The Holy Spirit (Who Is He?)
Introduction & Purpose
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This session is
an introductory lesson on who the Holy Spirit is.
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Emphasis on careful,
biblical study—avoiding speculation and opinions.
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Focus solely on what
the Bible reveals about the Holy Spirit.
Guiding Principle
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Use Deuteronomy
29:29: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those
things which are revealed belong to us...”
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Focus on revealed
truths found in Scripture.
The Godhead / Trinity
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Understand God the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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All share one divine
essence or nature.
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Deuteronomy
6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
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The Godhead consists
of three distinct personalities (not modes).
Biblical Evidence of the Trinity & Personalities
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Genesis 1:26: “Let us
make man in our image...” (plural pronouns indicate
multiplicity)
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Matthew 28:19:
Baptism "in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit"—showing three distinct persons.
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Ephesians 4:4-6:
Emphasizes unity among the three:
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One body, one
Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and
Father.
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Example of Jesus’
baptism (Matthew 3):
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God the Father
speaks from heaven.
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The Holy Spirit
descends like a dove.
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Jesus is
baptized.
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Demonstrates three distinct personalities working in unity.
Divinity of the Holy Spirit
Characteristics of the Holy Spirit
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Eternal (Hebrews
9:14): No beginning or end.
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Has a mind (Romans
8:27): Capable of reasoning and understanding.
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All-knowing (1
Corinthians 2:10-11): Reveals profound truths.
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Possesses a will: Has
purpose and desire.
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Everywhere present:
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Possesses
love (Romans 15:30).
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Played a direct role
in inspiring Scripture:
The Holy Spirit’s Work & Function
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Inspired
Scripture, guaranteeing truth (John 14-16).
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Possesses goodness.
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Guides believers
through the Word.
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Convicts of sin and
righteousness through the Word.
Responses to the Holy Spirit
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Lying to the Spirit
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Resisting the Spirit
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Grieving the Spirit
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Insulting the Spirit
Implications for Christians
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The Holy Spirit is a
divine, personal being—not an influence or feeling.
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Christians can
grieve, resist, and insult Him through disobedience.
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The Spirit desires
obedience and faithfulness.
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Self-examination: Are
our actions honoring or insulting the Holy Spirit?
Conclusion & Reflection
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Reflect on personal
response to the Holy Spirit.
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Consider how
obedience can deepen our relationship and align us with His
work.
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Encourage spiritual
growth and recommitment
Narrative:
The Holy Spirit (Who Is He?)
Today’s lesson is an introductory exploration into
understanding who the Holy Spirit is. Our primary goal is to study
the Bible carefully and accurately, avoiding speculation and
opinions not grounded in Scripture. We want to focus solely on what
the Bible reveals about the Holy Spirit, trusting God's Word as our
ultimate authority.
A guiding principle for this study comes from
Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God,
but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children
forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” This reminds us
that while some divine mysteries are beyond our understanding, we
should concentrate on and accept the truths God has chosen to reveal
through His Word.
To properly understand the Holy Spirit, we must first
understand the Godhead or Trinity—God the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. These three divine Persons share one divine essence or
nature, as stated in Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our
God, the Lord is one.” However, Scripture shows that the Godhead
consists of three distinct personalities—not merely modes or forms,
but individual persons working together in perfect unity.
The biblical evidence of this is clear. Genesis 1:26
records God saying, “Let us make man in our image...” using plural
pronouns that indicate multiplicity. Later, in Matthew 28:19, Jesus
commands His disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit,” explicitly mentioning three distinct
persons. Ephesians 4:4-6 emphasizes their unity: one body, one
Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father—a
perfect demonstration that while they are distinct persons, they
share unity and purpose.
The baptism of Jesus offers a powerful example. As
Jesus is baptized (Matthew 3), the heavens open, and God the
Father’s voice declares, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased,” while the Holy Spirit descends like a dove upon Jesus. All
three are present—each with distinct roles—working together in
perfect harmony.
Furthermore, the Bible affirms that each divine
Person is individually called God. John 6:27 refers to the Father as
God, John 1:1 describes the Word (Christ) as God, and Acts 5:3-4
explicitly states that lying to the Holy Spirit is equivalent to
lying to God. This shows that the Holy Spirit is co-equal and
co-eternal with the Father and the Son.
The characteristics of the Holy Spirit further
confirm His divine nature. Hebrews 9:14 describes the Spirit as
eternal, having no beginning or end. Romans 8:27 states that the
Spirit possesses a mind, capable of reasoning and understanding. 1
Corinthians 2:10-11 declares that the Spirit is all-knowing,
revealing profound truths and the deep things of God. The Spirit
also possesses a will, planting purpose and desire within us.
Additionally, Psalm 139:7-10 illustrates the Spirit’s everywhere
presence: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? If I ascend into heaven,
You are there.”
One of the most vital roles of the Holy Spirit is
teaching, guiding, and instructing us through the Word of God. He
inspired the writers of Scripture, ensuring that what was written is
the truth of God's divine revelation (John 14-16). The Spirit
operates through God's Word, convicting us of sin, guiding us into
righteousness, and revealing God's will for our lives.
Jesus promised His apostles in John 14-16 that the
Holy Spirit would be given to them to guide them into all truth. The
Spirit’s work in Scripture ensures that what the apostles and
prophets wrote was precisely what God wanted us to know. In this
way, the Spirit actively teaches and instructs believers today
through the inspired Word of God, making it clear, relevant, and
powerful.
How do we respond to this divine teaching? The Bible
shows that people can lie to the Spirit—as Ananias and Sapphira did
in Acts 5. They lied about what they had given, but ultimately, they
lied to the Holy Spirit, which was equivalent to lying to God.
Today, we can resist the Spirit by refusing to obey His guidance
(Acts 7:51), or grieve Him through disobedience and rebellion
(Ephesians 4:30). We can also insult the Spirit—by trampling His
work and rejecting His truth (Hebrews 10:29).
For us as Christians, the Holy Spirit is a divine,
personal being—not merely an influence or emotion, but an active
Person who teaches, guides, and instructs us through His work in the
Word of God. He desires to lead us into truth, to convict us of sin,
and to strengthen our faith as we grow in Christ.
Our proper response to the Holy Spirit is crucial. We
must avoid lying to Him through hypocrisy and dishonesty, resist His
guidance by choosing disobedience, and grieve Him when we ignore His
promptings. The Spirit’s role is to transform us—to make us more
like Christ—and when we rebel or ignore His guidance, we cause Him
to be grieved and hinder His work within us.
The Holy Spirit also plays a vital role in convicting
us of sin and righteousness, continually leading us toward
godliness. He inspires us through the Scriptures, revealing God’s
will and helping us understand His truth more deeply. When we listen
and obey, we allow the Spirit to do His perfect work in us,
deepening our faith and guiding us into righteousness.
As we reflect on this lesson, it’s essential to
examine our own hearts: Are we responding to the Holy Spirit with
obedience and reverence? Are we allowing Him to teach, guide, and
instruct us through His Word? Or are we resisting or grieving Him
through our actions or attitudes?
In closing, our goal should be to develop a closer
relationship with the Holy Spirit—learning to hear His voice through
the Scriptures, obeying His guidance, and allowing Him to work in
our lives to produce the fruit of the Spirit. As we continue to
study and grow, may we always remember that the Holy Spirit is God's
divine presence in us, teaching us the truth and leading us into
eternal life.
Let this lesson serve as a reminder of His vital role
and our responsibility to respond with humility, obedience, and
reverence. May we seek to walk more closely with Him every day,
trusting His guidance as the truth of God's Word reveals more of who
He is.
The
church of Christ
