The Holy Spirit: Who Is He, What Does He Do And How To Know Him?

The Holy Spirit is God. He is one of the three Persons of the Trinity, along with God the Father and God the Son, whose work is to manifest the active presence of God in the world and especially in the Church. The Bible says that God is "spirit," so the Holy Spirit is fully God, exists eternally, and has all the attributes of the Divine Being.

The Holy Spirit is much more than a force. He is the divine, invisible, personal Being with specific characteristics, wills, and feelings.

When a person believes in Jesus Christ and receives His Word, the Holy Spirit begins to dwell in their heart and works to ensure that God's work in this life is complete, with salvation, transformation, and sanctification.

Who is the Holy Spirit

1. He is a Person
   The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. As a divine person, He speaks, hears, teaches, loves, sees, intercedes, convinces, guides, helps, etc. Besides these personal characteristics, the Bible says that the Holy Spirit:

   • Speaks: "So, as the Holy Spirit says: 'Today, if you hear his voice...'" (Hebrews 3:7-8a).
   • Can be grieved: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30; Isaiah 63:10).
   • Has will and interest: "When they came near to Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them." (Acts 16:7).

2. He is Divine
   This means that the Holy Spirit is God, co-equal with God the Father and God the Son, and has the same essence. He is eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, etc. There is no distinction in His attributes, only in the way He relates to one another and to creation. In the Bible, the Holy Spirit is:

   • Called God: The episode of Ananias and Sapphira provides clear evidence of divinity – "... to lie to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied to men but to God" (Acts 5:3-4).
   • Co-Creator: The Spirit of God was also working in creation (Genesis 1:1–2).
   • Intercessor for His children: The Holy Spirit intercedes with groans that cannot be expressed, so that all believers live according to God's will (Romans 8:26-27).

3. He is Sovereign, more than a force or power
   The Holy Spirit is not merely a force, nor an expression of God's power, but a divine Being. He is a powerful and sovereign Person, acting in accordance with the Father and the Son, working, completing, filling, and giving life to God's new creations.

   • He inspired the writing of the Bible (2 Peter 1:20-21) and helps us understand it (John 16:13).
   • He bears witness about Jesus Christ (John 15:26).
   • He loves and acts as the bond of love (Romans 5:5; 15:30; 1 John 4:13).
   • The Holy Spirit is also a gift, given by the Father and the Son. He is the presence of God among His people. The Holy Spirit unites Christians to God and to one another. The same Spirit that unites God the Father and God the Son, making Them one, also unites Christians, making them one people, one Church.

How the Holy Spirit Works, What He Does

The Bible shows us that the Holy Spirit functions as the life-giving agent of creation and new creation. He is often described as the presence of God that dwells in believers and plays various roles in the Christian life. Some of these special roles are:

• Salvation: The Holy Spirit cooperates with Jesus' role as Savior. He causes those chosen by God to unite with Jesus Christ and enjoy the blessings He offers through His work (John 16:8; 2 Timothy 1:14). When saved by Jesus Christ's redemptive work, new converts are sealed (baptized) with the Holy Spirit. Thus, they enjoy God's continuous presence until the end.
• Regeneration: The Spirit of God creates in us a new spiritual nature. He is responsible for regenerating and renewing the hearts of believers, making them new creations in Christ Jesus (Titus 3:5).
• Consolation and Help: The Holy Spirit is the one who consoles and helps believers in their difficulties and weaknesses (John 14:16, 26).
• Teaching: He teaches believers and guides them in understanding the Scriptures and God's will (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13).
• Conviction of Sin: The Holy Spirit convinces people of sin, righteousness, and God's judgment (John 16:8).
• Empowerment and Spiritual Gifts: He grants spiritual gifts to believers to empower them to serve and build up the church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
• Guidance in Decisions: He guides believers in their decisions and directs their lives according to God's will (Romans 8:14).
• Unity and Fellowship: The Holy Spirit unites believers in fellowship and promotes unity in the church (Ephesians 4:3).
• Fruit of the Spirit: He produces His precious spiritual fruit in the lives of believers, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Holy Spirit in the Bible

In the Bible, the person of the Holy Spirit appears from Genesis to Revelation. He participates in creation, regeneration, and sanctification of God's children. The Holy Spirit is also called in the Scriptures by other names or titles:

• Spirit of God: "... and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." (Genesis 1:1-2)
• Spirit of the Lord God: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me..." (Isaiah 61:1)
• Spirit of Truth: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." (John 16:13)
• Spirit of Life: "Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2)
• Advocate: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things..." (John 14:26)

Holy Spirit of God

The word "Spirit" – in Hebrew 'Ruach' and Greek 'Pneuma' – can be translated into English as three words: "wind," "breath," and "some invisible moving force (spirit)."

Considering these three possible senses of the term "spirit" in light of the Bible, we can more easily understand the appearances and manifestations of the Holy Spirit of God.

• The Holy Spirit as Wind: The Wind that blew over the face of the waters, in the beginning, was the same that, with power, dynamism, and wonders, freed Israel from Egypt. This wind parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21) and is the same that brings refreshment and comfort to man's spiritual needs. The idea is not to associate the person of God with a natural force or mere power or dynamic action. As we have seen, the Holy Spirit is a person with personal characteristics. But we can draw a parallel between the idea of the power of the wind and the power of God, which acts invisibly but powerfully, as and where He wants.
• The Holy Spirit as Breath: The idea of the spirit is also associated with the notion of life. God is the one who gives and sustains life. He breathed the breath of life at the moment of the special creation of man. And He is also the one who keeps us alive every new day. This image of God who gives life is seen in Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:9-10). When God’s spirit breathed on them, His breath gave life to the bones. Similarly, Jesus breathed on His disciples, giving them the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).
• The Spirit as Giver of Grace and Favor: When someone receives the Spirit of God in their life, they receive from Him the empowerment to accomplish things that otherwise would never be possible. The divine presence interacts with the person's spirit, teaching, convincing, and interceding for their salvation and personal transformation. More than an influence, the presence of the Spirit of God grants gifts and fruits of His own for the good of man, the Church, and the needs of the world in general.

Getting to Know the Holy Spirit

As He is a Person, we can relate personally to the Holy Spirit. In prayer, reading, study, and meditation on the Word, we can get to know Him better. He is the main agent of revelation, illumination, and biblical persuasion. He also brings conviction of faith, regenerates our minds, and transforms the hearts of sinners.

Verses about the Holy Spirit

Want to learn more about the Holy Spirit? See also:

• The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Fruits of the Holy Spirit that Will Transform Your Life
• The Valley of Dry Bones