The Holy Spirit—Person or Force?

　　I have said before that one of the most misunderstood members of the trinity, perhaps all of the Bible, is the Holy Spirit. He is often disrespected and blamed for many things he has had absolutely nothing to do with. One area of confusion is centered around the nature of the Holy Spirit, which leads to a common question some people are unsure of: Is the Holy Spirit a person? The short answer to this question is yes, but we need to dig a little deeper.

　　I find the confusion around who the Holy Spirit is troubling. This confusion does not come primarily from people outside the church. Sadly, this confusion is happening among those who claim to be followers of Christ. According to a 2021 study from Arizona Christian University, 58% of people identifying as born-again Christians claim the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being, just a symbol of God’s power, presence, or purity. Such studies show the question “is the Holy Spirit a person?” matters more than ever before. Because the work of the Holy Spirit is indispensable to your walk with the Lord, you must be clear on who he is. If you are not, you can easily fall victim to erroneous doctrine.

　　

Does the Bible Call the Holy Spirit a Person?

As we begin to answer this question, the first place to turn is to the word of God. Within the Bible’s pages, you will see clear evidence the Holy Spirit is a person. I want to share an excerpt from the late Bible teacher J. Vernon McGee.

　　“The Word of God is very clear in making the Holy Spirit a person. We are told that you are to “grieve not the holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30). Well, you can’t grieve an influence, an impersonal force, at all. You can only grieve a person.

　　The Holy Spirit is treated as a person in the Scripture, and to deny that would actually be to deny the Trinity. The Trinity is one of the unique and greatest doctrines of the Christian faith.

　　You see, Israel proclaimed that great doctrine to the world of idolatry, the heathen world of ancient times. God said to Israel, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God [Jehovah, Elohim, the plural God–the Trinity, if you please] is one Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4). In the midst of idolatry, they were to declare the unique person of God–that God is one.

　　We are to present one God to a world of atheism. Because it’s changed today–there are not many idolaters with images up in their homes; most homes today have no God at all. But we are to declare before a world of atheism the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

　　—Taken from “Is the Holy Spirit a Person or an Impersonal Force?” by J. Vernon McGee Thru the Bible Ministries (used by permission).

　　

Does the Bible Call the Holy Spirit God?

The Bible does not only confirm the Holy Spirit is a person but also confirms the Holy Spirit is God. Let me show you evidence of both from this passage in Acts.

　　Acts 5 explains how a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some property. Rather than give all of the money to the church, he kept some of it, but gave the rest of the apostles, claiming it was the full amount he received. Peter responded, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?... You have not lied just to human beings but to God” (Acts 5:3-4). This passage makes it clear that when Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he lied to God. These verses point to the Holy Spirit being part of the trinity, confirm the Holy Spirit’s divinity, and also show that he is not an impersonal force. You cannot lie to an impersonal force.

　　

Did the Holy Spirit Exist Before Pentecost?

Since the Holy Spirit is God, he has an eternal nature. Therefore, he existed well before Pentecost. Our first introduction to the Spirit of God happens in the creation account in the second verse in Genesis, where “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:2).

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　　9 Ways the Bible Defines True Manliness

　　The Holy Spirit is not just present at creation. As you read through the Old Testament, you will discover evidence of him at work in the lives of men. The difference between the Old and New Testaments is simply how he works. Consider these verses from the Old Testament

　　Gideon feels the Spirit of the Lord come upon him and blows a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to help him fight against invaders (Judges 6:34). When Samson is traveling through Timnah, a lion attacks him and “the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him” and Samson kills the lion (Judges 14:5-6).

　　In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would come upon a person and give them strength, wisdom, or the ability to accomplish something. When the work was finished, the Holy Spirit would depart and not dwell in the person’s heart. In the New Testament, there is a shift in the way he works. He goes from coming upon to dwelling within. Jesus referenced this when he walked the earth; the first outward demonstration of this indwelling of the Holy Spirit happened on Pentecost. If you want a little more in-depth look into the work of the Holy Spirit today, you can refer to the article “Understanding the Work of the Holy Spirit.”

　　

How Are the Holy Spirit, God, and Jesus All God?

The Bible is clear there is only one God. However, the Bible also shows us that though there is one God, he is revealed in three persons. This is known as the doctrine of the trinity. Many people wrestle with this idea. Some choose to reject this idea because, in their minds, it is not logical. How are the Holy Spirit, God, and Jesus all God? How does this make sense? The reality is, “how does it make sense to us?” is not the right question. The right question is, “does the Bible teach it?” As you read through the Bible, you will see that deity is ascribed to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and still, there is only one God. This is the mystery of the Godhead. The Bible reveals this, and though we can see it and believe it, I don’t know if we can fully understand how this one God exists in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, fully understanding how it all works is not a requirement for believing it or for it to be true. This triune nature is who God is, which is what he has declared in his word.

　　

Can We Pray to the Holy Spirit?

The last thing to discuss about the Holy Spirit today is, can we pray to him? Thankfully, again the answer is yes. It is perfectly okay to ask the Holy Spirit to help you, strengthen you, or assist you in your time of need. That is his role in the life of a believer today anyway.

　　Equally as important as praying to him is praying through him. Romans 8:26-27 tells us that the Holy Spirit “intercedes for us through wordless groans,” searching our minds as he intercedes, and collaborates with God’s will (Romans 8:26-27)

　　The Holy Spirit helps us to pray but also intercedes for God’s people. The Holy Spirit speaks to us, leads us into all truth, guides us, directs us, and empowers us. Finally, he works in us to make us more like Christ. These are all evidence the Holy Spirit is a person, and though I haven’t mentioned them all, there is more.

　　As I close this article, hopefully, I have given you food for thought and begun clearing up the confusion on who the Holy Spirit is. If you have further questions, I welcome you to reach out to me because this is one thing I don’t want you to get wrong, and you don’t have to.

　　Further Reading:

　　10 Roles of the Holy Spirit in the Lives of Christians

　　What Is the Holy Spirit and What Is His Power?