Tuesday: The Holy Spirit Is Divine
When Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit to the disciples, He called Him another Helper (John 14:16). The Greek word Jesus used for another is allos, which means another of the same kind, in contrast with heteros, another of different kind or quality. The same likeness of nature that bonds the Father and the Son is revealed in the relationship between the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will tell you things to come (John 16:13, NKJV). Only a divine Being can announce the future (Isa. 46:9-10).
The divinity of the Holy Spirit is also attested by His role in the inspiration of the Scriptures, a function that Jesus explicitly acknowledged. He argued that David himself said by the Holy Spirit (Mark 12:36, NKJV) what is recorded in Psalm 110:1.
While on this earth, Jesus was constantly under the direction of the Holy Spirit. After being anointed by the Spirit in His baptism (Matt. 3:16-17), He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Luke 4:1, NKJV). Victorious over the tempter, He returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee to carry on His ministry (Luke 4:14, NKJV). The miracles He performed were done through the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28). The fact that the Son of God depended on the Spirit is another demonstration of the divine character of the Spirit, for it’s hard to imagine the Son of God dependent upon anything less than the Divine.
Further evidence for the deity of the Spirit lies in His association with the Father and the Son in texts that mention the three Persons as equal. Thus, Jesus commissioned the apostles to baptize the new disciples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19, NKJV).
How do the following verses help us to understand the divinity of the Holy Spirit? See Matt. 12:31-32.
The comparison between speaking against the Son of Man, a sin that may be forgiven, and speaking against the Holy Spirit, a sin that cannot be forgiven, shows that the Spirit is not a common being. Blasphemy is a sin committed directly against God. Thus, we conclude that the Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of the Godhead. Though much has been written about the unforgivable sin, the immediate context shows people so hardened against the Spirit and His role in salvation that they attribute His work to the devil!
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Wow, what a wonderful reminder, that Jesus was lead by the Spirit while in this earthly body. That is what I call interdependence! Let our goal always be to have that sense of respect, wonder and awe that the Father so willingly shares the Spirit with us, and to be lead by Him!
The author of this lesson asked: "How do the following verses help us to understand the divinity of the Holy Spirit? See Matt. 12:31-32."
The explanation is found in the Old Testament:
"New International Version
"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. [Ex. 23:20-21]
In this biblical text, the unforgivable sin is associated with an angel. Should we conclude that this angel was a member of the Trinity?
Nic, Very possibly it was the "Angel of The Lord" spoken of several times in the Old Testament in reference to Christ (God Himself) who was going before Isreal to fight their battles and protect them. So the answer to your question just might be yes.
It is not necessarily saying that the sin is unforgivable, but, that the angel can not forgive it. For instance, if you offend your brother, he can forgive you but I cannot. If he acts according to the direction and instruction of another, then your rebellion would not be to him but rather to the Instructor.
Nic, God also said that "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft," (1 Sam 15:23) with the implication that it is incurable. And if it's incurable, it's also unforgivable. I see this text as essentially saying the same thing.
And, yes, I understand that the "Angel of the Lord," as He is often called, was the very same person as Jehovah and the Person of the Trinity who later became incarnate in Jesus Christ. This is one of the texts that demonstrates this, since the Lord said, "my Name is in him." "Name" stands for character, reputation and authority. So this demonstrates that the divinity of the divine Messenger aka Angel. (In another instance, He appeared to Joshua as "Captain of the Lord's Host."
The Holy Spirit
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 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.
The Holy Spirit is also the spirit of truth that leads into all truth.
Joh 16:13 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.
If after four thousand years we are still on the fundamental doctrine alone,( the death burial and resurrection) “the sincere milk of the word “and have not move onto strong meat, Christ work in the sanctuary and the Sabbath goes together. We will remain unskillful in the word of truth.
If the Spirit of truth has come to us and we have turn Him down. As the Jew did in the days of Christ and the Apostles , then we have already sinned against the Spirit and there is no remedy for the church as a body
This Statement was made in 1904 , “Who can truthfully say: "Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted by the world"? I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: "Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? 'How is the faithful city become an harlot!' My Father's house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and strength is lacking." {8T 250.2}”
Could any one say when the spirit came back to the church ? Or is Christ only knocking at individuals heart’s only.
I think Christ has always knocked on individual heart doors and always will. The corporate church is formed by the work of the Holy Spirit on all the hearts of all people regardless of church. The Holy Spirit brings all together in "One." This is the church Jesus told Peter about when He told Peter about the foundation of His church. The true church today is the remnant. And this is all those who are consenting for the Holy Spirit to motivate every thought and feeling and direction of the life. Of course this ultimately brings us all into perfect harmony with God's Word and with each other. This is my studied opinion.