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The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. He is fully God. He is eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, has a will, and can speak. He is alive. He is a person. He is not particularly visible in the Bible because His ministry is to bear witness of Jesus (John 15:26).
Some cults like the Jehovah's Witnesses say that the Holy Spirit is nothing more than a force (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 406-407). This is false. If the Holy Spirit were merely a force, then He could not speak (Acts 13:2); He could not be grieved (Eph. 4:30); and He would not have a will (1 Cor. 12:11).
The truth is that the Holy Spirit is a person the same as the Father and the Son are within the Trinity.
| His Names | His Attributes | Symbols of | Sins Against | Power in Christ's Life |
| God Acts 5:3-4 | Eternal Heb. 9:14 | Dove Matt. 3:15 | Blasphemy Matt. 12:31 | Conceived of Matt. 1:18,20 |
| Lord 2 Cor. 3:18 | Omnipotent Luke 1:35 | Wind John 3:5 | Resist (Unbelief) Acts 7:51 | Baptism Matt. 3:15 |
| Spirit 1 Cor. 2:10 | Omnipresent Psalm 139:7-10 | Fire Acts 2:3 | Insult Heb. 10:29 | Led by Luke 4:1 |
| Spirit of God 1 Cor. 3:16 | Will 1 Cor. 12:11 | ***** | Lied to Acts 5:3 | Filled with Power Luke 4:14,18 |
| Spirit of Truth John 15:26 | Loves Rom. 15:30 | ***** | Grieved Eph. 4:30 | Witness of Jesus John 15:26 |
| Eternal Spirit Heb. 9:14 | Speaks Acts 8:29; 13:2 | ***** | Quench 1 Thess. 5:19 | Raised Jesus Rom. 8:11 |
The Works of the Holy Spirit | |
| Access to God - Eph. 2:18 | Inspires prayer - Eph. 6:18; Jude 20 |
| Anoints for Service - Luke 4:18 | Intercedes -Rom. 8:26 |
| Assures - Rom. 8:15-16; Gal. 4:6 | Interprets Scripture - 1 Cor. 2:1,14; Eph. 1:17 |
| Authors Scripture - 2 Pet. 1:20-21 | Leads - Rom. 8:14 |
| Baptizes - John 1:23-34; 1 Cor. 12:13-14 | Liberates - Rom. 8:2 |
| Believers Born of - John 3:3-6 | Molds Character - Gal. 5:22-23 |
| Calls and Commissions - Acts 13:24; 20:28 | Produces fruit - Gal. 5:22-23 |
| Cleanses - 1 Thess. 3:13; 1 Pet. 1:2 | Empowers Believers - Luke 24:49 |
| Convicts of sin - John 16:9,14 | Raises from the dead - Rom. 8:11 |
| Creates - Gen. 1:2; Job 33:4 | Regenerates - Titus 3:5 |
| Empowers - 1 Thess. 1:5 | Sanctifies - Rom. 15:16 |
| Fills - Acts 2:4; 4:29-31; 5:18-20 | Seals - Eph. 1:1314; 4:30 |
| Gives gifts - 1 Cor. 12:8-11 | Strengthens - Eph. 3:16; Acts 1:8; 2:4; 1 Cor. 2:4 |
| Glorifies Christ - John 16:14 | Teaches - John 14:26 |
| Guides in truth - John 16:13 | Testifies of Jesus - John 15:26 |
| Helps our weakness - Rom. 8:26 | Victory over flesh - Rom. 8:2-4; Gal. 4:6 |
| Indwells believers - Rom. 8:9-14; Gal. 4:6 | Worship helper - Phil. 3:3 |
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Part of a series on
Christian Doctrine
Basic Christian Doctrine
- Christian
- Take a Christian Doctrine Test
- Answers to the Christian Doctrine Test
- Basic Christian Doctrine
- Essential Doctrines of Christianity
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The Trinity
- What is the Trinity?
- Response to criticism of "What is the Trinity?"
- The Trinity Chart
- Another Look at The Trinity
