Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Bible is clear that there is one true living God. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. He is sovereign, all-powerful, and eternal. And though He is One, He has revealed Himself in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Not three Gods; but one God in three persons.

This mysterious “three-in-one” nature of God is often referred to as the “Trinity.”

There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood, controversial, and/or neglected person of the Trinity. The work of the Holy Spirit is seen throughout the Bible from beginning to end. But many ask, “Who is the Holy Spirit? How is He relevant to my life? What does He do?”

In this post I want to briefly outline two foundational truths about the Holy Spirit. At the bottom, I have highlight several other articles I have written that will allow you to go deeper in your study of the Holy Spirit.

1.) The Holy Spirit is a Person

The Holy Spirit is not merely a “force” or an unseen “energy” in the world. He is actually a person. Thus, it is incorrect to refer to Him as an “it.”  Consider the following passage where Jesus describes the Holy Spirit’s work:

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
-John 16:13

Notice that Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as “He” not “it.”  Consider also some of the functions that Jesus describes: guiding, speaking, and hearing. We also see from Scripture that the Holy Spirit can be grieved (see Ephesians 4:30). These are all attributes of a person.

When I say that the Holy Spirit is a person, I obviously do not mean that He is a human being. I mean that He is not just some impersonal force or cosmic energy “out there” that cannot be known. He is personal; we can know the Holy Spirit, fellowship with Him, and be led by Him in our daily lives.

2.) The Holy Spirit is God

The Holy Spirit is not just any kind of person…He is God! He is all-knowing, all-present, and all-powerful. Consider the following passages:

Then Peter said, “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

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
-2 Corinthians 3:17

Again, there is only one God, but He has revealed Himself in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is just as much God as the Father and the Son. Therefore, He is to be worshipped, obeyed, honored, and loved.

For Further Study…

Do you know the Holy Spirit? Is He real to you or just a theological concept?

I encourage you to check out the following articles for further study. But more than that, I pray that you would encounter the Holy Spirit in a new way and cultivate a relationship with Him: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

 Holy Spirit Symbols

 The Holy Spirit and Prayer

The Gifts of the Spirit

The Fruit of the Spirit

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Three Purposes for Speaking in Tongues