Written By Lesallan Bostron – October 1, 2023
Ohio Christian University
THE4050 Investigating Christian Theology II (ONLF23)
Professor Jeremy Kamer
October 1, 2023
The Personality of the Holy Spirit
This written assignment delves into the theological concept of “The Personality of the Holy Spirit.” This doctrine emphasizes the attributes and nature of the Holy Spirit. Any discourse regarding the Person or work of the Holy Spirit is intrinsically linked to the doctrine of His personality. Through this assignment, I aim to examine various Biblical evidence and implications that establish the personality of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, I shall elucidate how this specific aspect of the Holy Spirit relates to other facets of His Person and work.
It is essential to know that the Holy Spirit is not just a force, a power, or an influence. The Holy Spirit is a person, just like The Father and Son are persons. He has a mind, a will, and emotions. He can speak, teach, guide, comfort, and intercede. However, He can also be grieved, resisted, and blasphemed (Oden, 2009). The Holy Spirit is God, co-equal and co-eternal with The Father and the Son. He is not less than God, nor subordinate to God, but fully God. Oden (2009) also noted that the Holy Spirit is distinct from the Father and the Son but shares their divine nature.
Understanding and appreciating the personality of the Holy Spirit is essential for Christians. This doctrine confirms the attributes and nature of the Holy Spirit, revealing His character and work. This understanding also affects our relationship with Him, as we can worship, love, obey, and rely on Him. The Holy Spirit’s distinct attributes reflect His divine nature, including inherent intellect, cognitive ability, and moral and sovereign will. The Holy Spirit is a crucial aspect of the Trinity in Christianity. It affirms the belief in one God, consisting of three divine persons who share the same essence, substance, and nature.
There is ample evidence within Scripture to affirm the personality of the Holy Spirit. For instance, the Holy Spirit is referred to by multiple personal names and titles that reveal His identity and relationship to the Godhead. He is known as the Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2, KJV), the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9, KJV), the Comforter (John 14:16, KJV), the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13, KJV), and the Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29, KJV). These names indicate that the Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force, but a distinct person with a unique role and function concerning the Father and the Son.
The Holy Spirit is often attributed to personal acts requiring intelligence, volition, and emotion. For instance, he is said to speak (Acts 13:2, KJV), teach (John 14:26, KJV), guide (John 16:13, KJV), command (Acts 16:6-7, KJV), intercede (Romans 8:26-27, KJV), testify (John 15:26, KJV), convict (John 16:8, KJV), regenerate (John 3:5-6, KJV), sanctify (1 Peter 1:2, KJV), empower (Acts 1:8, KJV), distribute gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11, KJV), and experience grief (Ephesians 4:30, KJV). These actions prove that the Holy Spirit is not a passive or mechanical agent, but a person with a mind, a will, and emotions.
The Holy Spirit is a personal entity that can be interacted with individually. Instances of obedience (Acts 5:32, KJV), deception (Acts 5:3-4, KJV), resistance (Acts 7:51, KJV), blasphemy (Matthew 12:31-32, KJV), reverence (2 Corinthians 13:14, KJV), worship (Revelation 22:17, KJV), and prayer (Ephesians 6:18, KJV) demonstrate that the Holy Spirit is not an abstract force, but rather a person possessing dignity, power, and rule.
The significance of the Holy Spirit’s personality cannot be underestimated or dismissed as insignificant. It is a crucial and fundamental doctrine that shapes our comprehension of God’s nature, His actions within and through us, and our relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit is not a faceless force that can be manipulated or dominated, but a compassionate and loving individual who resides within us changes us, and enables us to live our lives in a manner that brings honor to God. The personality of the Holy Spirit is a doctrine that teaches that the Holy Spirit is a person, not a force. He is God, equal to the Father and the Son, and has a mind, a will, and emotions. He has personal names, performs personal acts, and can be related to in personal ways. This doctrine is important because it reveals who God is, how He works in and through us, and how we should relate to Him. It also shows us that the Holy Spirit is not a power we can use for our purposes, but a person who loves us lives in us, changes us, and enables us to live for God’s glory.
This doctrine has practical implications for our discipleship and everyday life. It means that we can trust the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth (John 16:13, KJV), to teach us all things (John 14:26, KJV), to help us in our weakness (Romans 8:26, KJV), to produce His fruit in us (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV), and to give us His gifts for our ministry (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, KJV). It also means that we can communicate with the Holy Spirit through prayer (Ephesians 6:18, KJV), worship (Revelation 22:17, KJV), and obedience (Acts 5:32, KJV). It also means that we can grieve the Holy Spirit by sinning (Ephesians 4:30, KJV), resist the Holy Spirit by rejecting His voice (Acts 7:51, KJV), or quench the Holy Spirit by suppressing His fire (1 Thessalonians 5:19, KJV). Therefore, we should seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18, KJV), to walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, KJV), and to be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14, KJV).
The personality of the Holy Spirit is a doctrine that enriches our understanding of God and our relationship with Him. It also challenges us to depend on and cooperate with Him. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force but a person who wants to be our friend, helper, and Lord.
References:
Oden, T. C. (2009). Classic Christianity. HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
