Thursday: The Importance of His Divinity
What would be lost if the Holy Spirit were not God? If the Holy Spirit is not fully God, the implications for salvation and worship are serious. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is responsible for regenerating believers. He dwells in them and fills them. He renews our thinking and changes our character. He has the power to resurrect. He makes Christ’s followers as God is: holy.
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If the Holy Spirit is not God, how can we be certain that He can do any of these things and do them in such a way that they are acceptable to God?
Read 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14; and Matthew 28:18-19. What does the fact that the Holy Spirit is mentioned side by side with God the Father, and Jesus Christ, the Son, in baptism and benedictions tell us about the place of the Holy Spirit in the adoration and worship of God?
The divinity of the Holy Spirit helps us to relate to Him in appropriate ways that acknowledge Him for who He truly is. His divinity is the presupposition for a God-centered spirituality. The New Testament church without hesitation mentions the Holy Spirit side by side with the other two members of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit occupies the same rank and position in the act of baptism as do the Father and the Son. Baptism has a deep spiritual significance and is an ordinance of profound worship. What is true in the act of baptism is equally true of the apostolic benediction. It is an invocation of adoration where the Holy Spirit is praised just as are the Father and the Son. All three persons of the Godhead are mentioned side by side and are equally affirmed.
The Holy Spirit is affirmed as a proper object of worship in the New Testament, not just in baptism and in the apostolic benediction, but also in the constant requirement that we depend on Him for all spiritual good and should obey Him as our divine teacher and sanctifier. Does it matter that the Holy Spirit is God? Yes, very much so. If we know who He truly is, and recognize and acknowledge His deity, we will honor His work and rely on Him for our own personal growth and sanctification.
| Think about what it means that the Holy Spirit, God Himself, is working in your life. What great promises are found here for us in knowing that it is God who is working in you to change you into what you can be in Him? Why is this an uplifting and affirming truth? |
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In Genesis God said;" let us make man in our image, plural. In Hebrews 4 he said of Jesus; "thy throne oh God....." it is clear that God is a plural being. Then if so why would we object to believe that the Holy Spirit would not also be God? There is but one Fournier family at our house but there is more then just one person in that family.
Bro Robert
God = Son+Father+Holy Spirit
We have 1.God the Son
2.God the Father
3.God the Holy Spirit
Therefore the Common Divine name among these Divine Persons is "God"
2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen
Scripture also says;The Lord your God;
And God says my Holy Spirit dwelt among you.
That Lord Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is of God.
That three distinct Person in One purpose.
Robert, In Genesis God said;" let us (plural) make man in our (plural) image (singular). How do you explain the singular part?
People in ancient times--Jews and Christians--did not believe in the Holy Spirit because they read about it in a book. So today the argument that the Bible says this and so about the HS is not very persuasive. They believed because something happened in their community life which could only be explained by a holy and divine power. Today the effort to convince people about the reality, personality or divinity of the Holy Spirit using proof texts and arguments is not going to be successful. The New Testament is full of evidences of the Holy Spirit, but they are all great and mysterious events, not theological arguments and vague references.
Only the presence of the Spirit convinces of the Spirit.
Evidence of the Holy Spirit, must be Bible based! So using Bible texts IS very important in testing the Spirits, the Holy Spirit does not lead without agreement with those biblical evidence texts!! However a personal experience with the Holy Spirit's power in your life solidifies what the Bible points out to us!
Perhaps I can explain this a little differently: When the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, people were impressed by the power of the Spirit empowering through tongues, and Peter then used the scripture to explain the event. Note that the Holy Spirit power manifest in tongues was the thing that impressed people, not any Bible text. The Bible was only used to explain why it had happened, not to prove the existence of the Holy Spirit.
In addition, later in Acts, the Holy Spirit was also given to Gentiles, and they spoke in tongues also. The issue was settled on the basis of what the Holy Spirit did, not on the basis of Bible texts. Experience in the Holy Spirit comes first!
Is this clearer?
I love this contribution.The product of the holy spirit is what matters not the holy spirit itself
IHEDIGBO, I am not totally sure about a contribution statement. The one thing that I am sure of is that not a few know what they think they may know. Ideas are varied because we are all created differently and can result in unreliable information. Regardless of what misinformation is given, do not even consider that the Holy Spirit doesn't matter. The Holy Spirit is all that matters. I wouldn't get caught up in controversial debates about the nature of the holy Spirit. God gives us the Holy Spirit and God answers prayers. Our only hope is God given.
Well since the Holy Spirit inspired the Bible, inspired the speaking of tongues and inspires our "experiences" of His presence and reality, I don't think it makes sense to view one above the other. They are all manifestations of the same Holy Spirit.
Yes God is not out to prove himself to us. He is not hurt if he is not noticed. The Holy Spirit is not on display, though he is fully involved. Having very limited display of his activities does not lessen the outstanding part he plays on our salvation. This makes me love him more and reveals to me even more the true and wonderful nature of God. Imagine being with such in heaven for eternity.
I do agree up to a point, that interaction with GOD is not dry theory but a relationship and an experience but we would never have known the truth about the deity of the eternal SPIRIT and the GODHEAD, had GOD not chosen to reveal it in His word. The Bible is not a mere book but the revealed will and word of GOD.
Thanks for this lesson, as a Christian and since my childhood, I know the Holly Spirit is God, part of the Deity. I enjoy His work in my humble life every day; I enjoy His prompting on which way to go. He talks to me, He guides me, He encircles me. As Jesus was ascending, He told His disciples, I will send you a Helper, The Holy Spirit. He has been with us ever since. Be Blessed, enjoy the leading of the Holy Spirit Dr Harriet 52yrs, from Uganda
Today I'll just like to ask you to pray so I may see the work of the HS over the lives of other people in my family too! God has done amazing things for us...
Thank you so much for the opportunity to engage in this group... although we do not see each other! Peace and love of Jesus be with you all.
The knowledge that God is working in me increases my level of confidence and takes way all fear. There is Divinity dwelling in me and that sets me apart from the common man who knows no God. I make sure my presence has a holy influence and i know i am not alone. The Source of all power is living within me. Very uplifting indeed.
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Phillipians 2:13. The promise is that God will work in us, so the promise wouldn't be valid if the Holy Spirit is the one working in us but He is not God. He must be God, to do His work as promised to us.
Is it possible for the Holy Spirit to work in us and yet we sin?
When the high priest will leave his post and go change his clothes, the Spirit will be withdrawn. Then we will really see the contrast of the world without the watchful eye of the Holy Spirit.
Robert, I wonder if you would want to clarify. I don't think you mean that the Holy Spirit will no longer be Christ's Representative in this world, or do you?
Genesis 6:3 says that God's spirit will be withdrawn from the earth we will be without the comforter
Up until that time we can be fully submitted to the Holy Ghost who will guide our lives to be faithful
I don't see the word, "withdrawn", in that verse. Instead, I see the word, "strive." This has a completely different meaning from withdrawn.
If the Holy Spirit is ever withdrawn there is no Love of God or Righteousness of Christ possible in that soul. That means we would become separated from God. I don't see that we will be separated from God against our will anywhere in the Bible.
When our high priest is finished his high priest responsibility we no longer have one to stand between us and God. Him that is unrighteous will be unrighteous still. And he that is holy, will be holy still. At that time the Holy Spirit will withdraw his pleading for fallen man. When he is withdrawn, there will a time of trouble like never before. Yet God will put an edge around us allowing us a cup to drink as did Jacob and Jesus. Then just in time he will deliver his own.
If the Holy Spirit is ever withdrawn there is no Love of God or Righteousness of Christ possible in that soul. That means we would become separated from God. I don't see that we will be separated from God against our will anywhere in the Bible.
The reason we will be able to live without a mediator is that we will be totally involved with and sealed by the Holy Spirit and, thereby, will not sin and will, therefore, not need a mediator. Those who have not been sealed with the Spirit of God will be void of the Holy Spirit and will be slain by the brightness of God's appearance in the second coming of Christ.
[Moderator's note: We usually discourage comments that consist entirely of a quote but are allowing this one as an exception because it is topical]
"Is it possible for the Holy Spirit to work in us and yet we sin?" Could someone please answer this question?