S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Many people find the doctrine of the Holy Spirit confusing. Is the Holy Spirit a force, a person, or something else? What does the Bible teach? The Bible provides many ways to help us understand th...

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July 01 2013 • 9 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets. No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10, 11 NLT).

The Holy Spirit Is a Thinking Being

The Bible says that the Holy Spirit has the intellectual capacity to think and know. These are the marks of personhood. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about this aspect of the Spirit of God. He put it in this manner.

Paul especially emphasizes the Spirit's action in revealing to himself and to Christians the mind of God (1 Cor 2:10-12; Eph 3:5). (ISBE, Don Stewart)

How could the Holy Spirit do this if He wasn’t highly intelligent? Intelligence is a mark of personality. The Spirit definitely has intellect, and so He is a person!

March 21 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Justin Hale Supporter

I would just like to add a modern analogy to the other good answers given here. Scripture informs us that we are made in GOD's direct likeness, so if GOD is 'Triune' (comprised of three distinct Persons), then we should be able to describe humans in this way also.

Can we?

Science has replaced many scriptural terms with its own, even though we should all be reminded that science was 'born' inside the original 'university' system founded by the Holy Spirit. People from tribes all over the world came together under His inspiration after receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why you should note that the terms of science remain rooted in Greek Koine, the original language of the New Testament. 

Terms as fundamental as 'energy' (Greek: 'energema') and 'atom' (Greek: 'atomos'), are taken directly from the Bible. This newly revealed knowledge is the foundation upon which all of science is based and all of it is traceable back to Christ Himself:

"...together in love, even unto all the wealth of the full assurance of understanding, unto the full knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2-3). 

So if Christ Is the traceable Source of science, how can those using it be atheists, pagans or even openly evil? How can its narratives contain blasphemous ideas?

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6). 

Scripture speaks of an era of 'false wonders' after a betrayal event or 'falling away' from the Church system, (2 Thessalonians 2:3-9). Satan is now using the newly revealed knowledge and its great power by denying its Source and even blaspheming GOD in the Church, exalting his 'science' above all previous objects of worship and demonstrating it to be the new 'god.' (2 Thessalonians 2:4). 

This is a truly twisted lie, of course, since the Holy Spirit is its true Source! 

In our era, this just leaves two 'spirits' guiding men, the Holy Spirit and the evil 'spirit of antichrist' using GOD's knowledge in this twisted way. This gathering of evil spirits began even in the days of the apostles, John mentioning 'many antichrists' starting to come together into the one collective effort in response to Christ's work upon the cross, (1 John 2:18).

The Holy Spirit Is indeed GOD Himself as He perceives Himself acting upon His holy angels and through the 'elect' human persons under their care, (Hebrews 1:13-14). GOD's genuine knowledge is based in this love, (Colossians 2:2). That is how we can tell the difference. The same powerful knowledge without love 'tears us to pieces.' (Matthew 7:6)

So the modern analogy of the 'Triune' nature of human beings made in GOD direct likeness would be based in 'science,' but it would be the version of science given to us by the Holy Spirit, not antichrist. 

The human body is actually 'triune,' (made of three distinct 'persons'), when we recognize the truth that we can view the same complete 'human' in three distinct ways without diminishing what a 'human' is. The human is an animal, but that animal cannot survive without a vast community of microbes all animated by electricity. We can see ourselves as just an animal. Or, we can see ourselves as just the vast microbes acting upon this animal body. Or, we can see ourselves as the electrical energy animating both the animal and the microbes that sustain life itself.

Despite our changing perspective, a 'human' remains exactly what it is. We cannot separate the animal from the microbes or the microbes cease to function as a community. We cannot remove the microbes or the animal immediately dies, since it depends on them for its very survival. We cannot remove the electrical energy, or both the animal and the microbes cease to function. 

We are 'triune' creatures which cannot continue to be what we are without each of these three distinct persons.

October 24 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report