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What Is The Holy Spirit?
Some repeatedly affirm, “The Holy Spirit is the word of God.” The Holy Spirit could not be the word of God, because Paul, in describing the Christian’s armor, identifies the word as the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). Christ demonstrated the power of the word of God in HIs use of it to overcome the temptations of Satan. When Satan placed before Him his strong and subtle temptations, each time Jesus responded with “It is written”. The mighty power of three little verses of scripture properly applied were enough to defeat Satan (Matthew 4:1-10).
Others say, “The indwelling Spirit guides apart from the word of God.” Christ promised His apostles, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). If the Spirit guided the apostles into all truth, and this truth has been recorded in God’s revelation, there is no further truth that could be received by those who claim direct guidance by the Holy Spirit. Most often, later revelations contrast with what the Holy Spirit revealed in the Bible.
Some believe “The Holy Spirit must direct an unbeliever before he can understand and obey the word of God.” This would make God a respecter of persons. If the Holy Spirit favors some in giving them a “special understanding” of the Bible, God would be partial. Romans 2:11 says God is not partial. In Cornelius’ house, Peter confessed, “I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34,35). Even so, why would God reveal a message that could not be understood without “special intervention” from deity? The message of God is not a complex monologue. It is understandable by all who read it (Ephesians 3:3; 5:17). Through the reading of the word, man is directed toward obedience, not from a direct operation of the Spirit.
It has been said, “Speaking in tongues is evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” It is true in Acts 2, when the disciples spoke in different understandable languages, and in Acts 10 when the Gentiles were baptized of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues meant a form of communication of the gospel of Christ in a language where those who heard could understand. It is extremely different from the emotional jabbering and hodge-podge of “tongues” no one can understand. Even the speaker cannot recognize his own mumbling.
The Holy Spirit is a third entity of the Godhead, who hears the prayers of the believer (Romans 8:26,27). He guides all men to the truth of God (John 16:13; Romans 8:14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13). It is by this one Spirit (Ephesians 4:4) we are given the mind of God and it is of that Spirit we are “born again” (John 3:3). We dwell in Him and He in us by our acceptance and obedience of the truth He has delivered.
