The Holy Spirit is fully divine and has existed eternally with the Father and the Son as the one true God.1 Often referred to as the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is worthy of praise for his infinite glory. Below we’ll consider several important aspects of the Spirit’s identity and works.2
The Spirit is Fully God
Scripture bears witness to the full deity of the Holy Spirit in a variety of ways. Three examples are listed below.
1. The Spirit shares the same divine name as the Father and the Son.
According to Jesus, making disciples involves baptizing them “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). If the Spirit were not fully God, then it would not make sense for disciples to be baptized in his name. The one divine name belongs equally to the Father, Son, and Spirit.
2. The Spirit possesses attributes that belong solely to God.
Consider a few of the divine attributes that Scripture assigns to the Spirit: he is present everywhere at once (Psalm 139:7–13); he is all-knowing (1 Corinthians 2:10–11); and he is infinite in power (Acts 10:38), granting new, spiritual life to those who were dead in sin (John 3:3–8; Titus 3:5). No mere creature possesses these divine attributes.
3. The Spirit and God are spoken of interchangeably.
The book of Acts records a gathering of the early church in which a man named Ananias lied about his offering. In response, the apostle Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit … You have not lied to man but to God.” (Acts 5:3–4). To lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God—because the Spirit is God!
The Spirit is a Divine Person
Sometimes the Holy Spirit is equated with a feeling or treated as an impersonal force. However, the Spirit is not an “it” but a “he” (John 16:13–14). He, the Spirit, is an eternally divine person who speaks (Acts 8:29), teaches (John 14:26), bears witness (Romans 8:16), intercedes (Romans 8:26), searches (1 Corinthians 2:10), knows (1 Corinthians 2:11), gives spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11), and is grieved by sin (Ephesians 4:30).3
The Spirit Carries Out Divine Works
As we consider the Spirit’s works, it’s important to remember that the Spirit never acts independently. He always works in unity with God the Father and God the Son. Below we’ll consider several examples of the Spirit’s works in Scripture.
The Spirit and Creation
The Spirit was active in creating and fashioning the world, as he hovered over the face of the waters at creation (Genesis 1:2). The Spirit’s work in creation is also seen in the way that Scripture speaks of the Lord making the hosts of heaven with his “breath” (Psalm 33:6). The word translated “breath” (ruach) can also be translated “Spirit,” for God breathes life into his creation by the power of the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:30; Psalm 104:30).
The Spirit and Jesus
The Spirit was active throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry. The Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by the Spirit (Matthew 1:20), anointed by the Spirit (Matthew 3:16; John 3:34), led by the Spirit (Matthew 4:1), empowered by the Spirit (Matthew 12:28; Luke 4:14), offered to God as a sinless sacrifice by the Spirit (Hebrews 9:14), and raised from the dead by the Spirit (Romans 8:11).
It’s not surprising, then, that the Spirit’s ministry is now focused on bearing witness to Jesus. (John 15:26). Wherever the Spirit is at work, Christ is glorified (John 16:14).
The Spirit and Redemption
Just as the Spirit was integral in accomplishing the work of redemption, so also he is integral in applying that redemption to our lives. The Spirit causes us to be born again (John 3:3–8), giving us a heart that is willing and able to obey God (Ezekiel 36:27). He indwells those who put their faith in Christ (Romans 8:9), sealing them for their eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:13–14).
As we await that inheritance, the Spirit gradually transforms us into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18) by helping us put sin to death (Romans 8:14) and by producing the “fruit” of godly character (Galatians 5:22–23). The Spirit even intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26).
The Spirit and the Word
The work of the Spirit is also tied closely to God’s Word. Scripture is inspired by God’s Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16), and to receive this Word rightly, we’re dependent on the Spirit of Truth to enlighten us (Ephesians 1:17–18) and give us understanding (1 Corinthians 2:10–13). As we proclaim the Word, it’s the Spirit who empowers us (Acts 1:8; 4:31), making our imperfect efforts effective (John 16:7–11; 1 Thessalonians 1:5).
The Spirit and the Church
The Spirit plays a central role in the life of the church. The Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13) and gives us gifts so that we can build one another up in the faith (1 Corinthians 12:4–11). Just as God manifested his glory in Israel’s temple, so now he manifests himself in the church, his new temple, through the indwelling of his Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Finally, it’s the Spirit who empowers the church in its mission (Acts 1:8; 4:31). We proclaim the gospel in the Spirit’s power (Acts 1:8) as he gives us boldness to speak the truth (Acts 4:31). Even as we face opposition for the sake of Christ, the Spirit rests on us in a unique way (1 Peter 4:14).
- Scott Swain, The Trinity: An Introduction, 189. ↵
- For more on Scripture’s teaching on the Holy Spirit, see David Platt, Secret Church 5, “Exploring the Holy Spirit.”; Fred Sanders, The Holy Spirit: An Introduction. ↵
- David Platt, Secret Church 4, “Who is God?” (See pgs. 51–52 of the Secret Church 4 Study Guide.) ↵
