Who Is the Holy Spirit? Understanding God's Presence in You
When it comes to understanding the things of the spirit, particularly the Holy Spirit, we have to first look at the foundation of life as it is written in the Bible. These questions are similar to asking "who is God," "who is Jesus," and ultimately, "who created God." Each of these topics deserves exploration, but if we stay focused on who the Holy Spirit is, we need to start at the beginning.
The Foundation: God as Trinity
In Genesis 1:26-27, we read something fascinating:
Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that move along the ground. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Notice the plural language: "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us." This points to the Trinity, which existed from the very beginning. The Trinity is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit, three persons in one eternal God.
Understanding the Trinity
We believe in one eternal God who is the Creator of all things. He exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is totally loving and completely holy.
This concept of the Trinity was present from creation. It was evidenced as the Israelites walked with God in the Old Testament (the cloud by day, pillar of fire by night) as God led them through the wilderness toward the promised land. The Trinity was further revealed in the miracle conception of Jesus through the virgin Mary, accomplished by the Holy Spirit.
What Is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, fully God and equal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is not a force, an energy, or an impersonal power. The Holy Spirit is God Himself in spirit form, actively present and working in the world and in the lives of believers.
From the very beginning of Scripture, we see the Holy Spirit's presence. Genesis 1:2 tells us "the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters" at creation. Throughout the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon specific people for specific purposes. But after Jesus' death and resurrection, something remarkable changed. The Holy Spirit now comes to dwell permanently within every believer, making each person's body a temple of God's presence.
So Who Is the Holy Spirit?
Here's the bottom line: The Holy Spirit is not an "it" or a thing. The Holy Spirit is a person.
The Holy Spirit is the spirit of the Lord that takes up residence in all who believe in faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is Lord of all, including their own life. When you accept Christ as Savior, the Bible says you are born again and the Holy Spirit indwells in you.
Where Does the Holy Spirit Live?
The believer's body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. What an incredible truth! Not only are we made in the image of the triune God, and not only was Jesus provided as the sacrificial lamb as atonement for our sins, but the Holy Spirit indwells in believers, providing direct connection to the Father and Son in heaven. That's remarkable!
In addition, we have the Holy Spirit as a connection point between all believers, truly making us brothers and sisters in the faith.
Key Scriptures About the Indwelling Spirit
John 14:16-17 - Jesus says, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth..."
Romans 8:9 - This verse highlights that having the Spirit of God dwell within is a mark of belonging to Christ: "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 Corinthians 3:16 - The Apostle Paul states that the believer's body is a temple of the Holy Spirit: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
Ephesians 3:16 - The Holy Spirit strengthens believers "with might by his Spirit in the inner man."
1 John 4:13 - This verse links the indwelling Spirit to the assurance of faith: "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit."
The Bigger Picture
Understanding the Holy Spirit means understanding the nature of God Himself. From a biblical worldview, God wasn't created by anyone or anything. Revelation 22:13, echoing Isaiah 44:6, declares: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
God is the very essence of beginning. There is none before Him and there will be none like Him, as Isaiah 45:5 states: "I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God."
The Holy Spirit, then, is God Himself dwelling within you, guiding you, comforting you, and strengthening you in your walk of faith. This is the incredible gift given to all who believe.
Why the Holy Spirit Matters in Your Daily Life
Other than the reality that the Holy Spirit is God-in-spirit living in us, the Holy Spirit provides us with a variety of benefits to live a life of victory. This isn't a full and exhaustive list, but these are the things that have helped me in my faith journey:
The Spirit Helps Us in Our Weakness
Romans 8:26 tells us that in our weakness, the Spirit helps us and intercedes with groanings. Sometimes we have incredible moments of weakness and are left without words. The Holy Spirit then, who has taken up residence in us, is interceding for us when we can't do it for ourselves.
The Spirit Strengthens Us with Kingdom Power
The Holy Spirit provides strength with power from on high (Acts 1:8). Ephesians 3:16 is also another great one, as we can rely on the Lord to strengthen us in a great way. This isn't strength we muster up ourselves, but power that comes directly from God.
The Holy Spirit Provides Wisdom
I can tell you firsthand that I've prayed for some of the most basic stuff and the Holy Spirit provided an answer. One time I asked the Lord which glue to buy to fix a foam airplane for my daughter. Guess what? I bought the opposite of what I heard in that "still small voice," and the glue destroyed the damaged area even more! God cares about the little details of our lives!
The Holy Spirit provides us wisdom through many scriptures:
1 Corinthians 2:6-8 - "We do speak wisdom, however, among the mature; but not a wisdom of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
Isaiah 11:2 - "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord."
1 Corinthians 12:8 - "For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit."
Ephesians 1:17 - "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him."
The Holy Spirit Provides Comfort
Every day people are hurting, dealing with loss, grief, and death. Jesus says in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit comforts us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 calls Him the God of all comfort.
The Holy Spirit Guides Us
John 16:13 and Galatians 5:16 show us that the Holy Spirit guides our life through directing our steps, speaking to us, and providing us with insights that we simply cannot explain. Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd, so the fact that the Holy Spirit guides is completely in line with the character of God.
Overall, the Holy Spirit Is Our Helper
We cannot live this life in our own strength. If we could, Jesus wouldn't be needed to be sacrificed in exchange for us. We cannot fix ourselves. We cannot will our way to righteousness, but we can rely on the Holy Spirit.
Jesus says in John 15:4 to remain in Him. This is the way of the believer. The world says "try harder," but the believer's life is "abide." The world says "grind harder," but Jesus says, "abide in Me."
The Holy Spirit is provided by the Father in heaven as a helper for every single detail of our lives. This is an opportunity to simply believe this truth. We live fast with tons of distractions, and yet we have the ability to step away and ask, "Holy Spirit, will you guide me? Will you provide me with the wisdom I simply don't have in my own self?"
Frequently Asked Questions About the Holy Spirit
Is the Holy Spirit a force or a person? The Holy Spirit is a person, not a force or energy. He has emotions, speaks, guides, and relates to believers personally. The Bible consistently refers to the Holy Spirit with personal pronouns and attributes.
How do I receive the Holy Spirit? When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you. It's not something you earn or work for, it's a gift that comes with salvation.
Can the Holy Spirit leave a believer? No. Jesus promised in John 14:16 that the Holy Spirit would be with believers forever. Once you are saved, the Holy Spirit permanently indwells in you.
How can I know if the Holy Spirit is speaking to me? The Holy Spirit will never contradict Scripture. His guidance brings peace, aligns with God's character, and often comes as a gentle nudge or conviction rather than confusion or fear.
What is the difference between the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost? There is no difference. "Holy Ghost" is simply an older English translation of the same Greek word. Modern translations use "Holy Spirit," but they refer to the same person of the Trinity.
