Lesson 25 — The Truth About the Holy Spirit

1. 1 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is pictured in Scripture as God, as a real person separate and distinct from both the Father and the Son. He is an individual member of the Godhead or deity, and He has a separate body, soul, and spirit from both the Father and the Son.

1. 1 HE IS SPOKEN OF AS GOD: “Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost . . . thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” Acts 5:3-4; “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” 1 Corinthians 3:16-171 Corinthians 6:19-20; “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit . . . it is the same Lord . . . it is the same God which worketh all in all” 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.

1. 1 DIVINE NAMES AND TITLES ARE ASCRIBED TO HIM

   The following names and titles used of the Holy Spirit prove His deity and oneness with the Father and the Son:

1. He is called Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit about 97 times.

2. The Spirit of God 1 Corinthians 3:16Genesis 1:21 Samuel 19:20-23Matthew 3:16.

3. The Spirit of the Lord Judges 3:10Isaiah 11:2Isaiah 6:1Luke 4:16-21.

4. The Spirit of the Living God 2 Corinthians 3:3.

5. The Spirit of Christ Romans 8:91 Peter 1:11.

6. The Spirit of His Son Galatians 4:6.

7. The Spirit of Jesus Christ Philippians 1:19Acts 16:7.

8. The Spirit of Burning Isaiah 4:4.

9. The Spirit of Holiness Romans 1:4.

10. The Holy Spirit of Promise Ephesians 1:13Acts 2:33.

11. The Spirit of Truth John 14:17John 15:26John 16:131 John 4:6.

12. The Spirit of Life Romans 8:2Revelation 11:11.

13. The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding Isaiah 11:1-2.

14. The Spirit of Counsel and Might Isaiah 11:1-2.

15. The Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord Isaiah 11:1-2.

16. The Spirit of Grace and of Supplications Zechariah 12:10Hebrews 10:29.

17. The Spirit of Glory and of God 1 Peter 4:14.

18. The Eternal Spirit Hebrews 9:14.

19. The Comforter John 14:26John 15:26.

20. The Spirit of Your Father Matthew 10:20.

21. The Spirit of Prophecy Revelation 19:10.

1. 1 DIVINE ATTRIBUTES ARE ASCRIBED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

   He has the attributes of: “Eternity and Self-existence” Hebrews 9:14; “Omnipresence” Psalms 139:7-10; “Omnipotence” Luke 1:35Acts 10:38; “Omniscience” 1 Corinthians 2:10-11John 14:26John 16:12-13; “Creation” Job 33:4Psalms 104:30; “Holiness” Romans 1:4; “Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Self-control” Galatians 5:22-23; “Fellowship” Philippians 2:1; “Glory” 1 Peter 4:142 Corinthians 3:8-18; “Life” Romans 8:1-13; “Wisdom and Knowledge” Isaiah 11:21 Corinthians 12:8; “Immutability” Hebrews 9:14; “Invisibility” John 3:8Colossians 1:16; “Infinity” Romans 1:4John 14:26Ephesians 4:30; “Grace” Hebrews 10:29; “Truth” John 14:17, 26John 15:26John 16:13; “Justice” Isaiah 11:2-5Isaiah 4:4; “Will” 1 Corinthians 12:11Romans 8:27; “Mind” Romans 8:271 Corinthians 2:10-111 Corinthians 12:11; “Intelligence” 1 Corinthians 2:10-111 Corinthians 12:11Romans 8:27; “Fear, Might, and Judgment” Isaiah 4:4Isaiah 11:21 Corinthians 12:8-11John 16:7-15; “Power” 1 Corinthians 12:8-112 Timothy 1:7; “Decision” 1 Corinthians 12:9-11Acts 13:2; “Unity” Matthew 28:192 Corinthians 13:141 John 5:7-8; “Authority” Matthew 12:28Acts 10:38Acts 20:28; “Hearing and Speech” John 15:26John 16:13-15Acts 2:4Acts 10:44-48Acts 19:1-71 Corinthians 12:1–14Isaiah 28:11; “Unselfishness” John 16:13-15; “Self-action” Genesis 1:2John 14:16-17, 26.

1. 1 DIVINE WORKS ARE ASCRIBED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

   He “creates” Psalms 104:30; “heals” Romans 9:11; “gives life” Romans 8:2; “casts out devils” Matthew 12:28; “convicts of sin” John 16:7-11; “redeems” John 3:3-5; “resurrects” Romans 8:9-11; “inspires Scripture” 2 Timothy 3:15-172 Peter 1:21; “distributes gifts” 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; “forms the body of Christ” 1 Corinthians 12:13; “endues with power” Judges 11:29Judges 13:25Judges 14:6; “changes lives” 1 Samuel 10:6-9John 3:3-51 Corinthians 6:11; “directs gospel work” Isaiah 48:16Isaiah 61:1-2Acts 11:12Acts 16:7; “frees from sin” Romans 8:2; “bears witness” John 15:26Romans 8:14-16; “searches the deep things of God” 1 Corinthians 2:10-12; “brings things to remembrance and teaches and guides into all truth” John 14:16-17, 26John 15:26John 16:7-15; “reveals secrets” 1 Corinthians 2:10; “dwells in believers” Romans 8:91 Corinthians 3:16-17; “gives victory over sin” Romans 8:1-13; “guides in daily problems” Romans 8:14-16; “adopts into God’s family” Romans 8:14-16; “helps in prayer” Romans 8:26; “washes from sin, sanctifies, justifies” 1 Corinthians 6:11; “imparts and causes supernatural powers to be manifested through believers” 1 Corinthians 12:1–14; “imparts love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, meekness, faith, and self-control through believers” Galatians 5:22-23; “seals men to divine ownership” Ephesians 1:13Ephesians 4:30; “gives access to God” Ephesians 2:18; “imparts revelations” Ephesians 3:1-11; “fills believers” Luke 1:15Acts 4:31Ephesians 5:18; “causes obedience to truth” 1 Peter 1:22; “speaks of Christ and glorifies Him” John 16:13-15; “confirms the gospel” Hebrews 2:3-4; and “carries on the work of God in the world” John 14:16-17, 26John 15:26John 16:7-15Acts 20:28.

1. 1 THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FATHER AND THE SON AS AN EQUAL MEMBER OF DEITY Matthew 28:192 Corinthians 13:14Ephesians 4:1-61 Corinthians 12:1-111 John 5:7-8.

1. 1 DIVINE OFFICES ARE ASCRIBED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

   He is the “Author of the New Birth” and the “Direct Executive of God” in all phases of creation and redemption Genesis 1:2John 3:3-51 Corinthians 6:11; the “Inspirer of the Holy Scriptures” 2 Timothy 3:15-172 Peter 1:21; the “General Overseer of the churches” Acts 20:28; the “Bestower of Spiritual Gifts” (1 Cor. 12); the “Comforter,” “Helper” and “Guide” of all saints John 14:16-17, 26John 15:26John 16:13-15Romans 8:26; the “Convicter of Sin” John 16:7-15; the “Power of God in the Earth” Acts 10:38Matthew 12:28Acts 1:8; the “Great Teacher of Men” Isaiah 11:1-2Isaiah 61:1-2John 14:16-17, 26John 15:25-26John 16:7-151 Corinthians 2:10-12; the “Preserver of All Things” Psalms 104:29-30; the “Chief Witness for God on Earth” John 15:26John 16:7-15Acts 5:32Romans 8:14-16; the “Healer of Saints” Romans 8:11; and the “Character Builder” 2 Corinthians 3:182 Peter 1:5-10.

1. 1 THE DIVINE CHARACTER AND PERSONAL TRAITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVE HIM TO BE DIVINE, as we shall see in Point II, below, on the personality of the Holy Spirit.

II. The Personality of the Holy Spirit

It is of the greatest importance that we believe in the divinity of the Holy Spirit, and also His personality. It is only when we learn these truths that we can give Him the honor, worship, adoration, and personal respect that we give to God. We must learn that the Holy Spirit is not a mere power that we need to get hold of and use, but we must learn that He is a person who is infinitely wise, holy, just, and gracious, and who seeks to get hold of us and use us. We must become acquainted with Him as a person and not merely as an influence or power derived from a person. The following points prove that He is a real person:

1. Personal names are given to Him, as proven in Point I, 2, above.

2. Personal pronouns are used of Him John 14:16-26John 15:26John 16:7-15.

3. Personal attributes are ascribed to Him, as proven in Point I, 3, above.

4. Personal works are ascribed to Him, as proven in Point I, 4, above.

5. Personal references are made concerning Him, as proven in Point I, 5, above.

6. Personal treatment is ascribed to Him.

He can be “resisted” Acts 7:51; “tempted” Acts 5:9; “grieved” Ephesians 4:30; “lied to” Acts 5:3-4; “blasphemed” Matthew 12:31-32; “insulted” Matthew 12:31-32Hebrews 6:4-6Hebrews 10:26-29; “quenched” 1 Thessalonians 5:19; “vexed” Psalms 78:40Isaiah 63:10; “quieted” Zechariah 6:8; “fellowshipped” Philippians 2:1; and otherwise mistreated or obeyed like any other person.

In the Holy Spirit’s relationship to men He is spoken of as “searching hearts,” “regenerating,” “sanctifying,” “helping,” “convicting,” “teaching,” “quickening,” “guiding,” “witnessing,” “interceding,” “revealing,” “working,” “hearing,” “speaking,” “helping,” “communing,” “appointing,” “commanding,” “counseling,” “comforting,” “inspiring,” “assuring,” “calling,” “hearing,” and in many ways acting as a real person, as seen in point I, above.

As defined in Lesson Four, Point I, 5, a person is anyone who can think, feel, and act; anyone capable of self-consciousness and self-determination; any individual having legal rights and duties; a rational being with bodily presence, soul passions, and spirit faculties. If this is not true of the Holy Spirit, as we have seen in all the facts mentioned above, there is nothing in Scripture that is clear. How could the Holy Spirit do all the things spoken of Him without being a person? How could a mere impersonal force be spoken of as God, and have many divine personal names, titles, offices, acts, attributes, and receive personal treatment and be spoken of by personal pronouns? Thus we must conclude that the Holy Spirit is a real person if we want to harmonize all Scripture.

III. The Holy Spirit is Not the Father or the Son

1. 1 He has been seen with the natural eyes as a separate person from the Father and the Son Matthew 3:16-17Luke 3:21-22John 1:31-34Revelation 4:5Revelation 5:6.

1. 1 In Rev. 1:4-6; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6 the Spirit is symbolized by seven lamps of fire, seven eyes and seven horns “before the throne” upon which God the Father is sitting, and “upon the Lamb,” which is a symbol of Jesus Christ. The Spirit then could not be the person of God the Father sitting on the throne, or the Lamb who comes to the Father on the throne and takes a seven-scaled book out of His right hand. Thus we have three persons and each one is distinguished from each other: The Father on the throne; the Son symbolized by the Lamb before the throne; and the Spirit symbolized by seven lamps also before the throne. The fact that Christ and the Spirit are separate symbols seen at the same time and at the same place both before God the Father on the throne proves that they are two separate and distinct persons from each other as well as separate and distinct from the Father. A symbol is something that stands for or represents something else. Inasmuch as the Father is seen on the throne; Christ and the Spirit are symbolized by two separate beings before the throne; therefore, there must have been three separate and distinct persons involved in the scenes that were seen by the eyes of John when he got to Heaven Revelation 4:1.

1. 1 In Jn. 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15 the Holy Spirit is spoken of as another Comforter (Helper), who could not be sent until Christ had gone back to Heaven and was glorified John 7:37-39Acts 2:33-36, but would then be sent as a separate person from the Father and the Son. The Greek allos, like the English “another,” means “another of the same kind, but different from,” “not the same one,” “distinct from another,” and “one more,” as proven every place where such word is used Matthew 2:12Matthew 8:9Matthew 10:23Matthew 13:24, 31Matthew 21:33Matthew 26:7. Otherwise the passages would not make sense.

Common sense alone demands for us to understand that when the word “another” is used it means “two or more.” It is used of the Father as being another from the Son John 5:32. If the Spirit is another from the Son who promised Him, and another from the Father who sent Him; and if the Father was another from the Son, there must be three distinct persons in the Godhead and all three can be called “God.” All three persons are distinguished from each other by the word “another” in Jn. 5:32; 14:16.

1. 1 A clear distinction is made between “the name of the Father” and “of the Son” and “of the Holy Ghost” Matthew 28:19. All three have separate and personal names by which they are known, as is clear from this passage and many others.

1. 1 A clear distinction is made between the Son who prays, and the Father to whom He prays, and “another Comforter” for whom He prays, who was given in answer to prayer, and who came from the Father and the Son as our “Helper” John 14:16.

1. 1 A clear distinction is made between Jesus who went away as one distinct person Acts 1:11 and the Holy Ghost who came to take His place as “another” distinct person John 14:16-17, 26John 15:26John 16:7-15.

1. 1 A clear distinction is made between the Son who is exalted at the right hand of the Father, and the Father who is on the left hand of the Son, and the Holy Ghost who is sent from the Father and the Son to take the place of Jesus among men Acts 2:33-36Acts 7:56-59John 14:16-17, 26John 15:26John 16:7-15Romans 8:34Ephesians 1:20Colossians 3:1Hebrews 1:3Hebrews 8:1Hebrews 12:2.

1. 1 A clear distinction is made between the Son who was already given Luke 1:35John 3:16, and the Holy Ghost who was not yet given before Jesus was glorified John 7:37-39Acts 2:33-36Acts 5:31.

1. 1 A clear distinction is made between the Holy Ghost that came upon Mary, and the child that was born of Mary by the Holy Ghost Matthew 1:18-25Luke 1:32-35.

1. 1 A clear distinction is made between the Son who can be blasphemed with forgiveness possible and the Holy Ghost who cannot be blasphemed with forgiveness Matthew 12:31-32Mark 3:29-30Luke 12:10. If the Son and Holy Ghost were not two distinct persons they could not be blasphemed with different results. A third person, the Father, must be understood in such forgiveness, for it is the Father that forgives men as the head of the Godhead 1 Corinthians 11:3Matthew 6:9-15Matthew 18:35Ephesians 4:32.

1. 1 A clear distinction is made between Jesus who was bodily in Mary’s womb and the Holy Ghost who was not bodily in Mary’s womb, and who filled others Luke 1:15, 39.

1. 1 A clear distinction is made between Jesus outside of the womb of Mary and the Holy Ghost who filled and baptized Mary thirty-three years later at Pentecost Acts 1:14Acts 2:1-4. The same distinction is made in the case of disciples at Pentecost: The Holy Ghost came and filled and baptized them while the Son was at that time “exalted at the right hand of the Father in Heaven Acts 2:1-4, 33. The same distinction is clear in the case of Stephen Acts 7:56-59; Paul Acts 9:17; and others who were filled and baptized in the Holy Ghost at the time Jesus was in Heaven at the right hand of God Romans 8:34Ephesians 1:20Hebrews 1:3.

1. 1 A clear distinction is made between Jesus whom the Samaritans had received and the Holy Ghost whom they had not yet received Acts 8:5-25.

1. 1 A clear distinction is made between Jesus who was once powerless to do miracles and the Holy Ghost who anointed Him at thirty years of age to do miracles John 2:11Acts 10:38Isaiah 11:1-2Isaiah 42:1-5Isaiah 61:1-2Luke 4:18-21Matthew 3:16-17.

1. 1 A clear distinction is also made between the Son who was “anointed,” and the Father who sent the Spirit to anoint Him, and the Holy Ghost Himself who did the anointing Matthew 3:16-17Acts 10:38Isaiah 11:1-2Isaiah 42:1-5Isaiah 61:1-2Luke 4:18-21.

1. 1 The Holy Ghost is distinguished from Christ by the fact that Jesus said, “He shall not speak of himself,” but “He shall glorify me” John 16:13-15.

IV. The Holy Ghost Has a Personal Spirit-Body

As we have seen in Lesson Four, God has a personal body, soul, and spirit like man. We have seen that they are three distinct persons in the Godhead and all of them are called “God.” If God has a body, soul and spirit and if there are three distinct persons in the Godhead, then each person in the Godhead naturally has a personal body, soul, and spirit as does each human being. If there was nothing in Scripture that says that they all have bodies, our intelligence and reason would convince us that they do have. No person can exist without a body or a shape. Even demons, who are classed as disembodied spirits, have shapes and forms. The inner man of each human being has a shape and form which is tangible and real. It can wear clothes, eat, feel, know, and do all other things when out of the body that it could do while in the human body, as we have proven in Lesson Four, Point II, 7, the last paragraph. Disembodied spirits have all had outer forms or bodies at one time when they were first created; for Paul argues in 1 Cor. 15:35-50 that all things in creation have bodies; bodies for human beings, fish, birds, beasts, sun, moon and stars; heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; and natural bodies and spiritual bodies. No person was ever without a body in a normal creative state. Shall we believe that God alone of all beings in the universe is the only real person that has no body or shape? Shall we believe He is a disembodied Spirit? Shall we believe that He is not as real as other beings in existence? There is no scriptural grounds for such ideas so we had better forget them.

If the fact is revealed that there are three separate distinct beings in the deity or Godhead, this would be sufficient to warrant the conclusion that each of them have separate bodies, souls, and spirits, like all other separate and distinct beings. Even disembodied spirits are separate and distinct from each other and can be numbered as are all other beings. Shall we conclude that only one of the members of the Godhead has a body, soul, and spirit, as proven of God in Lesson Four, and that the other two persons of the deity are bodiless and do not have souls and spirits? In that case there would only be one person, but since there are three persons entirely separate and distinct from each other, it is only reasonable that each of them are the same in substance and nature, and that they all have had from eternity the same kind of spirit-bodies, soul passions, and spirit-faculties. There is nothing in Scripture to the contrary. On the other hand, two and three persons have been seen with separate bodies at the same time and at the same place by men.

Daniel saw two of them with separate bodies at the same time and at the same place Daniel 7:9-14. Stephen saw two of them at the same place Acts 7:56-59. Others saw different members of the Godhead at different times and places and every time any one of them has been seen He has appeared in a real body. See Lesson Four, Point II, 3, 7, 8, and 9 for proof that God has a body, soul, and spirit! In Lesson Twenty-seven we shall study many plain statements of three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead. If these facts be true, then it is only logical and scriptural to conceive of each of the three persons in the Godhead as having a personal spirit-body, soul, and spirit like all other persons that are in existence. If they are separate and distinct persons, then each one would have to have His own personality, spirit-body, soul, spirit, and His own individuality in every sense that it is understood and required of any other person in existence.

If we spoke of three persons among angels or men and described the body, soul, and spirit of only one of them, it would be clearly understood that the other two were similar to the one that was described. All persons of like nature, powers, attributes, and works are naturally the same regardless of how many there are in existence. The members of the Godhead are exactly the same in every sense and have been from all eternity, so if one of them had a body by nature then all of them had spirit-bodies exactly the same until one of them took a human body to redeem.

To be more specific, all angels have like spirit-bodies, souls, and spirits; all men have the same kind of bodies, souls, and spirits; all animals of the same species have the same likeness; and all demons are similar. Thus every person or thing in existence is similar to all other persons and things of the same nature and essence. So it is with God. All separate persons in the Godhead are the same in essence. They were the same in body, soul, and spirit until Christ became a man. If one has a personal body, they all have bodies; if one has a personal soul, they all have souls; and if one has a personal spirit, they all have spirits. On the other hand, if no one of them has a personal body, soul, and spirit, then none of them have. We cannot think of the deity as existing without personality, without body, without soul, without spirit, without form and shape, and without all the bodily parts, soul passions, spirit faculties or attributes that the Bible teaches. If we do not believe what the Bible says about God, let us be frank and say that the Bible is a plain lie in hundreds of places and we know not what part of it to believe and what part of it not to believe. Let us say that God does not know enough about Himself to know what to say about Himself, and that He does not know the human language sufficiently to make Himself clear on any point. Let us throw the Bible away and live without any fear of ever coming in contact with anyone who is real and who will someday judge us. If God is not real then we will never stand before Him to be judged, since there will be no judgment.

Shall we take this attitude toward God and His Word? If not, then let us come to our senses and give God credit for being able to know how to use the human language and to know how to reveal Himself to us in plain language. Let us throw away all the foolish and unscriptural theories about God and believe the wonderful truths that are plainly revealed in plain language in the Bible, as we have seen in Lessons Four, Twenty-one, and in this lesson.

Not one of the plain facts in Points I to III above could possibly be understood if we do not consider the Holy Spirit as a real person with a spirit-body, soul, and spirit, like the Father has. If personal names, attributes, works, offices, characteristics, treatment, personal pronouns, personal references, and descriptions of a person are used of the Holy Spirit, then He must be recognized as a real person with a spirit-body, soul, and spirit. If He is distinct from both the Father and the Son, as proven in Point III above, then He is bound to have a separate spirit-body, soul, and spirit from either the Father or the Son. The same Scriptures that prove one person of the Godhead has a personal body, soul, and spirit will prove that each of the three separate and distinct members of deity also have them. The following points prove that the Holy Ghost has a spirit-body:

1. 1 He is distinctly called God in Acts 5:3-4. God has a body, as we have proven in Lesson Four, Point II, 1-9.

1. 1 The personal names given to the Holy Spirit prove that He has a body. Personal names are never given to an abstract power or an influence that belongs to some person.

1. 1 The divine attributes, which are faculties of a real person, prove the Holy Spirit to be a real person. He would not have these personal attributes if He were not a person. He could not be a person without bodily parts through which these personal powers are manifested. He would have to have a body or He could not manifest Himself and His personal powers in the material world.

For example, how could He be present if there is nothing about Him to make Himself known? How could anyone tell He is present if He is incapable of manifesting His presence? How could He move upon the face of the waters if there is nothing to move, as required in Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:30? How could He manifest His power if He is incapable of free and independent choice in doing so, or if He should be a mere influence? Do influences have power of choice and responsibility? How could He search and know the things of God and impart that knowledge to others if He were a mere power of another person? How could He prophesy or know what to predict if He were not a real person and how could He be such a person without powers of visible manifestation? How could He have will power, mind, intelligence, choice, judgment, fear, power, decision, authority, hearing, speech, unselfishness, and other attributes and powers if He is not a real person having a spirit-body like angels and other spirit-beings?

1. 1 The divine personal acts of the Holy Spirit, which require real bodily action prove that He has a body. The Spirit has been the direct power of operation and the agent of God in creating all things, directing gospel work, revealing and inspiring Scriptures, and many other works of God. Since we read that it was by God’s fingers, hands, and other bodily parts that He did all these things, then, if the Spirit was the direct agent in doing them, it proves that He has fingers, hands, and bodily parts (see Lesson Four, Point II, 7-9).

1. 1 The Holy Spirit is spoken of as being associated with the Father and the Son in all their work and as being associated with men on Earth as their General Overseer, directing them in gospel work, as to what to preach, where to preach, and where not to preach 2 Corinthians 13:14Acts 10:19Acts 13:2Acts 15:28Acts 16:6-7Acts 20:282 Peter 2:21. Such association as a member of the Godhead and as the Overseer of men proves His personality as well as the fact that He has a body with bodily parts, soul passions, and spirit faculties through which He carries on His work. How could any person do this work without a body, soul, and spirit?

1. 1 The divine offices of the Holy Spirit prove Him to be a real person with a body. How could He be the executive of God in creation and redemption and be different from God in body, soul, or spirit? How could He be the chief witness for God in the Earth and not be a separate witness from God the Father? How could He do the other things that it is His duty to do if He were not as real as the Father and Son, and if He did not have a separate body from theirs?

1. 1 The treatment that is ascribed to Him proves Him to be a real person with a spirit-body. How could He be grieved, resisted, lied to, tempted, vexed, and otherwise mistreated if He does not have a real personal body, soul, and spirit?

1. 1 The fact that there are so many distinctions between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit proves they are three separate persons, and if so they all have bodies, souls, and spirits or they could not be the same in nature, power, and substance.

1. 1 The fact that He has been seen with the natural eyes as a separate person from the Father and the Son proves that He has power to manifest Himself visibly as a separate person from the other two. (See Points III, 1-16, above.)

1. 1 The fact that He is subordinate to the Father and the Son and has been sent and is capable of being sent from them proves He is a separate and a real person like they are John 14:26John 15:26. He is a person sent from God just as Christ was sent John 6:29John 8:29, 42. Only persons can be sent on missions from each other. If Jesus was a real person with a body, the Holy Spirit must also be, for both were sent in the same way on special missions.

1. 1 He is distinguished from mere power in many passages Acts 10:38Romans 15:13, 191 Corinthians 2:4Luke 1:35Luke 4:141 Corinthians 12:4-11. Power is an attribute exercised by a person and manifested by bodily faculties. The Spirit must be a person with a body in order for all things spoken of Him to be true.

1. 1 There is no statement in Scripture that says He does not have a body, so any teaching to the contrary is man’s theory and is not worth a thing. On the contrary, all Scriptures speak of Him as being God and as having the same attributes and powers, and as being the same as the Father in essence. In the circumstances it is naturally left up to us to believe the only thing that is logical to believe in view of the revelation of God in Scripture. The Bible is very clear that there are three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead and just because each one is not singled out in particular with a complete duplicate description of each of them, there is no reason to believe that only one has a body, soul, and spirit, and the other two do not have. Any other conclusion would be unreasonable and out of harmony with Scripture. We would not accept any other illogical conclusion in connection with facts not connected with God, so why be so lacking in reason and intelligence just because the subject is the Godhead?

The only difficulty in the way of believing that God has a body is that of thinking that spirits are unreal, and that they do not have bodies, souls, and spirits. Men have had a vague conception of what a spirit is like, but we have already seen in Lessons Four and Six that all spirit-beings have real spirit-bodies, souls, and spirits. Even the soul and spirit of a man and the disembodied spirits called demons are real and of a spiritual material substance and can wear clothes, talk, walk, see, hear, think, choose, and have feelings, passions, and desires. This we have proven in the last paragraph of Lesson Four, Point 7 and Lesson Six, Points VI, VII, and IX.

In Lesson Four, Point II, 1, we have seen that everything in the whole creation has a body or a shape. There are heavenly and earthly bodies, and spiritual and material bodies. The spiritual bodies are just as real as the material ones, so it is not hard to conceive that the Holy Ghost has a spirit-body like the Father still has, and like the Son did have before He became a man and took a human body. No man knows of any such thing as formless spirit-beings, so why try to understand God by something that is not known? Why not understand Him by what is “clearly seen” and known, as Paul taught in Rom. 1:20? Then we will understand God.

As we have seen in Lesson Four, Point II, 8, God has a personal soul, so naturally if the Holy Ghost is God He also has a personal soul with the same soul feelings, emotions, appetites, and desires as expounded in the Scriptures as faculties of God in the above-mentioned point. In addition to all this evidence, the facts stated in this lesson about the Holy Spirit prove that He has a soul, and as defined in Lesson Four, the soul is the seat of the affections, emotions, passions, desires, appetites, and all feelings. The attributes and personal acts of the Spirit, as listed in Point I, 3 and 4 and Point II, 6, of this lesson prove that the Spirit has emotions, desires, and feelings like any sentient being.

The Holy Spirit, as seen in these points, has “love,” “joy,” “peace,” “longsuffering,” “gentleness,” “goodness,” “faith,” “meekness,” and “self-control” Galatians 5:22-23, “fellowship” Philippians 2:1; “life” Romans 8:1-13; “fear” Isaiah 11:2; “inspiration” 2 Timothy 3:15-172 Peter 1:21; and other soul feelings and manifestations of the various senses. Therefore, the Holy Ghost has a personal soul like other persons.

VI. The Holy Ghost Has a Personal Spirit Like Man

As we have seen in Lesson Four, Point II, 9, God has a personal spirit, so naturally if the Holy Spirit is God He also has a personal spirit with the same kind of intellect, will, and choice power as given in the Scriptures in connection with God in the above-mentioned point. Then too, the facts stated in this lesson about the Holy Spirit prove that He has all the spirit faculties that God has. The spirit, as defined in Lesson Four, is the seat of the intellect, the mind, the will, or that which knows. The attributes and personal acts of the Holy Spirit, as listed in Point I, 3 and 4 and Point II, 6, of this lesson also prove that the Holy Spirit has a personal spirit.

The Spirit, as seen in these points mentioned above, has “wisdom and knowledge” Isaiah 11:21 Corinthians 12:8; “truth” John 14:17, 26; “justice” Isaiah 11:2-5; “will” 1 Corinthians 12:11Romans 8:27; “mind” Romans 8:27; “intelligence” 1 Corinthians 2:10-111 Corinthians 12:11; “power” 1 Corinthians 12:8-11; “decision” 1 Corinthians 12:9-11Acts 13:2, and “hearing and speech” John 15:26John 16:13-15. He also “teaches,” “guides into all truth,” “reveals secrets,” and “carries on the work of God” and otherwise exercises spirit-faculties in a way similar to other intelligent beings. Therefore, we must conclude that He has a personal spirit like other persons.

He is the third person of the divine Trinity. This is clear from the fact that He is always associated with the Father and the Son as the third member of the Trinity Matthew 28:19-202 Corinthians 13:141 John 5:7-8. He is spoken of as proceeding from both the Father and the Son John 14:16-17, 26John 15:26John 16:7-15. The Father is spoken of as being “the head of Christ” 1 Corinthians 11:3. The Father then is the first person, the Son is the second person, and the Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. All three are eternal Beings Psalms 90:2Micah 5:1-2Hebrews 9:14.

The Holy Spirit is co-eternal with the Father and the Son. All three of the members of the Godhead are eternal Beings separate and distinct from each other as to individuality but one in unity and essence Psalms 90:2Micah 5:1-2Hebrews 9:14.

The Holy Spirit has always been associated with the Father and the Son in the eternal plan of creation and redemption of all things, as seen in Supplement Five, Question 1, Lessons Nine and Ten. The many thousands of personal acts of the Holy Spirit from Gen. 1:2 to Rev. 22:17 require us to believe that He is a real person, with a personal body, a personal soul, and a personal spirit.

VII. The History of the Work of the Holy Spirit

The Bible reveals numerous works of the Holy Spirit among men, and an understanding of these acts in behalf of God and man will enable one to see what he should expect in his own personal life. All that He has done for men in the past He is able and will do for them now, and there is no excuse for limiting His work among men today. Note the following facts in Bible history:

THE HOLY SPIRIT . . .

1. Moved upon the chaotic Earth and restored it to a habitable state in six days and created new life as we see it today Genesis 1:2Psalms 104:30Job 33:4.

2. Gave Joseph power to interpret dreams Genesis 41:14-44.

3. Filled the workers of the tabernacle with wisdom and knowledge to make material things that the ordinary man could not do Exodus 28:3Exodus 31:3Exodus 35:31.

4. Enabled Moses and the elders of Israel to give just judgment and He endued them with physical strength that no natural man could have had Numbers 11:10-25.

5. Gave men power to prophesy Numbers 11:25-30Numbers 24:21 Samuel 10:6-111 Samuel 19:20-232 Samuel 23:22 Samuel 20:14-192 Samuel 24:20-23.

6. Gave men power to impart spiritual gifts to others Numbers 34:9Romans 1:111 Timothy 4:142 Timothy 1:6Hebrews 6:1-2.

7. Gave men victory in war Judges 3:10Judges 6:34Judges 11:291 Samuel 11:6.

8. Gave Samson supernatural physical strength Judges 13:25Judges 14:6, 19Judges 15:14; and made Saul into another man 1 Samuel 10:6-11.

9. Inspired men to write songs 2 Samuel 23:2.

10. Departed from the lives of men 1 Samuel 16:13-23Psalms 51:11.

11. Gave men different degrees or measures of power Numbers 11:102 Kings 2:9John 3:34.

12. Rested upon men Isaiah 11:2Isaiah 42:1Isaiah 61:1Luke 4:16-21.

13. Anointed men freely like rain Isaiah 32:15Isaiah 44:3Ezekiel 39:29Joel 2:28-29.

14. Was equal with the Father in sending the prophets Isaiah 48:16.

15. Has many times lifted up a standard against the devil Isaiah 59:19.

16. He has become the enemy of men when they rebelled and vexed Him Isaiah 63:10.

17. Has entered into people Ezekiel 2:2Ezekiel 3:24Daniel 4:9.

18. Has lifted men and carried them through the air Ezekiel 3:12-14Ezekiel 8:3Ezekiel 11:1, 24Ezekiel 37:1Ezekiel 43:5Acts 8:39.

19. Has filled men with power Micah 3:8Zechariah 4:6Acts 1:8Romans 15:19, 29.

20. Has been seen in bodily shape like a dove Luke 3:21-23John 1:32-33.

21. Has led men to be tested Matthew 4:1Luke 4:1.

22. Has spoken through men in their own tongue as well as various languages Matthew 10:20Acts 2:4Acts 10:44-48Acts 19:1-61 Corinthians 12:1–14.

23. Has manifested great power through men Matthew 12:28Acts 10:38.

24. Has directed men in various ways Luke 2:27Romans 8:14-16.

25. Has re-created men John 3:3-8Ephesians 4:22-242 Corinthians 5:171 Corinthians 6:11.

26. Has been given to men without measure John 3:34John 7:37-39John 14:12.

27. Has executed judgment because men have tempted and lied to Him Acts 5:3-10.

28. Has spoken to men as a person Acts 8:29Acts 10:19Acts 11:12.

29. Has directed gospel workers Acts 8:29Acts 10:19Acts 11:12Acts 13:1-3Acts 16:7.

30. Has made men free from the law of sin and death Romans 8:2.

31. Has caused men to have holy desires Romans 9:1-13.

32. Has dwelled in men and still does Romans 8:1-161 Corinthians 3:16-17.

33. Has raised up Jesus from the dead Romans 8:11.

34. Has enabled men to mortify the deeds of the body Romans 8:1-13.

35. Has led men into all truth Romans 8:14-16John 14:16-17, 26John 16:15.

36. Has adopted into the family of God Romans 8:14-16.

37. Has helped in prayer Romans 8:26-28Ephesians 6:18.

38. Has given revelations of God 1 Corinthians 2:10.

39. Has imparted spiritual gifts to people 1 Corinthians 12:1–14.

40. Has written on the fleshly tables of the heart 2 Corinthians 3:3-15.

The Holy Spirit has brought these and many other benefits to men in various ages in the past and He will bring every one of these benefits today to every believer if he will but learn the truth and conform to the plan of God. The Spirit of God has worked in all past ages and has blessed men according to every promise of God and according to the faith of the individual and this will be the case always.

VIII. How the Holy Spirit Dwells in Men

The Holy Spirit dwells in men only in the sense of union with, but never by bodily entrance into the human body to live there like an incarnation. God and man are in perfect union and are considered as being one and dwelling in each other. (See the scriptural proof of the doctrine of interpenetration in Lesson Four, Point I, 4, and II, 7.)