The Holy Spirit

The Comforter promised by Jesus lives in every believer: he guides, teaches, empowers us to witness and transforms our character.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me… unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8

The fruit of the Spirit

Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance

Galatians 5:22-23

He comforts

He stays with us in pain and reminds us of Jesus’ words (John 14:26).

He guides

He leads into all truth and helps us discern God’s will (John 16:13).

He intercedes

He prays for us when we do not know what to ask (Romans 8:26).

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity, equal to the Father and the Son in nature, glory and power. He is not an impersonal force: the Bible presents him as one who teaches, guides, speaks, comforts, intercedes, distributes gifts as he wills and can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). Jesus called him “another Comforter”, in Greek Parakletos: the one called alongside to help, defend and encourage.

In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God moved upon the waters at creation (Genesis 1:2), equipped craftsmen like Bezalel, filled judges, kings and prophets, and inspired the Scriptures. The prophets foretold a day when God would put his Spirit within his people and give them a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26-27). That promise was fulfilled at Pentecost and is fulfilled in everyone who believes in Christ.

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27

The Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus

Jesus’ whole life was marked by the Spirit’s presence. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb (Luke 1:35). At his baptism the Spirit descended on him like a dove. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, overcame temptation and returned to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit”. In Nazareth he read from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor” (Luke 4:18). By the Spirit he cast out demons, and through the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God (Hebrews 9:14). The same Spirit who worked in Jesus is the one he promised to his disciples.

The Spirit’s work in the believer

He convicts

He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, opening our eyes to our need of Christ (John 16:8).

He regenerates

He brings new birth: unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5).

He indwells

He makes the believer his temple and is the seal and pledge of our inheritance (1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14).

He bears witness

He assures us that we are children of God and teaches us to cry “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15-16).

He teaches and reminds

He teaches us all things and brings Jesus’ words to remembrance (John 14:26). He illuminates our Bible reading.

He sanctifies

He transforms us from glory to glory into Christ’s image and helps us overcome the flesh (2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16).

He empowers

He distributes gifts to build up the Church and gives power to witness of Christ (1 Corinthians 12; Acts 1:8).

He unites

He baptizes us into one body and calls us to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

He gives hope

The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11).

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Romans 8:26

Pentecost: the promise fulfilled

Fifty days after Passover, as the disciples prayed together in Jerusalem, a sound came from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, tongues like fire appeared and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). The wind recalls God’s breath of life; the fire, his purifying presence; the tongues, that the Gospel is for every nation. That day Peter preached boldly and about three thousand believed. Ever since, the Spirit has driven the Church to carry Christ to the ends of the earth.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2:4

Symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible

Dove

Peace, purity and new creation, as at Jesus’ baptism.

Fire

God’s presence that purifies, kindles zeal and gives courage.

Wind

God’s breath of life, invisible yet powerful (John 3:8).

Living water

Rivers of living water flowing from within the believer (John 7:38-39).

Oil

The anointing that consecrates for service and brings healing.

Seal

A mark that we belong to God and a pledge of his promise.

How to live filled with the Spirit

Paul urges: “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Being filled is not a single experience but a life of continual dependence. It is cultivated by asking in prayer, for the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13); by obeying the Word; by confessing sin so as not to grieve the Spirit; by worship and thanksgiving; by serving others with the gifts received; and by walking in community. The result is a life that shows the fruit of the Spirit and bears witness to Christ with love and courage.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit Spiritual gifts The Trinity

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

The Spirit does not appear for the first time at Pentecost. Already in the Bible’s second verse “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). In the Old Testament the Spirit equipped craftsmen such as Bezaleel to build the tabernacle (Exodus 31:3), came upon judges such as Gideon and Samson, rested on David from the day of his anointing and spoke through the prophets. Yet his presence was usually temporary and upon people chosen for a mission. That is why the prophets announced a new time: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh” (Joel 2:28), and Ezekiel promised: “I will put my spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:27). Pentecost is the fulfilment of those promises.

Names and titles of the Spirit

The Bible calls the Spirit by many names that reveal his work. Comforter or Paraclete, meaning “one called alongside” to help, defend and encourage (John 14:16). Spirit of truth, because he guides into all truth (John 16:13). Spirit of life, because he gives new life (Romans 8:2). Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry “Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15). Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29), Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17) and Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9).

The gifts of the Spirit

Besides the fruit, which is Christ’s character formed in us, the Spirit distributes gifts to serve the Church. Paul mentions, among others, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:8-10), as well as service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership and mercy (Romans 12:6-8). All gifts share one purpose: “to profit withal” (1 Corinthians 12:7), and all must be exercised in love (1 Corinthians 13). Go deeper in The gifts of the Holy Spirit and Spiritual gifts.

Different understandings among the churches

All Christians confess the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity, “the Lord, the giver of life”, according to the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381. There are differences on some points. Pentecostal and charismatic churches emphasise baptism in the Spirit as an experience of power, often accompanied by speaking in tongues, and the continuing validity of all the gifts. Other evangelical traditions understand that believers receive the Spirit when they believe, and stress being continually filled with him. The Catholic and Orthodox churches link the gift of the Spirit in a special way with the sacraments, such as baptism and confirmation or chrismation. Beyond these differences, all affirm that without the Spirit there is no Christian life.

Not grieving or quenching the Spirit

Paul warns: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30), in a context speaking of lying, anger, bitterness and corrupt words. And also: “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). The Spirit is a person who can be grieved. Living in his fullness means sensitivity to his voice, quick confession of sin, obedience and openness to his work.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Holy Spirit a force or a person? The Bible presents him as a person: he teaches, speaks, intercedes, is grieved and distributes gifts as he wills. How do I know I have the Spirit? Paul states that everyone who belongs to Christ has his Spirit (Romans 8:9) and that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). Can I ask to be filled with the Spirit? Yes. Jesus promised: “how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13).

Since the ninth century the Church has sung the ancient hymn Veni Creator Spiritus, “Come, Creator Spirit”, asking for his presence. You can make that prayer your own: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart and kindle in me the fire of your love.”