Our questions include, how did we arrive at our doctrines? Does the Bible really teach what we think it teaches? Why do churches do what they do? What is the biblical basis of church leadership structure? Why do certain traditions get entrenched?
It's easy to be spoon fed the conventional wisdom, but it's an entirely separate thing to search these things out for one's self. In the past we have read the Bible with these unexamined understandings and interpreted what we read through those lenses. We were lazy about our Bible study, assuming that pastors and theologians were telling us the truth, but we rarely checked it out for ourselves.
Therefore, these Rethinks are our attempt to remedy the situation.
We should note that we are not Bible scholars, but we believe that one doesn't need to be in order to understand the Word of God.
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- Tradition - People believe what they have been taught, and how they understand and study the Holy Spirit is due to centuries of mistaken ideas
- Fear - The Holy Spirit represents the power of God, and He is recorded in the Scriptures as doing some pretty unusual things
- Charismatic excesses - It certainly doesn't help when Charismatics attribute things to the Holy Spirit that He hasn't done.
But we remind ourselves we are considering the nature of the infinite God, and we are attempting to describe the indescribable. We can make a good attempt at describing Him, but it will never be more than a mere sliver of the totality of God.
Different Perspectives
- Cessationist: The Holy Spirit is part of the triune nature of God. The miraculous works of God ceased in the first century at the death of the last apostle. The Holy Spirit primarily enlightens Scripture in our day.
We would disagree with this idea that The Holy Spirit's ministry is restricted like this.
- Charismatic: The Holy Spirit is part of the triune God (excepting those charismatics who adhere to oneness doctrine). The miraculous works, primarily manifested through the "supernatural" gifts of the Spirit, have not ceased. The Holy Spirit is actively at work in the believer and in the Church, revealing the will of the Father, healing, speaking prophetic words, and continuing His supernatural work. (We don't desire to delve too deeply into this particular topic, which we have discussed at length elsewhere.)
This most closely aligns with our doctrinal perspective.
- Non-trinitarian: There are some groups, generally considered heretical, that describe the Holy Spirit as God's "active force" or merely a manifestation of God's power. That is, the Holy Spirit is an impersonal aspect of God. Those who promulgate this idea often claim that the Holy Spirit was not included into the godhead until the First council of Constantinople in 381 AD. This is from the affirmation of that council:
And [we believe] in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified
We shall note below some historical examples that refute the idea of 381 AD being the first articulation of the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit.
Based on this, we would disagree with the idea of an impersonal force.
Let's take a quick look at early church history.
“For even though certain persons desired to deceive me after the flesh, yet the Spirit is not deceived, being from God; for it knoweth whence it cometh and where it goeth; and it searcheth out the hidden things. I cried out, when I was among you; I spake with a loud voice, with God’s own voice, Give ye heed to the bishop and the presbytery and deacons. Howbeit there were those who suspected me of saying this, because I knew beforehand of the division of certain persons. But He in whom I am bound is my witness that I learned it not from flesh of man; it was the preaching of the Spirit who spake on this wise; Do nothing without the bishop; keep your flesh as a temple of God; cherish union, shun divisions, be imitators of Jesus Christ, as He Himself also was of His Father.” (To the Philadelphians, 7)
“Now man is a mixed organism of soul and flesh, who was formed after the likeness of God and molded by His hands; that is by the Son and the Holy Spirit, to whom also He said 'Let us make man.'” (Against Heresies, 1.2.1)
"In all and through all there is One God, the Father, and One Word, the Son, and One Spirit; and to all who believe in Him, on salvation."
“How can the Holy Spirit belong to the same class as the beings who are sanctified by him? The Holy Spirit is the source of true life; when he is imparted to us, we attain to communion with God. This would be impossible if the Holy Spirit were foreign to the divine nature. If he were not divine but of a created nature, then something created would be admitted into the Trinity. Arianism could not be logically rejected if the Homoousion were not also ascribed to him.”
"If ever there was a time when the Father was not, then there was a time when the Son was not. If ever there was a time when the Son was not, then there was a time when the Spirit was not. If the One was from the beginning, then the Three were so too... what Godhead can there be if It is not perfect?" (Theological Oration, 5.4)
Ge. 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Re. 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
- Grieved. Ep. 4:30 (c.f., Is. 63:10):
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- Quenched. 1Th. 5:19:
Quench not the Spirit.
- Resisted. Ac. 7:51
You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!
- Insulted. He. 10:29:
How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
- Ignored. He. 2:3-4:
...how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
- Tested: Ac. 5:9
Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
- Rejected: 1Th. 4:8
Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
- Lied to: Ac. 5:3
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
- Pleased: Ga. 6:8
The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
- Contends: Ge. 6:3
Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man for ever,
He speaks:
Mk. 13:11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Ac. 10:19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you."
1Ti. 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Re. 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
He "comes upon" people:
1Sa. 16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.
1Sa. 19:20 so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men and they also prophesied.
2Ch. 24:20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says..."
Ez. 11:5 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me, and he told me...
Ac. 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
He is the gift given to every Christian:
Ac. 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (c.f. Ac. 5:32)
He fills people:
Lk. 1:15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
Ac. 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Ac. 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Ep. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
He conceived Jesus:
Mt. 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
He is the means of baptism:
Mt. 3:11 “I baptize you in water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.He inspired the Scripture:
2Ti. 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness...
Ro. 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.He is the Comforter/Helper/Advocate/Counselor (paracletos):
Jn. 15:26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
Jn. 16:8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin...He teaches:
Ne. 9:20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.
Lk. 12:12 ...for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.
1Co. 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
He is eternal, omnipresent, and all-powerful:
He. 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God...
Ps. 139:7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
Ro. 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the manifestation of God's power (1Co. 2:4), the agent by which we made alive at salvation (1Co. 6:11, Ga. 5:25), and the Giver of spiritual gifts (1Co. 12:7).
Sometimes the Issue is Confusing
As we mentioned at the onset, the Holy Spirit is not as well-developed of a topic in the Bible as we might hope. And in fact, we find overlap in the godhead, which we think is an even more pointed revelation as to the endlessly intricate nature of God. There is no clear and consistent delineation between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Three Active Persons
John quotes Jesus:
Jn. 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.
He also writes:
Jn. 10:30 I and the Father are one.
Later, John records these words:
Jn. 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.And this:
Jn. 14:24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.And this:
Jn. 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
And lastly,
Jn. 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
We see here that John has a well-developed understanding of Jesus' words as they relate to the nature of God. We see a clear interplay of the Three, but we also see a kind of mixing of roles and activities.
The Spirit of Christ
We usually think of the Holy Spirit being the One who indwells the believer:
Ep. 2:22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
But we see these references to the indwelling Christ, seeming to be the Holy Spirit.
Ro. 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
1Pe. 1:10-11 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
Ep. 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And also the Father:
1Jn. 2:23 No-one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
Again, this causes great wonder in us as we consider the indwelling presence to possess attributes of the whole godhead.
Conclusion
The fruit of our study leads us to a few observations:
- Those who carefully arrange their doctrines might need to loosen up a bit, considering the mixed nature of the godhead
- Those who want to minimize or avoid the topic of the Holy Spirit need to get acquainted with Him
- Those who are casual towards the Holy Spirit should be more aware of His exalted status as fully God
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