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The Holy Spirit is a person? How?

2007-06-23 08:40:02 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

9 answers

In the Scriptures it is not unusual for something to be personified. Wisdom is said to have children. (Luke 7:35) Sin and death are called kings. (Romans 5:14, 21) At Genesis 4:7 The New English Bible (NE) says: "Sin is a demon crouching at the door," personifying sin as a wicked spirit crouching at Cain's door. But, of course, sin is not a spirit person; nor does personifying the holy spirit make it a spirit person.

Similarly, at 1 John 5:6-8 (NE) not only the spirit but also "the water, and the blood" are said to be "witnesses." But water and blood are obviously not persons, and neither is the holy spirit a person.

In harmony with this is the Bible's general usage of "holy spirit" in an impersonal way, such as paralleling it with water and fire. (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8) People are urged to become filled with holy spirit instead of with wine. (Ephesians 5:18) They are spoken of as being filled with holy spirit in the same way they are filled with such qualities as wisdom, faith, and joy. (Acts 6:3; 11:24; 13:52) And at 2 Corinthians 6:6 holy spirit is included among a number of qualities. Such expressions would not be so common if the holy spirit were actually a person.

Then, too, while some Bible texts say that the spirit speaks, other texts show that this was actually done through humans or angels. (Matthew 10:19, 20; Acts 4:24, 25; 28:25; Hebrews 2:2) The action of the spirit in such instances is like that of radio waves transmitting messages from one person to another far away.

At Matthew 28:19 reference is made to "the name . . . of the holy spirit." But the word "name" does not always mean a personal name, either in Greek or in English. When we say "in the name of the law," we are not referring to a person. We mean that which the law stands for, its authority. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament says: "The use of name (onoma) here is a common one in the Septuagint and the papyri for power or authority." So baptism 'in the name of the holy spirit' recognizes the authority of the spirit, that it is from God and functions by divine will.

2007-06-23 09:02:01 · answer #1 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 1 0

The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. He is fully God. He is eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, has a will, and can speak. He is alive. He is a person. He is not particularly visible in the Bible because His ministry is to bear witness of Jesus (John 15:26).

Some cults like the Jehovah's Witnesses say that the Holy Spirit is nothing more than a force (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 406-407). This is false. If the Holy Spirit were merely a force, then He could not speak (Acts 13:2); He could not be grieved (Eph. 4:30); and He would not have a will (1 Cor. 12:11).

Read More: http://carm.org/holy-spirit

2014-11-13 17:14:22 · answer #2 · answered by The Lightning Strikes 7 · 1 0

The Holy Spirit is One Spirit. Who brings to mind what the Lord has said. The Holy Spirit is who births us spiritually. And also is with us forever. He is the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, etc... And the Holy Spirit is a person because He is very personal. He knows the things of our own being & also the things of Gods own being. So, is also our communication with God the Father & Jesus Christ.

2007-06-23 08:55:03 · answer #3 · answered by LottaLou 7 · 0 0

The Bible’s answer

The holy spirit is God’s power in action, his active force. (Micah 3:8; Luke 1:35) God sends out his spirit by projecting his energy to any place to accomplish his will.—Psalm 104:30; 139:7.

In the Bible, the word “spirit” is translated from the Hebrew word ru′ach and the Greek word pneu′ma. Most often, those words refer to God’s active force, or holy spirit. (Genesis 1:2) However, the Bible also uses those words in other senses:

Breath.—Habakkuk 2:19; Revelation 13:15.
Wind.—Genesis 8:1; John 3:8.
The vital, or animating, force in living creatures.—Job 34:14, 15.
A person’s disposition or attitude.—Numbers 14:24.
Spirit persons, including God and the angels.—1 Kings 22:21; John 4:24.
These meanings all share the sense of something invisible to humans that produces visible effects. Similarly, the spirit of God, “like the wind, is invisible, immaterial and powerful.”—An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, by W. E. Vine.

The Bible also refers to God’s holy spirit as his “hands” or “fingers.” (Psalm 8:3; 19:1; Luke 11:20; compare Matthew 12:28.) Just as a craftsman uses his hands and fingers to do his work, God has used his spirit to produce such results as the following:

The universe.—Psalm 33:6; Isaiah 66:1, 2.
The Bible.—2 Peter 1:20, 21.
The miracles performed by his ancient servants and their zealous preaching.—Luke 4:18; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
The fine qualities displayed by people who obey him.—Galatians 5:22, 23.
The holy spirit is not a person

By referring to God’s spirit as his “hands,” “fingers,” or “breath,” the Bible shows that the holy spirit is not a person. (Exodus 15:8, 10) A craftsman’s hands cannot function independent of his mind and body; likewise, God’s holy spirit operates only as he directs it. (Luke 11:13) The Bible also compares God’s spirit to water and associates it with such things as faith and knowledge. These comparisons all point to the impersonal nature of the holy spirit.—Isaiah 44:3; Acts 6:5; 2 Corinthians 6:6.

The Bible gives the names of Jehovah God and of his Son, Jesus Christ; yet, nowhere does it name the holy spirit. (Isaiah 42:8; Luke 1:31) When the Christian martyr Stephen was given a miraculous heavenly vision, he saw only two persons, not three. The Bible says: “He, being full of holy spirit, gazed into heaven and caught sight of God’s glory and of Jesus standing at God’s right hand.” (Acts 7:55) The holy spirit was God’s power in action, enabling Stephen to see the vision.

Misconceptions about the holy spirit

Misconception: The “Holy Ghost,” or holy spirit, is a person and is part of the Trinity, as stated at 1 John 5:7, 8 in the King James version of the Bible.

Fact: The King James version of the Bible includes at 1 John 5:7, 8 the words “in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth.” However, researchers have found that those words were not written by the apostle John and so do not belong in the Bible. Professor Bruce M. Metzger wrote: “That these words are spurious and have no right to stand in the New Testament is certain.”—A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament.

Misconception: The Bible personifies the holy spirit, and this proves that it is a person.

Fact: The Scriptures do at times personify the holy spirit, but this does not prove that the holy spirit is a person. The Bible also personifies wisdom, death, and sin. (Proverbs 1:20; Romans 5:17, 21) For example, wisdom is said to have “works” and “children,” and sin is depicted as seducing, killing, and working out covetousness.—Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:35; Romans 7:8, 11.

Similarly, when the apostle John quoted Jesus, he personified the holy spirit as a “helper” (paraclete) that would give evidence, guide, speak, hear, declare, glorify, and receive. He used masculine personal pronouns such as “he” or “him” when referring to that “helper.” (John 16:7-15) However, he did so because the Greek word for “helper” (pa·ra′kle·tos) is a masculine noun and requires a masculine pronoun according to the rules of Greek grammar. When John referred to the holy spirit using the neuter noun pneu′ma, he used the genderless pronoun “it.”—John 14:16, 17.

Misconception: Baptism in the name of the holy spirit proves that it is a person.

Fact: The Bible sometimes uses “name” to stand for power or authority. (Deuteronomy 18:5, 19-22; Esther 8:10) This is similar to its use in the English expression “in the name of the law,” which does not mean that the law is a person. A person who is baptized “in the name of ” the holy spirit recognizes the power and role of the holy spirit in accomplishing God’s will.—Matthew 28:19.

Misconception: Jesus’ apostles and other early disciples believed that the holy spirit was a person.

Fact: The Bible does not say that, nor does history. The Encyclopædia Britannica states: “The definition that the Holy Spirit was a distinct divine Person . . . came at the Council of Constantinople in ad 381.” This was over 250 years after the last of the apostles had died.

2016-04-25 06:01:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

A Divine Person not a human person. He is the substantial Love between the Father and the Son, having all the perfections of God He is also a Divine Person.

Come Holy Spirit and teach us to love.

2007-06-23 08:51:23 · answer #5 · answered by carl 4 · 1 0

Person = personality. Personality of an instructor and a comforter. You are a soul with a body - where is your personality? Why are persons called personalities? Where is your personality located?

2007-06-23 08:51:00 · answer #6 · answered by pwwatson8888 5 · 1 0

Perhaps these links will help. http://www.religion-cults.com/spirit/person.htm
http://www.spirithome.com/spirpers.html

2007-06-23 08:45:01 · answer #7 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 1 0

lets get the ghostbusters quick

2007-06-23 08:45:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

The Holy Spirit is the 3rd Person of the Triune Godhead and He does not abide within everyone. Those who have faith in The Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour are the only human beings who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:

John 7:39
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 20:22
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Acts 2:2-4
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 8:17
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 19:6
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Almighty God was, is and will always be triune (one God in three persons, not three gods). God is comprised of the Father, the Son (Lord Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Triune Godhead has a different role. There is only one God (Isaiah 43:10-11; 44:6,8; 45:21-22; 46:9; John 17:3; 1 John 5:20-21). The Father is God (1 Peter 1:2; Philippians 2:11), the Lord Jesus Christ is God (Matthew 1:23; John 1:1; 20:28; Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 13:8; Revelation 1:7-8; 2 Peter 1:1; Titus 2:13) and the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; Acts 28:25-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 3:17.

Without God, man’s spirit is unilluminated. This illumination happens at the time one’s spirit is united to the Holy Spirit (which happens only after one has accepted Christ as their Saviour). The Light went out of the spirit after the fall of man. Man had lost communion with God. Christ, the second Person of the Triune Godhead made the sacrifice for our sins so the Light could be lit in the spirits of all.
The Holy Spirit gives us an abundance of life. In fact He gives us life overflowing continuously (John 7:38-39, John 4:14).

God’s infinite and perfect love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Through the Spirit, we know we are loved by God and that we belong to our Heavenly Father (Galatians 4:6).

When the Spirit of God abides in us because of our faith in Christ, He brings us to yearn for what the Spirit wants (Romans 8:2-6), convicts us of sin (John 16:8-9) and strengthen us so we are able to resist the desires of the flesh (Ephesians 3:16).

The Holy Spirit abides within true Christians and gives to each of us gifts according to the will of God for the building up of the Church.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 lists the nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit: Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, Miracles, Healings, Discerning of Spirits, Prophecy, Faith, Knowledge and Wisdom.

God’s Holy Spirit is the Spirit of revelation and truth, guiding those who are in Christ into all truth (John 16:13, Ephesians 1:17). The Holy Spirit reminds believers of all the teachings of Christ, and He reveals the wisdom hidden in these teachings and in the scriptures (John 14:26). When we study the Holy Bible, it is the Holy Spirit Who brings us into the understanding of the scriptures. In our daily activities and in dealing with others, He reminds us of what we have learnt in the Word of God and shows us how to apply these truths.

The Holy Spirit leads us in the path that God has made for us (Matthew 4:1). The Holy Spirit guides us in all of our actions even in speaking (Acts 16:6) and gives us the boldness to speak the word of God (Acts 4:29-31).

In praying, we do not know all the time what we ought to be praying for, so the Holy Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27).

Prayer for the Fruits of the Spirit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPyInE6ite4


Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LJuaMmw1bQ

REDEMPTION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

Because mankind is incapable of meeting God’s standard of perfection necessary to abide in God’s presence (Romans 3:19-20,23), God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the total debt for the believer’s sins and mercifully credits to his account Christ’s righteousness (Romans 3:21-28,5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Jesus’ gracious act of atonement was complete and covers all sin (Colossians 2:13-14; 1 John 1:9). Salvation is not based on good deeds but according to the mercy of God (Titus 3:4-5). Believers are justified by faith; it is a gift by God’s grace (Romans 4:3-8; Ephesians 2:8-9). A true, living faith will result in a desire to live a holy, loving life of good works (Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:6; James 2:14-26), but failure to be absolutely successful at righteous living does not negate the believer’s justified status.

If you sincerely say this prayer, your sins will be washed away, you will be redeemed to God, be saved from eternal torment and inherit the Kingdom of God:

"Dear Jesus,

I am a sinner.
I repent of my sins.
Please forgive me and save me by your shed blood;
come into my heart.
I want to receive you as my own personal Lord and Savior.

Amen"


https://victoryinjesuschrist.wordpress.com/

2015-12-19 07:21:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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