Doctrinal Musing on the Holy Spirit

I believe in God-the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor 3:17-18; Heb 9:14), the third person of the Holy Trinity (Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Peter 1:1-2). The Holy Spirit has both unity and distinction within the Godhead and “is of one substance, majesty and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God,”¹ “and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified”² (Gen 1:2; Rom 1:4; Rom 8:2; 1 Cor 2:10-11; 1 Cor 6:11; 1 Pet 4:14).  The Holy Spirit was sent by the Father and the Son (John 15:26; John 16:7) as “the unseen yet active personal presence of God in the world”³ (Psa 139:7; John 3:8) in order to bear witness to Jesus⁴ (John 15:26; 1 John 4:2-3), continue Jesus’ redemptive ministry (John 14:12-17; Acts 1:8), and unite believers to Jesus⁵ (Titus 3:5). 

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and its consequences (John 16:8-11; 1 Cor 14:24-25) and “by his powerful and mysterious work regenerates spiritually dead sinners, awakening them to repentance and faith”⁶ (Ezek 36:26-27; John 3:5-8; 6:63; Eph 2:1-5). The Holy Spirit indwells believers (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 3:16; 2 Tim 1:14) and seals them, marking them out as belonging to God (2 Cor 1:21-22; Eph 1:13-14). He “guides, instructs, equips, revives, and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service”⁷ (Rom 8:14; 1 John 2:27; 1 Cor 12:3-7; 2 Cor 4:16; 2 Cor 3:18). He sanctifies believers enabling them to live holy lives dedicated to the service of God (Matt 3:11; Rom 8:13; Rom 15:16; 2 Thes 2:13).

The Holy Spirit wisely and sovereignly distributes gifts to the church for the edification and benefit of the body of Christ and for the witness in the world  (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Eph 4:11; 1 Pet 4:11). The Holy Spirit unifies the body of Christ (Acts 2:44-47; Eph 2:18-22; Eph 4:3). The Holy Spirit inspires prophecy, gives knowledge and inspired the writers of Scripture (Num 24:2-3; 2 Pet 1:21; 1 Cor 12:8; 2 Tim 3:16). The Holy Spirit assures believers of their final victory in Christ and assures their inheritance in the age to come in the eternal kingdom of God (2 Cor 5:5; Eph 1:13-14).  

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Footnotes:

¹Article V: “Of the Holy Ghost,” in Articles of Religion, https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/book-common-prayer/articles-religion#V ²Nicene Creed, https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/creeds/nicene-creed.  ³“The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit,” in A Reforming Catholic Confession, https://reformingcatholicconfession.com/. ⁴Affirmation 14: “The Power of the Holy Spirit” in The Lausanne Covenant, https://www.lausanne.org/content/covenant/lausanne-covenant. ⁵“The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit,” in A Reforming Catholic Confession, https://reformingcatholicconfession.com/. ⁶Confession 9: “The Power of the Holy Spirit,” in Foundational Documents-Confessional Statement at The Gospel Coalition, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/about/foundation-documents/. ⁷Confession 9: “The Power of the Holy Spirit,” in Foundational Documents-Confessional Statement at The Gospel Coalition, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/about/foundation-documents/#confessional-statement.