The Holy Spirit is first seen in Genesis 1:2 where it states, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” He is an active, moving, working personality within scripture. He is God’s spirit who dwells within the hearts of those who by faith receive the Gospel. He is referred to as “the Spirit of God” in Romans 8:14 and as “the Spirit of Christ” in 1 Peter 1:11.
When Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure in John 14-16 he taught them about the Holy Spirit by calling him the Comforter. The Greek word that is used for “Comforter” also means intercessor, consoler or advocate. This gives a glimpse into the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. In Jesus’ teaching he instructs that the Advocate will “teach” us all things and will remind us of what Christ, the Living Word, has said to us. Jesus also promised that the Holy Spirit would “live in” the believers. This is powerful because the influence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is not only external, as from a parent or instructor who is a separate being, but it is internal because the Holy Spirit speaks from within us. This is one reason the Holy Spirit is so effective in his role of making and shaping us into the image of Christ. He is constantly teaching us and “guiding us into all truth.” In John 15:26, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will bear witness to us about who Jesus is. 2 Corinthians 3:18 lets us know that it is through the Spirit that we are being transformed into God’s image. And all of this teaching and guiding comes from the inside of us where the Holy Spirit takes residence.
The scriptures teach much about the Holy Spirit and make it very clear that he is indeed a person while yet a spirit. Ephesians 4:30 reveals that he can be grieved. Acts 8:29 reveals that he speaks to us. Genesis 6:3 reveals that he strives or contends with us. Romans 8:26 reveals that he helps us in our weaknesses. It also reveals that he prays or intercedes for us. These feelings and actions are why his is considered a person and not merely a spirit. The Holy Spirit is known in theology as the third member or person of the Trinity or Godhead.
When the Holy Spirit is active in the life of the believer his presence is displayed through the fruit of the spirit. These graces are listed in Galatians 5:22-23 as love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. They are what I’ll refer to as “everyday graces” that tend to show up when our normal, natural abilities have reason to be depleted. Through these graces we display the personality of Christ and the love of God in a dark world.
The doctrine I was taught as a child was that the Holy Spirit was received through calling on the name of Jesus until you spoke in tongues. We believed that without speaking in tongues there was no Spirit filling – thus no salvation. Over the years I have come to understand and believe what Apostle Paul teaches in Ephesians 1:13. Paul teaches that when we believe on Jesus Christ and receive the Gospel (God’s plan of salvation) we are immediately marked with a seal, which is the Holy Spirit taking residence inside of us. While the book of Acts shows two instances (Acts 8:15-17; 19:1-6) where persons heard the Gospel but did not hear of the Holy Ghost and did not receive the Holy Ghost until the Apostles laid hands on them, I still believe Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 1:13 is accurate. Jesus made it clear in Luke 11:13 that God will “give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”
I Corinthians chapter 12 teaches us that the Holy Spirit is the distributor of the spiritual gifts or Charismata. These gifts are given to the church for the “common good” or for the benefit of the entire church. Romans 12:3-8 makes it clear that these gifts are given according to the grace on our lives and they are not to be abused or used unwisely.