We know from Scripture that the Holy Spirit is a precious gift given to us by God — a holy person, fully part of God, sent to live within our hearts and connect us with our heavenly Father now that our savior, Jesus, has ascended. In other words, it is contaminated and motivated by the sinful... —our human nature—are in … Not an impersonal force or some type of inanimate power. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for Spirit, ruach, is considered feminine. He shares the strengths of God the Father and Jesus, such as omniscience, omnipotence, and eternality. — Deny the Holy Spirit. And Should You Do It? The work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life is an on-going process of becoming holy through sanctification. While many of us think of God as the Father and Jesus as the Son, many people have a difficult time understanding that the Holy Spirit is a person, too. We know Jesus was born as a man, so referring to Jesus as “Him” and “He,” or the “Son of God,” isn’t a difficult concept to grasp for most people. Learn more about the importance of the Holy Spirit in Christianity. It does not mean truth and love are females. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. This passage makes clear what the sin against the Holy Spirit is. As mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, outpourings of the Holy Spirit can include healing, prophecy, exorcism, and speaking in tongues. 18 Things the Holy Spirit Does Not Do (part 1/3), How The New Testament Will Start To Make Sense To You, What is the Unforgivable Sin? For example, in John 14:15-17, Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commands. To commit sin is to transgress or disobey these laws. The spiritual gifts that believers possess are given by the Holy Spirit as He determines in His wisdom (verse 11) The Holy Spirit also does work among unbelievers. The Holy Spirit is … The bodies of those in Christ are described as temples of God because the Holy Spirit is in us (1 Corinthians 6:19). (2 Thessalonians 2:14.) After all, Jesus called God the “Father” and referred to God as “He” and “Him” throughout His ministry on earth. Galatians 5:22-23 ESV / 3,356 helpful votes. What You Were Not Told in Church About the Good Samaritan. 2. God the Holy Spirit is a Person. In other denominations and movements, the Spirit is but a footnote, an afterthought, even a stranger. And Should You Do It? She has a weekly YouTube devotional, too. “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt (he will expose the guilt of the world) in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8 NIV) The Holy Spirit is not a vague, ethereal shadow, nor an impersonal force. Through the conviction and power of the Holy Spirit, believers will not indulge the sinful acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-21) but will bear the good fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). (part 2/2). What Is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit moved the prophets of God with the words of God (2 Peter 1:21). The lust to sin dwells in human nature. But again, this does not mean the Greeks thought of the Spirit as any less than a person. We can … What Pronoun Is Used for the Holy Spirit: He, She, or It? And Have You Blasphemed Against the Holy Spirit? A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. … Whenever Jesus is mentioned as using a pronoun for the Holy Spirit, Jesus uses male pronouns. 3, 1992, p. 260). But God as “beyond gender” is difficult for the human psyche to comprehend, so many take comfort in ascribing human characteristics to God. The Holy Spirit grieves – Isaiah 63:10, “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. The works of the Holy Spirit were revealed to … Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/georgi1969. The Holy Spirit is one of three persons in one God - God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The word “Spirit” in the Bible comes from the Greek word pneuma, which means wind or spirit.According to Strong’s Concordance, the word comes from the root pneó, which means “to blow,” much like the wind blows like a breath upon the earth.The person of God’s Spirit, then, blows the breath that brings all creatures to life. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright © 2021, Christianity.com. It’s not our responsibility to make people change their language the moment they choose to follow Him – It’s His, the Holy Spirit’s, responsibility. In its article about the Holy Spirit, The Anchor Bible Dictionary describes it as the “manifestation of divine presence and power perceptible especially in prophetic inspiration” (Vol. Enter your first name and email address below to get instant access. It is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will (Reasoning from the Scriptures 1985, 81). In Luke 1:15, John the Baptist was said to be "filled with the Holy Spirit" prior to birth, and the Holy Spirit came upon the Virgin Mary in Luke 1:35. Log in, Sharing God's grace to walk in fullness of identity and power. (part 1/2), What Does Fasting Look Like Under Grace? Jesus was clear that to be “born again,” to become a Christian, one must be born “of the Spirit… According to Strong’s Concordance, the word comes from the root pneó, which means “to blow,” much like the wind blows like a breath upon the earth. There, the word for “God,” Elohim, as in “God created the heavens and the earth…,” is masculine. For, Jesus said, “Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). Bible Verses about the Holy Spirit She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed. In some denominations and movements, the Holy Spirit is overemphasized, leading to a Christless Pentecost — putting the Spirit exclusively on the throne and losing Jesus in the temple. Whether we choose to use “he” or “she,” or even “it,” as long as we are in full understanding that the Holy Spirit is a person, a full and complete part of God, that is what matters. But we also know this is a human constraint we have ascribed to God, who is the Great I Am and the Almighty, creator of the universe and all that is within it. (part 2/2), You Don’t Need to Be a Superstar Christian to Heal the Sick, Do Your Best And…God WILL NOT Do The Rest, What Does Fasting Look Like Under Grace? The Bible makes it clear that the Holy Spirit and the flesh Sin is anything that goes against God’s will and His laws. Holy Spirit, in Christian belief, the third person of the Trinity. Does God Give Prophetic Dreams to Us Today? The Holy Spirit Is Considered as A “Gift” (Like an object, not a person) …and you shall receive the gift … Greek is also a gendered language, but it has three: Masculine, feminine, and neutral. Does the Holy Spirit Speak Through the Bible? Indeed, after Jesus ascended to heaven, after the resurrection, His promise was fulfilled. But does the Holy Spirit have a gender? What Does it Mean That the Word of God Is Alive? The Holy Spirit's name describes his chief attribute: He is a perfectly holy and spotless God, free of any sin or darkness. That means it ascribes certain words as “masculine” or “feminine.” It does this for the living —animals and people — as well as for the nonliving and inanimate, such as a house or wall or other objects. If we see God as our Father and Jesus as the Son, and we know the Holy Spirit is not a thing but a person, then it follows that we ascribe a gender to the Holy Spirit, too, as a way of helping us know the Holy Spirit and draw closer to the Spirit in our hearts, minds, and souls. He is a person equal in every way with God the Father and God the Son. Other words in Hebrew, such as truth and love, are also considered feminine. And Have You Blasphemed Against the Holy Spirit? But Spirit of God, in the next sentence, is feminine. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. They said Jesus did not work through the power of the Holy Spirit, but through the power of Satan. It is no surprise to you that God has a spirit, and the “spirit of God” is much different than the “Holy Spirit.” That is, the spirit of God (or spirit of the … He is not a power, an effect, or just energy. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:3-4). All rights reserved. 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” (Genesis 1:1-2). (part 1/2), A Mistake You Don’t Want to Make: Putting God First Place in Your Life (part1/6), 101 Reasons to go Wild with Your Untamed New Lover and Dump (the effects of) Your Outdated Demanding Husband (part 1/4), What is the Unforgivable Sin? It’s just that we only came to a fuller understanding of this Person of the Trinity after Jesus’ ascension. Jesus cast out devils through the power of the Holy Spirit, but the Pharisees denied this. Jesus sent Holy Spirit … The Holy Spirit has a roleIn turn, it is the Holy Spirit that pour’s out God’s love into the world. How Are Believers Empowered by the Holy Spirit? The word for Spirit in Hebrew is ruach, also meaning wind. Grab Your Free Books of the Bi ble Printable Here . Many people think of God as a male, too. He is considered to be the third member of the Godhead. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, … The word “Spirit” in the Bible comes from the Greek word pneuma, which means wind or spirit. Jesus has forgiven all your sins – past, present, future – by the sacrifice of … God the Holy Spirit does have energy (limitless), can affect things, and does have power (God’s power), but He is much more than these attributes. The Muslim interpretation of the Holy Spirit is generally consistent with other interpretations based upon the Old and the New Testaments. “Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up and join this chariot,’" Acts … Repeatedly the Scriptures reveal that God imparted divine inspiration to His prophets and servants through the Holy Spirit. Have you beg God to ‘show up’ or ‘come’ The Holy Spirit lives in you (John 14:17, 1 John 3:24, Rom. What Does it Mean That Jesus Is Our Advocate? Mary Baker Eddy, founder of “Christian Science,” characterized the third person of … What Is the Holy Spirit? He is our role model. The "Spirit of God" and the "Spirit of Christ" and "Christ" appear to be inseparable and almost interchangeable ways of describing the life-changing presence of God in the life of the believer. The Holy Spirit (Arabic: روح القدس Ruh al-Qudus, "the Spirit of Holiness") is mentioned four times in the Qur'an, where it acts as an agent of divine action or communication. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. God is all things and is therefore beyond time and physical characteristics such as gender or even an actual body. The Holy Spirit does not simply appear for the first time at Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus, but is present in the Gospel of Luke (in 1–2) prior to the birth of Jesus. The disciples were devastated at the prospect of their teacher and Messiah, Jesus, leaving them. The Holy Spirit was given to us to live inside those who believe in Jesus, so that we might become more like God and live righteous lives. … Rather, the Holy Spirit has been active with the Father and the Son from all eternity. But Jesus reassured them, telling them that while He knew they were grief-stricken, His going away was a good thing. The Holy Spirit is a person, and pronouns help us remember this in a more concrete, tangible way. The Holy Spirit did not just start to act at that time. This is what Jehovah Witnesses and other false Christian spin-off religions teach. This is the process of sanctification through the Holy Spirit, which leads us to partake of Jesus’ glory (His virtues). What pronoun is used for the Holy Spirit: he, she, or it? What Is the Significance of the Road to Emmaus? We are told throughout Scripture that this Holy Spirit is not an “it” but an actual being, a person who forms part of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Spirit, three in one. Note that this use of a female noun doesn’t mean the Jews considered the Holy Spirit a female entity. He is God revealed as a distinct member of the Trinity through His own divine personhood. The Holy Spirit is also a gift-giver. We are Christians, followers of Christ. It is the same word used in other places for Holy Spirit elsewhere in the Old Testament, such as Psalm 104:30 (“When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground”) or Isaiah 59:21 (“…My Spirit, who is on you…”). What follows are 50 things the Holy Spirit does according to the New Testament. Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at jessicabrodie.com. At the start of Scripture, it reads: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Many people prefer to use the same pronoun Jesus does for two key reasons: 1. The Holy Spirit is not a vague, gaseous cloud or shadow, nor a detached force. In Greek, its word for Spirit, pneuma, is gender-neutral. Convict you of your sin. We can’t do this on our own. As all the believers were gathered in one place on the Day of Pentecost, a rushing wind swept through the place, and the Bible tells us. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, which unlike English is a “gendered” language. The power of the Holy Spirit strengthens our will to endure in this process so that we do not lose heart, but can stand firm until the end! Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. The Holy Spirit is not a mere simultaneous manifestation of God. The Holy Spirit is not an it, he is God, the third person of the Trinity. 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Do not shun the work of the Holy Spirit within our lives. The Holy Ghost, as he is called in early New Testament texts, is a mystery. “Ruach Elohim” refers to the Spirit of God, and it is mentioned in Genesis 1:2 as there, in the beginning, hovering over the waters as God created the heavens and the earth from the empty, formless darkness (Genesis 1:1-2). Whichever way we choose to refer to God does not change God’s nature, and it is the same with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them.” And, Eph. It is the same with the Holy Spirit — some prefer a pronoun, some do not. It is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The fact that the “Holy Spirit” is another designation for God and not a separate “Person” in the Trinity explains why the “Holy Spirit” is never prayed to or worshipped, why it never sends greetings to believers, why it does not have a throne like God and Christ do, why believers are … Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Some people prefer not to use any pronoun for God, while others prefer to use the Bible’s traditional use of “He” and “Father,” and still others, particularly those who have had harmful experiences with males and fathers, prefer to view God as a mother or female. He helps you to do the Father’s will. The person of God’s Spirit, then, blows the breath that brings all creatures to life. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. We believe that God is one being who exists in three coequal and coeternal persons, who love and glorify one another; namely, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us we are to model our lives after Jesus. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them” (1 Corinthians 12:4). The grammatical gender of a word does not imply a physical gender. the holy spirit is the active force of God. What Is the Meaning of the Hebrew Word Ruach? (John 15:2,8.) But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”, And Jesus says in John 15:26, “When the Advocate 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.”. As long as we are in full understanding that the Holy Spirit is a person, a full and complete part of God, that is what matters. Some scriptures even talk about God having a womb and giving birth (Job 38:29) or comforting us like a mother (Isaiah 66:13). 101 Simple comparisons between law and grace to prevent condemnation and live in joyful freedom. We do the same thing with the Holy Spirit. Peter noted that “prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were move… Abiding in the Vine: Are You in Danger of Being Thrown Into the Fire? Whichever way we choose to refer to God does not change God’s nature, and it is the same with the Holy Spirit. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. When the Holy Spirit Is Speaking to You, He Will Focus on Producing the Fruits of the Spirit in You.