons".
Makes things a little bit more personal, don't you think?
News Flash: They wish to have a "personal" relationship with you.
I mean, that's the only way you'll ever get to heaven.
Dost thou carest to see Scripture references for this?

P.S. For what "attributes" means, please check your neighbor's dictionary.

tomwebster said:
John, you have asked this same type of question many times now, why don't you just read the answers you got before? Or are you just enjoying arguing?

You obviously don't understand how education works. It's repetition, and more repetition.

FHII · Aug 25, 2011

The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth. He is called the comforter, is also one who teaches and he's the one who impregnated Mary. He had a few other things going, but above all he is the spirit of truth.

This is a very important point because who follow the spirit or say they follow the spirit are only able to do it one way. They have to know, comprehend and obey the truth. They should also know that there are many deceptions out there and Satan doesn't always have to be directly behind it. He rejoices in it, but he's not always the one behind it. One of the greatest sources of deception is in the mind of the one being deceived!

What one must do to follow the spirit is be able not only have access to a 100% reliable source of truth, but to know when he's being deceived or at least have access to a source.

One source is very doubtful : that little source inside your own head telling you he's the holy spirit!

Miss Hepburn · Aug 26, 2011

Does anyone know why the Holy Spirit is symbolizd by a dove?
I read why once in a Christian book - I'd love to share what the
author wrote - but I'll wait to see what others say...it is quite interesting
and sweet.

Miss Hepburn

Perspectives · Aug 26, 2011

Angelina said:
This is the 'oneness doctrine' that I was referring to on another thread...

please provide scriptures that clearly show that Father God became God the Son and died on the cross on our behalf, then is now the Holy Spirit... <_<

Shalom...

Mat. 1:23 Emmanuel, God with us. Heb 10:10 Jesus Christ, Theologically known as the hypastatic union of God and man. Jn.l7:21 that they all may be one,as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. v.22 that they may be one just as We are one. v. 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one.God can't be reduced down and put on a cross. Your thinking in your response to my post is almost completely natural. Polytheism makes sense to the head, Hear,oh Israel,the Lord our God, the Lord is one makes sense to the spirit,Mark 12:29.

Comm.Arnold · Aug 26, 2011

Big Picture said:
The Holy Spirit is not a person,(many try to percieve Him in human terms). He's God! God the Father(above all else), God the Son, God the Spirit. Jh. 4:24 in the K.J. says God is A Spirit, as in one of many, no He IS Spirit. All things emanated from Him. Does He have personality? Of course, that's where our personality was derived from. Have you ever been to the circus? Did you see three rings? In the three ring circus there are three different things going on at the same time, but it's still ONE show. The Spirit that He is has no eyes, mouth, hands or arms, He's dipicted as having a body, which is only a starting point for us. He is pure Spirit. If you can hear it, God the Father was being a Son to Himself in Jesus, and God the Son was a Son to Himself the Father! All by the Spirit that He is. One must begin to think spiritually. The Jews still have an empty chair for Elijah at the sader during passover thinking that he will return. Elijah is dust in the ground. It's the Holy Spirit that made Elijah a mighty Prophet. So many christians today have a god that can only do so much, if it doesn't make natural sense, if it seems impossible, then He can't pull it off.

You are a very confusing poster sometimes :huh:

Perspectives · Aug 26, 2011

Comm.Arnold said:
You are a very confusing poster sometimes :huh:

Guess I just try to pack too much into a short post. I'm not inclined to preach sermons on line.

Angelina · Aug 26, 2011

Hi Big P!

Angelina said:
This is the 'oneness doctrine' that I was referring to on another thread...

please provide scriptures that clearly show that Father God became God the Son and died on the cross on our behalf, then is now the Holy Spirit... <_<
Shalom...

Mat. 1:23 Emmanuel, God with us.

Yes...God the Son.

Heb 10:10 Jesus Christ, Theologically known as the hypastatic union of God and man.

I do not know what the theologians call it...I am not a theologian.. ^_^

Jn.l7:21 that they all may be one,as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. v.22 that they may be one just as We are one. v. 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one.God can't be reduced down and put on a cross.

You agree with me then...that God the Father did not come down as God his Son.

John 17
1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

God the Father was not reduced down and put on the cross, his Son was [who is God], on our behalf. The reason why the Holy Spirit was not spoken of directly here was because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:39 The Holy Ghost was active in believers in the OT but was not in the believers of Jesus as such, until after the day of Pentecost. That is because the Spirit in the OT was the Spirit of God the Father spoken about all through the OT. The Holy Spirit spoken of in the NT is the Spirit of Jesus and the Spirit of the Father.

Your thinking in your response to my post is almost completely natural.

My thinking is based on scripture and understanding from the Holy Spirit.

Polytheism makes sense to the head, Hear,oh Israel,the Lord our God, the Lord is one makes sense to the spirit,Mark 12:29.

The Israelites also believed that Jesus was not the Messiah...he who was to come and has come...
I do not know what Polytheism is...and yes he is one God "God the Father, God the Son and collectively, in the Holy Spirit...who is God"

Further down in that same passage it says:

36For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

There seems to be two Lords here...the LORD in capitals and the Lord that David says is his Lord...

Rocky has also pointed out in another thread that "Jesus himself does not know when the tribulation begins here on earth..."

32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. - Mark 13:32,33

The Son is not included in the revelation concerning the tribulation, only the Father has that knowledge. Which also indicates that they are not one in the same.

If Jesus was the Father...he would not have called out to himself.

Matthew 27
45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Psalm 22
1My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

2O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

19But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Again God [the Father speaks concerning his Son]

Hebrews 1
[sup]1[/sup] God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, [sup]2[/sup] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; [sup]3[/sup] who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [sup]4[/sup] having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
The Son Exalted Above Angels
[sup]5[/sup] For to which of the angels did He ever say:
“ You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”?
And again:

“ I will be to Him a Father,
And He shall be to Me a Son”?
[sup]6[/sup] But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
“ Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
[sup]7[/sup] And of the angels He says:
"Who makes His angels spirits
And His ministers a flame of fire.”
[sup]8[/sup] But to the Son He says:
“ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
[sup]9[/sup] You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

PS: I did not think that believing in the "Oneness doctrine" would hinder the fundamental principles of our faith in Jesus or salvation. However, without accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior....mankind would still be in their sins and would be judged accordingly.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1 John 5:12
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Blessings!!!

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What or Who is the Holy Spirit?

John Zain

Newbie trainee

lawrance

New Member

Miss Hepburn

Well-Known Member

Perspectives

New Member

tomwebster

New Member

Angelina

Prayer Warrior

John Zain

Newbie trainee

FHII

Well-Known Member

Miss Hepburn

Well-Known Member

Perspectives

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Comm.Arnold

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Perspectives

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Angelina

Prayer Warrior

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