Who is the Holy Spirit?

If you have ever wondered who the Holy Spirit is, you are certainly not alone. Many people understand who God the Father is and know that Jesus is the Son of God, but the Holy Spirit can sometimes feel more difficult to understand.

The Bible actually has a lot to say about Him.

The Holy Spirit is not simply a feeling we get during worship, an energy, or some kind of invisible force. He is the Holy Spirit of God. He is a divine Person who knows, speaks, teaches, guides, comforts and works in the lives of believers.

The Holy Spirit is also part of the Trinity. Christians believe in one God who exists eternally as three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that there are three gods. There is one God, and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are each fully God.

This can be difficult for us to completely understand because God is greater than anything we can compare Him to in human experience. However, the Bible gives us enough information to understand who the Holy Spirit is and what He does.

The Holy Spirit Is God

The first thing we need to understand is that the Holy Spirit is not less than God.

The Bible identifies the Holy Spirit with God Himself. One of the clearest examples is found when Peter confronts Ananias about lying to the Holy Spirit.

Acts 5:3–4 — Lying to the Holy Spirit

“But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”

Peter first says that Ananias has lied to the Holy Spirit and then says that he has lied to God.

This shows us something very important about the identity of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not merely God’s power or an influence sent by God. The Holy Spirit is God.

The Holy Spirit Is Part of the Trinity

The Bible teaches that there is one God, but it also reveals the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as distinct Persons.

We see this clearly in the way Jesus describes the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit together.

Matthew 28:19 — Father, Son and Holy Spirit

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

Jesus does not tell His disciples to baptise people in three separate gods.

He says to baptise them in the singular name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Trinity is one of those truths about God that can be difficult to fully understand, but we do not have to understand every detail of God’s nature before we can believe what He has revealed about Himself.

The important thing is that the Holy Spirit is not an afterthought or a lesser part of God. He is fully God.

The Holy Spirit Is Not a Physical Being

When the Bible describes the Holy Spirit, it is not talking about a physical being with a human body. The Holy Spirit is spirit, which means we cannot see Him in the way we see another person standing in front of us.

At the same time, the Holy Spirit is not simply an impersonal force or energy. Scripture describes Him as someone who teaches, guides, speaks, comforts and can be grieved. These are ways the Bible shows us that the Holy Spirit has a will and acts personally, rather than being simply a power that God uses.

This is why Christians often describe the Holy Spirit as a Person, but that word can be confusing if we think it means a physical human being. It does not. The Holy Spirit is fully God and is spirit, not flesh and blood.

John 4:24 — God Is Spirit

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

We cannot fully understand what God is like by comparing Him with human beings because God is not limited by a physical body like we are.

The Holy Spirit is therefore not someone we should expect to see with our physical eyes. His work is seen through what He does in our lives and through the ways He works according to God’s Word.

The Holy Spirit Was Present at Creation

The Holy Spirit was not created sometime after Jesus came to earth.

The Spirit was present from the beginning.

Genesis 1:1–2 — The Spirit of God at Creation

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

The Holy Spirit was present at creation.

This fits with the Bible’s wider teaching that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are eternal.

The Holy Spirit did not begin existing in the New Testament. He has always been God.

The Holy Spirit Was Active in the Old Testament

The Holy Spirit was also working throughout the Old Testament.

We see Him empowering people for particular tasks, giving wisdom, revealing God’s truth and coming upon people for God’s purposes.

Psalm 51:11 — David Speaks of God’s Holy Spirit

“Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”

David understood the Holy Spirit as belonging to God and being involved in his relationship with Him.

The way the Holy Spirit worked in the Old Testament was not always identical to the way He works in believers today, but the Spirit was certainly active long before Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit Was Promised by Jesus

Before Jesus returned to the Father, He told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come.

Jesus did not describe the Spirit as something they needed to discover for themselves. He promised that God would send Him.

John 14:16–17 — The Spirit Will Be With You

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter or Helper and said that He would remain with His followers.

This is one of the beautiful things about the Holy Spirit. God did not leave His people to follow Him alone.

The Holy Spirit Came at Pentecost

The coming of the Holy Spirit in a special way at Pentecost is recorded in Acts.

Acts 2:1–4 — The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

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.”

This was a significant moment in the history of the early church.

Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would come, and at Pentecost the disciples experienced the Spirit’s powerful arrival.

The Holy Spirit then empowered them to boldly proclaim the gospel.

The Holy Spirit Lives in Believers

For Christians, the Holy Spirit is not simply someone we learn about from the Bible.

He lives within those who belong to Christ.

Romans 8:9 — The Spirit of Christ Dwells in You

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

Paul makes this very clear.

Those who belong to Christ have the Spirit of God dwelling within them.

The Holy Spirit is therefore not reserved for a small group of exceptionally spiritual Christians. His presence is part of what it means to belong to Christ.

The Holy Spirit Seals Believers

The Bible also describes the Holy Spirit as a seal.

Ephesians 1:13–14 — Sealed With the Holy Spirit

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

The Holy Spirit is connected with God’s promise and the future inheritance of believers.

This gives Christians a wonderful assurance.

Our relationship with God is not held together by how spiritually strong we feel on any particular day. God has given His Spirit as a seal and guarantee.

Is Our Helper

Jesus repeatedly spoke about the Spirit as the Helper or Comforter.

John 14:26 — The Holy Spirit Teaches and Reminds Us

“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.”

The Holy Spirit helps believers understand and remember the truth Jesus taught.

This does not mean that every thought we have is automatically a message from the Holy Spirit.

We still need to test what we believe against Scripture.

God’s Spirit will never lead us into something that contradicts God’s Word.

Guides Us Into Truth

Jesus also called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth.

John 16:13 — The Spirit of Truth

“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.”

The Holy Spirit’s work is connected with truth.

He does not lead us toward confusion, deception or something that contradicts what God has already revealed.

This is why Christians should be careful when someone claims, “The Holy Spirit told me,” but what they are saying goes against Scripture because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.

The Spirit Points Us Toward Jesus

The Holy Spirit does not compete with Jesus for our attention.

Jesus said that the Spirit would glorify Him.

John 16:14 — The Spirit Glorifies Christ

“He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

This gives us an important way to recognise the Spirit’s work.

The Holy Spirit points people toward Christ.

He helps us understand who Jesus is, recognise our need for Him and grow in our relationship with Him.

The Holy Spirit does not lead us into a spiritual life where Jesus becomes less important.

The Spirit glorifies Jesus.

The Holy Spirit Convicts Us of Sin

The Holy Spirit also helps us recognise sin.

John 16:8 — The Spirit Convicts

“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

Conviction can be uncomfortable, but it is not something we should automatically run away from.

When God shows us something in our lives that needs to change, the right response is to bring it to Him.

The Holy Spirit’s conviction should lead us toward repentance rather than hopelessness.

God does not reveal our sin because He wants to destroy us. He reveals it because He wants us to turn away from it and toward Him.

The Holy Spirit Helps Us Understand God’s Word

The Bible teaches that spiritual truth cannot simply be understood through human wisdom alone.

The Holy Spirit helps believers understand the things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:12 — Understanding What God Has Given Us

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

When you read the Bible and begin to understand God’s character, His promises, the meaning of the gospel and what He has done through Christ, the Holy Spirit is involved in that work.

This is one reason prayer and Bible study belong together.

We can ask God to help us understand His Word while remembering that Scripture itself remains the standard by which we test what we believe.

The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray

There are times when we simply do not know how to pray.

Perhaps you are hurting and cannot find the words. Maybe you are confused about what God wants you to do, or you are so overwhelmed that all you can do is sit quietly before Him.

The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit helps us in those moments.

Romans 8:26 — The Spirit Helps Us in Our Weakness

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

God does not expect you to come to Him with perfect words.

You can come honestly.

You can tell Him that you are confused, frightened, angry, exhausted or hurting, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

The Holy Spirit Gives Us Spiritual Gifts

The Holy Spirit also gives gifts to believers so that they can serve others.

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 — Different Gifts From the Same Spirit

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

The Bible describes many different spiritual gifts, and not every Christian receives the same gift.

Some people are gifted in teaching, serving, encouraging, giving, leadership or mercy. Scripture also describes gifts such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues and interpretation of tongues.

These gifts are not given so that one Christian can feel more important than another.

They are given so that believers can serve the body of Christ and bless other people.

The Holy Spirit Produces Fruit in Our Lives

The Holy Spirit does not only give believers gifts.

He also produces fruit in our character.

Galatians 5:22–23 — The Fruit of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

This is one of the most practical ways we can see the Spirit working in our lives.

The Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

That does not mean a Christian will suddenly become perfect.

Spiritual fruit grows over time.

You may still struggle with anger, impatience or fear, but God can gradually change the way you respond. You may begin to forgive more easily, show more compassion, become more patient or have greater self-control than you once did.

That growth is part of the Spirit’s work.

The Holy Spirit Helps Us Live Differently

The Holy Spirit does not simply change what we believe.

He changes how we live.

Galatians 5:16 — Walk in the Spirit

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

Paul describes the Christian life as a daily choice to walk according to the Spirit rather than simply following every sinful desire.

That does not mean temptation disappears.

Christians can still struggle with sin.

The difference is that we now have God’s Spirit working within us and calling us toward something different.

The Holy Spirit Gives Us Strength

There are times when life feels too difficult for us to handle.

God does not expect us to depend entirely on our own strength.

Ephesians 3:16 — Strengthened by the Spirit

“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

The Spirit strengthens us on the inside.

Sometimes that strength looks like courage when we are afraid. Sometimes it looks like patience when we are exhausted. It may mean having the strength to forgive, to keep going through a difficult season or to continue trusting God when we do not understand what He is doing.

The Holy Spirit does not promise that life will always be easy.

He gives us God’s strength to walk through life with Him.

The Holy Spirit Assures Us That We Belong to God

One of the most comforting things the Holy Spirit does is remind believers that they are God’s children.

Romans 8:15–16 — The Spirit Bears Witness

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

God does not want His children to live in constant fear that they have been rejected.

Through Christ, we have been brought into God’s family.

The Holy Spirit bears witness that we are God’s children.

This does not mean Christians will never struggle with doubt. There may be days when you question your faith or feel far from God.

Our confidence ultimately rests in God’s promises rather than our changing emotions.

The Holy Spirit Comforts Us

Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter for a reason.

God knows that we will experience difficult things in this life.

We will experience grief, disappointment, fear, uncertainty and seasons where we do not understand what God is doing.

The Holy Spirit does not mean we will never hurt.

Instead, He means that we do not have to face those things without God.

John 14:18 — Jesus Will Not Leave Us Comfortless

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

Jesus made this promise to His disciples in the context of His coming departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

God has not abandoned His people.

His Spirit is with those who belong to Him.

The Holy Spirit Can Be Resisted and Grieved

Because the Holy Spirit is a Person, Scripture tells us that our response to Him matters.

Acts 7:51 — Resisting the Holy Spirit

“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”

The Holy Spirit does not force us to obey Him like a machine.

We can resist His conviction and refuse to follow God’s truth.

This is why Christians are repeatedly called to listen to God, obey His Word and surrender their lives to Him.

The Holy Spirit Is Not Just an Emotional Feeling

This is worth talking about because it can cause a lot of confusion.

Some Christians experience strong emotions during worship or prayer. Others may experience a deep sense of peace or feel particularly aware of God’s presence.

Those experiences can be meaningful, but they are not the definition of the Holy Spirit.

You do not have to feel something dramatic every time you pray in order to have the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is not measured by how emotional our worship is.

He is God living within His people and working in their lives.

2 Corinthians 5:7 — We Walk by Faith

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

There will be days when you feel close to God and days when you feel distant.

God does not change simply because our emotions change.

The Holy Spirit Always Works in Agreement With God’s Word

Because there are so many different claims about the Holy Spirit today, Christians need to remain grounded in Scripture.

We should never accept a teaching simply because someone says, “The Holy Spirit told me.”

The question should always be whether what is being taught agrees with God’s Word.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 — Scripture Is Given by God

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

God does not contradict Himself.

The Holy Spirit who is God will never lead us into something that contradicts what God has already revealed in Scripture.

This gives us an important safeguard when trying to understand spiritual experiences or decisions.

So, Who Is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is fully God, eternal with the Father and the Son, and He is not simply a force, energy or feeling.

The Holy Spirit was present at creation and was active throughout the Old Testament.

Jesus promised that He would come to His followers, and He came in a powerful way at Pentecost.

Today, the Holy Spirit dwells in believers.

He teaches us, guides us, convicts us, helps us understand God’s truth, helps us pray, strengthens us, comforts us and produces spiritual fruit in our lives. He also gives spiritual gifts so that we can serve God and bless other people.

Most importantly, the Holy Spirit points us toward Jesus and helps us grow in our relationship with God.

Why Does the Holy Spirit Matter?

Understanding who the Holy Spirit is matters because Christianity is not simply about believing certain facts about God.

God wants a relationship with His people.

The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit working within those who belong to Christ. He is with us when we pray, when we read the Bible, when we struggle with temptation, when we are hurting and when we are trying to understand what God wants us to do.

You do not have to walk through your Christian life alone.

Romans 8:11 — The Spirit Dwells in You

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

That is an incredible promise.

The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in those who belong to Christ.

The Holy Spirit is not simply an idea we learn about in church.

He is God, He is present and He is working.

And He is continually drawing believers toward Christ, helping us grow, changing our character and strengthening us to live the life God has called us to live.

If you are a Christian, you do not have to wonder whether God has left you to figure everything out by yourself.

The Holy Spirit is with you, working in you and helping you become more like Jesus.

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