«  |  Home  |  Genealogy  |  Recovery  |  Bible Study  |  Will Power  |  Dictionaries  |  Simple Bible  |
Download a PDF of this document

Introduction to the Holy Spirit

Is the phrase “God the Holy Spirit” used in the Bible? No.
Is the phrase “God the Holy Ghost” used in the Bible? No.
Is the phrase “God the Spirit” used in the Bible? No.
According to the Bible, does the spirit have a throne? No.
According to Jesus, who is "the only true God"?
John 17:1 ... Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father... 3 ... this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
According to Jesus, how is the only way we can come to the Father("only true God")?
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Why is Jesus the only way to His Father("only true God")?
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, WHAT IS A SPIRIT?
Daniel 2:3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
Daniel 7:15 ¶ I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
1 Corinthians 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Luke 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
2 Corinthians 2:13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
1 Corinthians 2:11(NLT) No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.
So, how does the Bible define a spirit? Answer: It is our mind, from which our thoughts, words, and actions come forth. Maybe that's why Paul said this:
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
If we let Christ's mind be in us by reading and believing what He says in the Bible, does that mean that Christ is in us?
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
HOW MANY SPIRITS GIVE US ACCESS TO GOD?
Ephesians 2:18 For through him[Christ] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 
1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
How many Spirits? Answer: There is only one Spirit that gives us access to God
FROM WHOM DOES THAT ONE SPIRIT COME?
Romans 8:26 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... 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
One who makes intercession is an intercessor. So, what is another word that means "intercessor"? Webster's dictionary gives us the answer:
INTERCESSOR, n. [L. See Intercede.]
1. A mediator; one who interposes between parties at variance, with a view to reconcile them; one who pleads in behalf of another.
Who is the only mediator between God and us?
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
So then, who is it that "Spirit" that "maketh intercession for us"?
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NLT) For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom... And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.-Paul
According to Paul, who is "the Lord"?
1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us there is but... one Lord Jesus Christ...." 
Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 
John 6:63(NLT) The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. -Jesus (see also 1Cor 8:4-6)
1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 
So, from whom does that one spirit come from? Answer: Jesus Christ -- His words -- the Spirit of the Lord.
Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?... 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Here, we see Peter saying that "the Holy Ghost" is "the Spirit of the Lord".
WHAT ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD THE FATHER? ISN'T THAT ANOTHER SPIRIT?
Matthew 10:20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. -Jesus
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. -Paul
Here, we saw Paul equate the "Spirit of God" with the "Spirit of Christ."
John 3:34 For he(Christ) whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him(Christ). 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. -John the Baptist
So, is the Father's Spirit different from Christ's? Answer: That one Spirit originates from Christ's Father("the only true God"-Jn17:3), given to His Son, without measure, commonly called the Holy Spirit - the Holy thoughts, words, and actions of the mind of God.
JESUS EXPLAINS THE "SPIRIT OF TRUTH" AND THE "COMFORTER"
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ...  10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works... 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you... 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. ... 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him... 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
According to Jesus, who is the "Spirit of truth"/"Comforter"/"Holy Ghost"?  
  1. Jesus is "the ...truth..." (John14:6).
  2. "The Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works"(John14:10).
  3. The Father would give another Comforter, which is the Spirit of truth(John14:16-17). If Jesus is "truth"(John14:6), then who/what is the Spirit of truth?
  4. What about that word "another", in verse 16? Another is translated from the Greek word "allos"(G243) which means "different", in other words He would come in another or different form, not in humanity but rather in the omnipresence of His divinity. While on Earth, Did Jesus ever appear in another form? Yes. In Mark 16:12, Jesus appeared to two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus in "another form":  (The full story is in Luke 24:13-35). In a similar way, Jesus comes to us now in "another form" as the Holy Spirit
  5. The disciples already knew the Spirit of truth because He was living with them then (John14:17). Who was living with the disciples when Jesus said this
  6. The Spirit of truth would live in them after Jesus left (John14:17).
  7. "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John14:18). Who will bring them/us comfort in the future?
  8. "Ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." (John14:20) Who just promised to be in you?
  9. Whoever loves Jesus, by keeping His commandments is loved of Jesus and His Father. And Jesus will manifest himself to them (John14:21). Who will manifest Himself to you?
  10. He and His Father "will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (John14:23) Who wants to make their abode with you?
  11. "The Comforter, ... is the Holy Ghost." (John14:26)
  12. "I go away, and come again unto you" (John14:28)
  13. Comforter=Spirit of truth=Holy Ghost (John14:16,17,18,26)
So, if I'm putting all of this together properly, Jesus said that He is the Spirit of truth(John14:6,16,17), the Comforter(John14:18), and the Holy Ghost(John14:26). Maybe that's how Jesus can live with & in us today (John14:17,18,20,21,23,28).
HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS?
John 14:6  Jesus saith... no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

One last question: When Jesus appears in the clouds of Glory, will you and I be "like Him"?