The Doctrine of The Holy Spirit

The Person of The Holy Spirit
I believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune God and as such is equal in essence to both the Father and the Son, yet functionally subordinate to both. Like the Father, the Holy Spirit is pure Spirit existing outside the constraints of matter.

  1. The Holy Spirit is God (2 Sa 23:2-3; Ac 5:1-4; Eph 4:4-6).
    1. He possesses attributes which are inherent with deity. The Holy Spirit is omniscient (Is 40:13), omnipresent (Ps 139:7-10), eternal (Heb 9:14; Jn 14:16), and sovereign (Jn 3:8).
    2. He is identified with God (Heb 10:14-16 cf. Jer 31:33; Heb 3:7-9 cf. Ps 95:7-11).
    3. He performs divine works. The Holy Spirit was the active agent in creation (Gen 1:2) as well as the process of inspiration (2 Pet 1:21). He is responsible for the regeneration (Tit 3:5) and sanctification of believers (2 Thes 2:13).
  2. The Holy Spirit is functionally subordinate to both the Father (Ps 104:30; Jn 14:26) and the Son (Jn 16:7).
  3. The Holy Spirit is a person. He possesses all of the attributes of personhood The Holy Spirit is self-conscious (1 Co 2:11) and self-determining (1 Co 12:11). He has intelligence (Is 11:2), emotions (Ro 15:30), and volition (Ac 8:29; Ro 8:26).

The Ministry of The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has a unique ministry in the world, in the life of the believer, and in the church.

  1. The Holy Spirit’s ministry in the world is to convince the world of sin, of Christ’s righteousness, and God’s judgment by the word of God (Jn 16:8-11). He also operates in the world by restraining sin and enabling the positive accomplishment of some civic righteousness and good among all men [common grace (Gen 6:3; Ps 145:9; Mt 5:44-47; Lu 6:33; 2 Thes 2:6-8)].
  2. The Holy Spirit has a vital role in the life of believers. The Holy Spirit is responsible for regenerating (Dt 5:29; 10:16; 1 Sa 17:26–Circumcision; Ez 36:26; Jn 3:5-6; Tit 3:5), convicting (Ro 7:7-13; Ja 2:9), indwelling/sealing (Nu 27:18; 1 Co 3:16/2 Co 1:22), illuminating (1 Co 2:4-5), sanctifying (2 Thes 2:13), controlling (Eph 5:18; Ga 5:22), teaching (1 Jn 2:27), interceding (Ro 8:26) and resurrecting the dead (Ro 8:11).
  3. The Holy Spirit ministers to the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit wrought the conception of Christ (Mt 1:18-20; Lu 1:34-35); He adds the redeemed to the church [Spirit Baptism–a judicial act of placing the believer into the body of Christ occurring at regeneration, (1 Co 12:13); He sovereignly bestows gifts to believers (1 Co 12; 1 Pet 4:10) within the church for the perfecting of the saints and to equip them for fruitful service (1 Co 14:12,26; Eph 4:11-12).