§ He has divine attributes
The New Testament speaks of the Holy Spirit as having at tributes that belong to the other members of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit has a mind. "He that searched the hearts know what is the mind of the Spirit." (Rom. 8: 27.) He empowers Peter on the day of Pentecost to preach the first gospel sermon (Acts 2: 1-18.) At different times he inspired Peter, James, John and Paul to write various books of the New Testament. All these actions indicate thought and a mind. The fact that the Holy Spirit has the attribute of volition is emphasized in the index pendent choice that the Holy Spirit makes. (Acts 16: 7.)
Paul was confident that the Holy Spirit was choosing for him the perfect way of God. (Acts 21: 11-14.) The Holy Spirit has the power of knowing; the fact that he had a mind is evidence с the power of thinking and knowing. »But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searched all things, yes the deep things of God. For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. 2: 10, 11.) The Spirit possesses individuality. This is another characteristic of personality. The word individuality includes personality of a particular kind. (John 16:7-11.) Individuality is undivided; it is indivisible.
Not only does individuality imply personality, but it affirms character. The Holy Spirit possesses character. (John 16: 13-15.) Whatever is predicted of the Father and Son is also ascribed to the Holy Spirit. The Father and the Son are life; so is the Spirit. (Job 33: 4; John 3: 5, 6.) God and Christ are light; so is the Spirit. (1 Cor. 2: 9-12.) God and the Son are love; so is the Spirit. (Rom. 5: 3-5.) There is no divine attribute which belongs to the Father and Son that may not likewise be j ascribed to the Spirit. The unity of the Godhead implies this, and the manifestations of the Spirit prove it. Hence, if we may speak of the character of God and Christ we may also speak of the character of the Holy Spirit. Every person has some influence; the Holy Spirit has influence. (Luke 24 : 46-49.) The Holy Spirit has influenced people to do things.
In no instance in all the Bible do we find where the Holy Spirit ever controlled men and did evil through them; he always worked that which was good. (Acts 6: 3; 2 Cor. 13: 14.) Hence, the influence of the Holy Spirit as a person is for good. The Holy Spirit has power to love. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me." (Rom. 15: 30.) Here the three members of the Godhead are mentioned. Throughout the Scriptures from their beginning (Gen. 1: 2) to their ending (Rev. 22: 17) we see God, the Word, and the Holy Spirit as divine beings living, speaking, acting, influencing, Blessing, reconciling, transforming, loving, and glorifying; the Holy Spirit is thus seen as not "a thing" or "it," but a glorious person, the Holy Spirit.
These attributes ascribable only to a person! The Holy Spirit as a divine person has the power of communicating thought to man; he has the power of speaking. "But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith." (1 Tim. 4: 1.)
The Holy Spirit speaks intelligently to intelligent creatures. This attribute belongs only to personality; again we conclude that the Holy Spirit is a person. One of the functions of the Holy Spirit was to be witness of Christ. "The Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father, he shall bear witness of me." (John 15: 26.)
This can be ascribed only to a person. The Holy Spirit has power to make intercessions, "And in like manner the Spirit also helped our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself market intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered." (Rom. 8: 26.) It is also declared that the Spirit has the power of seeing even "the deep things of God." (1 Cor. 2: 10.)
These attributes can be ascribed only to an intelligent personality. The Holy Spirit has the power of restraining, of forbidding. (Acts 16: 6.) This and other things said of the Spirit can be ascribed only to a person; hence, ail the attributes that we find revealed of the Holy Spirit belong to personality.
Paul was confident that the Holy Spirit was choosing for him the perfect way of God. (Acts 21: 11-14.) The Holy Spirit has the power of knowing; the fact that he had a mind is evidence с the power of thinking and knowing. »But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searched all things, yes the deep things of God. For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. 2: 10, 11.) The Spirit possesses individuality. This is another characteristic of personality. The word individuality includes personality of a particular kind. (John 16:7-11.) Individuality is undivided; it is indivisible.
Not only does individuality imply personality, but it affirms character. The Holy Spirit possesses character. (John 16: 13-15.) Whatever is predicted of the Father and Son is also ascribed to the Holy Spirit. The Father and the Son are life; so is the Spirit. (Job 33: 4; John 3: 5, 6.) God and Christ are light; so is the Spirit. (1 Cor. 2: 9-12.) God and the Son are love; so is the Spirit. (Rom. 5: 3-5.) There is no divine attribute which belongs to the Father and Son that may not likewise be j ascribed to the Spirit. The unity of the Godhead implies this, and the manifestations of the Spirit prove it. Hence, if we may speak of the character of God and Christ we may also speak of the character of the Holy Spirit. Every person has some influence; the Holy Spirit has influence. (Luke 24 : 46-49.) The Holy Spirit has influenced people to do things.
In no instance in all the Bible do we find where the Holy Spirit ever controlled men and did evil through them; he always worked that which was good. (Acts 6: 3; 2 Cor. 13: 14.) Hence, the influence of the Holy Spirit as a person is for good. The Holy Spirit has power to love. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me." (Rom. 15: 30.) Here the three members of the Godhead are mentioned. Throughout the Scriptures from their beginning (Gen. 1: 2) to their ending (Rev. 22: 17) we see God, the Word, and the Holy Spirit as divine beings living, speaking, acting, influencing, Blessing, reconciling, transforming, loving, and glorifying; the Holy Spirit is thus seen as not "a thing" or "it," but a glorious person, the Holy Spirit.
These attributes ascribable only to a person! The Holy Spirit as a divine person has the power of communicating thought to man; he has the power of speaking. "But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith." (1 Tim. 4: 1.)
The Holy Spirit speaks intelligently to intelligent creatures. This attribute belongs only to personality; again we conclude that the Holy Spirit is a person. One of the functions of the Holy Spirit was to be witness of Christ. "The Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father, he shall bear witness of me." (John 15: 26.)
This can be ascribed only to a person. The Holy Spirit has power to make intercessions, "And in like manner the Spirit also helped our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself market intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered." (Rom. 8: 26.) It is also declared that the Spirit has the power of seeing even "the deep things of God." (1 Cor. 2: 10.)
These attributes can be ascribed only to an intelligent personality. The Holy Spirit has the power of restraining, of forbidding. (Acts 16: 6.) This and other things said of the Spirit can be ascribed only to a person; hence, ail the attributes that we find revealed of the Holy Spirit belong to personality.
