The Holy Spirit

Back to Home › Studying the Book › Topical Studies

John 16:7

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Jesus declares that the Holy Spirit is a divine person by calling the Spirit “Him,” not “it.”

John 16:8

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

The Holy Spirit convicts of sin.

Matthew 28:19,20

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

The Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead.

Ephesians 4:30

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

The Holy Spirit can be grieved.

Genesis 6:3

And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

The Holy Spirit “strives” with us, leading us to do right.

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.

The Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

Romans 8:27

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The Spirit has a mind.

Romans 8:16

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

The Spirit bears witness that we are children of God.

Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

The Holy Spirit produces His fruit in our lives.

Ezekiel 36:26,27

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

The Holy Spirit works a transformation of character, giving us a new heart.

Genesis 1:2

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The Spirit participated with the Father and Son in creation and He participates in re-creation.

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

We need not fear death for Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, will resurrect His faithful people.

John 16:13,14

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. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth.

John 14:26

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

The Holy Spirit is God’s teacher.

Matthew 12:31,32

Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

To fully reject the convicting, converting, instructing power of the Holy Spirit continually is to everlastingly commit the unpardonable sin.

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

As we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, we become sons and daughters of God.

Commonly-asked questions regarding the Holy Spirit

What does the Bible teach about tongues?

The following points should be carefully noted when considering the gift of tongues.

In Acts 2, tongues was a real language used to break the language barrier, communicate the gospel and authenticate truth (Acts 2:4-8)
The word “glossalalia” means languages (see Revelation 14:6).
There are only three mentions of tongues in Acts (Acts 2,10,19). In each instance, people of other language groups are present.
1. In Acts 2, tongues are a real language (verses 8,11)
2. In Acts 10, Cornelius and his household upon accepting Jesus spoke with tongues. Peter was a Jew, Cornelius was a Greek. Cornelius spoke in a real language which Peterunderstood. This confirmed in Peter’s mind the reality of Cornelius’ conversion. (Acts 11:17 says it was the same gift the disciples received.)
3. Paul, the international apostle, witnessed tongues in Ephesus (Acts 19). Every time the Bible mentions tongues in Acts there is more than one language group present.
The Corinthian church was Paul’s problem church. It was often involved in strife and conflict. In Corinth, Paul attempted to control the abuse of the genuine gift. He set forth the following guidelines:
1. Only one person should speak at a time (1 Corinthians 14:27).
2. There should always be an interpreter (1 Corinthians 14:28).
3. At most, two or three should speak in a single service (1 Corinthians 14:27).
4. The speaker understands and is in control of what is being said (1 Corinthians 14:32)
5. God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33)
Paul’s appeal was for intelligent communication (1 Corinthians 14:9,19).
Since the Holy Spirit interprets our prayers into the language of heaven, interceding for us at God’s throne, it is unnecessary to speak a language we do not understand. (Romans 8:26).
Since the highest faculty God has given us is our mind, it is dangerous to allow any power to control our mind. The mind is the seat of intelligence. It is with the mind that we worship God. Any form of worship which bypasses the mind can become emotional manipulation (Philippians 2:5).
Tongues is only one of the spiritual gifts. It is not the sign of the infilling of the Holy Spirit—witnessing is (Acts 1:6-8)! Not everyone will receive the gift of tongues (real language) to preach the gospel. When it is needed to further God’s work, He will give it (1 Corinthians 12:6-11,18,29,30).