WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
The Holy Spirit is the power of God, being used to save people. It is not another person.
We have not yet said much in these studies about the Spirit of God.
As usual we should begin in the Old Testament because that is where the Bible explains the meaning of the words that it uses.
We read in Genesis chapter 1 that when God began the work of making the earth ready for living things, “the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, and God said `Let there be light, and there was light`”.
Psalm 33:6 takes us further `By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath (or `spirit` - same word in the original Hebrew) of his mouth`.
This tells us that God`s spirit is the power by which He does things. Psalm 104:27-30 describes the way that God provides for all His creatures, but then it continues – “when you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath (or `spirit`), they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.”
The word translated `breath` is the Hebrew word `ruach`, which means wind or breath or spirit. The word is used in different ways, but it is never used as a name for God himself.
The idea that God is three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a mistake: it was forced on to the church many years after Jesus ascended to heaven, and long after the New Testament was completed.
Indeed, the New Testament proves it to be wrong. See Ephes. 4:4-6 - “There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call -
one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all”. And another verse says -"to us there is one God, the Father; of whom are all things” (1 Corinthians 8:6).
So, God`s spirit is the power by which He creates and sustains all things. The Bible calls God`s spirit the `Holy Spirit` when He is using it in the work of saving people from sin and death.
The best way to see this is to look at the only places in the Old Testament where the phrase is used. Here they are –
Ps 51:11 “Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Isa 63:10-11 “they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people.
`Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit`” ?
We should not think of God`s spirit as merely energy such as electricity, but as the way in which God Himself is present throughout the Universe. “Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?” (Ps 139:7). Jesus said “God is spirit” (John 4:24), so it is not surprising, and very beautiful, that occasionally God`s Spirit is spoken of as `He`.
God the Father is there, by the power of His spirit.
When we come to the New Testament with this understanding in our minds, all is plain. Matthew, in his chapter 1:18-23 explains that Jesus was conceived by the action of the Holy Spirit.
This does not mean that he is the son of the Holy Spirit because if you look at 2 John v 3 you will see that Jesus is the son of the Father, not the son of the Holy Spirit.
This confirms our belief that the Holy Spirit is not a person, but the power of God. Luke tells us the same when describing the conception of Jesus. Mary said to the angel, “`How will this be, since I am a virgin?`
And the angel answered her, `The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy - the Son of God.`” (Luke 1:31-5).
It was by the Holy Spirit that God sent messages to the prophets in Old Testament times (2 Peter 1:21).
But then, when the Holy Spirit caused Jesus to be born, God was able to reveal Himself to mankind perfectly. How right it is therefore that one of Jesus` names is `The Word of God`! (John 1:14; Rev 19:13).
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What The Bible Says
