“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor--Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].” John 16:7 AMP
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead we deal with most directly. As Jesus indicated in the opening verse, He will send another to be in close fellowship with the believer. Understanding His nature is essential for our Christian experience. We discussed that fact that the Holy Spirit is a person not simply a “spirt” wondering about the universe! The question is, “IS He deity?” The Biblical evidence affirms this fact repeatedly! In the book of Acts, Peter records,
“But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and [secretly] keep back for yourself some of the proceeds [from the sale] of the land? 4As long as it remained [unsold], did it not remain your own [to do with as you pleased]? And after it was sold, was the money not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this act [of hypocrisy and deceit] in your heart? You have not [simply] lied to people, but to God.” Acts 5:3-4 AMP
Do you see it? In verse 3 he recorded “lied to the Holy Spirit,” and in verse 4 “lied to God.” Peter’s view was clearly that if you lie to the Holy Spirit you are lying to God. This could not be true unless the Holy Spirit was deity. Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth wrote,
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom].” 2 Corinthians 3:17 AMP
The writer of Hebrews describes divine attributes of the Spirit as eternal.
“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God?” Hebrews 9:14 AMP
Paul again in his first letter to the church at Corinth proclaims the Spirit’s omniscience.
“For what person knows the thoughts and motives of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So also no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:11 AMP
We read in the book of Psalms about the Spirit’s omnipresence. Since the Spirit possesses traits that only are attributed to God, He must be God!
“Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. Psalms 139:7-8 AMP
The Spirit doing the works of God provides another support for the deity of the Holy Spirit. John records that the Spirit is the source of new birth.
“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. 7Do not be amazed that I said, ‘Youb must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8 AMP
In 1 John he writes,
“No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him.” 1 John 3:9 AMP
If God gives new life and the Spirit is the source of new life, the Spirit must be God. We conclude that the Holy Spirit is indeed divine as the Father and the Son. He is, Therefore, worthy of equal respect, glory, and praise. We shouldn’t demote Him to a lessor status than the Father or the Son any more than promote Him above! The doctrine of His deity is as relevant as daily life! If He is divine, He can protect, guide, and provide without limit, and He will keep every promise He inspired in His Word!
"Who is Leading?"
“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor--Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].” John 16:7 AMP
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead we deal with most directly. As Jesus indicated in the opening verse, He will send another to be in close fellowship with the believer. Understanding His nature is essential for our Christian experience. We discussed that fact that the Holy Spirit is a person not simply a “spirt” wondering about the universe! The question is, “IS He deity?” The Biblical evidence affirms this fact repeatedly! In the book of Acts, Peter records,
“But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and [secretly] keep back for yourself some of the proceeds [from the sale] of the land? 4As long as it remained [unsold], did it not remain your own [to do with as you pleased]? And after it was sold, was the money not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this act [of hypocrisy and deceit] in your heart? You have not [simply] lied to people, but to God.” Acts 5:3-4 AMP
Do you see it? In verse 3 he recorded “lied to the Holy Spirit,” and in verse 4 “lied to God.” Peter’s view was clearly that if you lie to the Holy Spirit you are lying to God. This could not be true unless the Holy Spirit was deity. Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth wrote,
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom].” 2 Corinthians 3:17 AMP
The writer of Hebrews describes divine attributes of the Spirit as eternal.
“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God?” Hebrews 9:14 AMP
Paul again in his first letter to the church at Corinth proclaims the Spirit’s omniscience.
“For what person knows the thoughts and motives of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So also no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:11 AMP
We read in the book of Psalms about the Spirit’s omnipresence. Since the Spirit possesses traits that only are attributed to God, He must be God!
“Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. Psalms 139:7-8 AMP
The Spirit doing the works of God provides another support for the deity of the Holy Spirit. John records that the Spirit is the source of new birth.
“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. 7Do not be amazed that I said, ‘Youb must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8 AMP
In 1 John he writes,
“No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him.” 1 John 3:9 AMP
If God gives new life and the Spirit is the source of new life, the Spirit must be God. We conclude that the Holy Spirit is indeed divine as the Father and the Son. He is, Therefore, worthy of equal respect, glory, and praise. We shouldn’t demote Him to a lessor status than the Father or the Son any more than promote Him above! The doctrine of His deity is as relevant as daily life! If He is divine, He can protect, guide, and provide without limit, and He will keep every promise He inspired in His Word!
Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken