8. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

The Person of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person[1] of the Trinity, who proceeds eternally from the Father[2] and the Son.[3] He is equal in deity, attributes, and nature with the Father and the Son,[4] and with them is to be worshipped and glorified. The Spirit manifests God’s active presence in the world, giving life in God’s creation[5] and new creation.[6] Existing forever with the Father and the Son, the Spirit is the agent of all blessing to God’s creatures and makes possible communion with him. 

 

The Work of the Spirit Prior to Christ’s Coming

The eternal Spirit was present at the beginning of God’s creation,[7] carrying out the creative word of God[8] and giving life[9] to all things. In God’s work under the old covenant, the Spirit was present with God’s people[10] to consecrate, deliver, guide, and grant saving faith in the promises of God.[11] He empowered prophets to reveal God’s Word,[12]appointed elders to render judgment,[13] raised up judges to bring deliverance,[14] anointed priests and kings as his representatives, and inspired the record of old covenant revelation.[15] Through all the institutions and offices of the Old Testament, the Spirit’s work pointed to the ultimate revelation of God through his Son, Jesus Christ.[16]

 

The Work of the Spirit in Christ and the New Covenant

The Spirit’s work in the new covenant centers on Christ and the church. It is by the Spirit that Jesus Christ was conceived and born of a virgin,[17] anointed to fulfill his earthly ministry,[18] empowered to offer his life as a sacrifice,[19] and raised in resurrection power.[20] After Christ ascended to the Father’s right hand, the promised Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost and ushered in the new era of the Spirit’s fullness,[21] indwelling believers and empowering them for life and service.[22] The Spirit glorifies Christ and bears witness to him, convicting the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.[23] He inspired the record of new covenant revelation[24] and makes it effective in people’s hearts through the gift of regeneration.[25] He illuminates God’s Word to his people,[26] assures them of God’s love,[27] comforts them with his presence,[28] intercedes on their behalf,[29] and sanctifies them in conformity to the image of Christ.[30] The Spirit is the bond of our union with Christ,[31] the seal of our salvation,[32] the firstfruits of our redemption,[33] and the guarantee of our inheritance.[34]

 

[1] Scripture teaches that would-be followers of Christ ought to be “[baptized] in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19), which implies the equal authority and dignity of the name of the Holy Spirit, which represents his person. Moreover, Scripture consistently attributes to the Spirit characteristics and activities that properly belong to a person, e.g., Isa 63:10; Matt 12:24; Luke 12:12; John 14:26; Acts 5:3-4, 9; 7:59; 13:2-4; 20:28; Eph 4:30; 2 Cor 3:17-18.

[2] Prov 1:23; Isa 42:1; Luke 11:13; John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 1 Cor 2:10-12; Gal 3:5; 1 John 3:24.

[3] John 5:21; cf. John 6:63; 15:26; 16:7, 13-15; Acts 2:17-18, 33; Rom 8:9-11; Gal 4:6; 1 Pet 1:11; John 15:26.

[4] Lev 11:45; cf. Ps 51:11; 19:2; 139:7; 143:10; Isa 40:13-14; 63:1-11; Mic 3:8; Mark 10:18. See also Neh 9:20; Acts 1:8; Rom 1:4; 1 Cor 2:10-11; Titus 3:5; Heb 9:14; Rev 4:8.

[5] Gen 2:7; 6:3; Job 33:4; 34:14-15.

[6] John 3:1-15; 6:63; 7:37-39; Rom 8:11.

[7] Gen 1:2.

[8] Ps 33:6, 9; 104:30.

[9] Job 33:4; 34:14-15; cf. Isa 32:14-17.

[10] Deut 32:11-12 (cf. Isa 31:5; Gen 1:2); Ps 51:10-12; Isa 63:7-13; Hag 2:5; Zech 4:6.

[11] Gen 15:6; cf. Gal 3:5-6; Heb 11:8-10.

[12] Matt 22:43; Acts 1:16; 2 Pet 1:21.

[13] Num 11:16-17, 25.

[14] Judg 3:9-10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:24-25; 15:14.

[15] 1 Sam 10:9; 16:13; 2 Chron 24:20; 2 Tim 3:16.

[16] Heb 1:1-2; 7:23-24; 9:12; Matt 5:17-18; Mark 7:18-19; Luke 24:27; John 2:19, 21; 4:21, 23; 5:39, 46; Rom 10:4; 2 Cor 1:20. 

[17] Matt 1:18-20; Luke 1:35.

[18] Isa 11:1-3; 61:1; Matt 3:16; 12:28-32; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; 4:16-21; John 1:32-34; Acts 1:2; 10:38; Heb 2:4.

[19] Heb 9:14-15.

[20] Rom 1:4; 8:11; 1 Pet 3:18-20.

[21] John 14:2-4, 16, 25-26; 16:5-7; Acts 1:4, 8; 2:1-4, 16-21, 33.

[22] Luke 4:16-21; John 6:63; 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; 2:17-21; 1 Cor 12-14; Rom 14:17; 1 Tim 4:14; 1 Thess 5:19-21.

[23] John 16:8-11.

[24] John 14:17, 26; 16:13-15; 1 Cor 2:10-13; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 3:15-16; 1 Tim 5:18; cf. Luke 10:7; Matt 10:10; Deut 25:4.

[25] John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5.

[26] Eph 1:17-18; 1 Cor 2:12-14.

[27] Rom 5:5; Gal 4:6; Eph 3:16-19.

[28] John 16:7; Acts 9:31; 2 Cor 3:17-18; 13:14.

[29] Rom 8:26-27; John 16:7.

[30] Rom 8:13; 2 Cor 3:18; Gal 5:22-23.

[31] Eph 4:3; 1 Cor 12:12-13; Gal 4:6.

[32] 2 Cor 1:21-22; Eph 1:13; 4:30.

[33] Rom 8:23; 1 Cor 15:20, 23.

[34] Eph 1:13-14; cf. 2 Cor 1:22; 5:5.