Is the Holy Spirit a Person?

Should You Believe in the Trinity?
Is Jesus Christ God?
WHAT is God’s holy spirit? In its opening words, the Bible speaks of the holy spirit—also rendered “God’s active force”—as “moving to and fro over the surface of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2) In the account of Jesus’ baptism, while God is described as being in “the heavens,” the holy spirit appears “descending like a dove” upon Jesus. (Matthew 3:16, 17) Additionally, Jesus spoke of the holy spirit as a “helper.”—John 14:16.

These and other Bible passages have led some to conclude that the holy spirit is a person, just as God, Jesus, and the angels are individual spirit persons. In fact, for centuries some of the most influential religions of Christendom have attributed personality to the holy spirit. Despite this long-standing doctrine, many church members remain confused, and some even disagree with their religious leaders. For instance, according to a recent survey, 61 percent of those interviewed believe that God’s spirit is “a symbol of God’s presence or power but is not a living entity.” What, though, does the Bible say?

What the Bible Says
An honest Bible reader cannot help but conclude that the holy spirit differs from official church descriptions of it as a person. Consider the following Bible accounts.

1. When Mary, the mother of Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth, the Bible says that the unborn child in Elizabeth’s womb leaped, “and Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit.” (Luke 1:41) Is it reasonable that a person would be “filled” with another person?

2. When John the Baptizer spoke to his disciples about Jesus as the one who would succeed him, John said: “I, for my part, baptize you with water . . . , but the one coming after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not fit to take off. That one will baptize you people with holy spirit.” (Matthew 3:11) John could hardly have been referring to the holy spirit as a person when he spoke of baptizing people with it.

3. While visiting a Roman army officer and his family, the apostle Peter spoke of Jesus as having been anointed by God “with holy spirit and power.” (Acts 10:38) Shortly afterward, “the holy spirit fell upon” the army officer’s household. The account says that many were amazed “because the free gift of the holy spirit was being poured out also upon people of the nations.” (Acts 10:44, 45) Here again, the terms used are inconsistent with the idea of the holy spirit being a person.

It is not unusual for God’s Word to personify things that are not a person. These include wisdom, discernment, sin, death, and undeserved kindness. (Proverbs 8:1–9:6; Romans 5:14, 17, 21; 6:12) Jesus himself said that “wisdom is proved righteous by all its children,” or its good results. (Luke 7:35) Clearly, wisdom is not a person that has literal children! Likewise, the holy spirit is not a person simply because in some instances it is personified.

What Is the Holy Spirit?
In the Bible, God’s holy spirit is identified as God’s power in action. Hence, an accurate translation of the Bible’s Hebrew text refers to God’s spirit as “God’s active force.” (Genesis 1:2) This concept is well supported throughout the Bible.—Micah 3:8; Luke 1:35; Acts 10:38.

Contrary to popular belief, God is not present everywhere at all times. Rather, he dwells in the spirit realm, in an “established place of dwelling,” or residence. (1 Kings 8:39; 2 Chronicles 6:39) The Scriptures also refer to a specific place where God lives and has his “throne.” (1 Kings 22:19; Isaiah 6:1; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 4:1-3) However, from his “established place of dwelling,” he can use his active force to reach out into every corner of both the spirit realm and the physical realm.—Psalm 139:7.

Back in 1879, Bible scholar Charles L. Ives aptly illustrated God’s ability to exercise his power from a fixed location. He wrote: “For example, we say, ‘Open the shutters, and let the sun come into the room.’ We mean, not the real, bodily sun, but the solar ray, that which proceeds from the sun.” Similarly, God has no need to travel to the locations where he intends to use his active force. He simply employs his holy spirit, which can reach to the extremities of creation. Seeing the holy spirit for what it is—God’s powerful active force—can give you confidence that Jehovah will fulfill his promises.

This is how they think. Truly, this is truth mixed with lies. So, how do I counter? Retta

This post was mentioned on Twitter by healtheland: RT @pngwolo: Does Jay-Z hate Jesus?: http://wp.me/pfw4E-9k...

That being said:

(2) God does hold man responsible for taking credit that belongs to him and him alone. See the horrible and public death that Herod went through because he did not give God the glory. Acts 12:20-25. I think the pastor made a valid point that should hit home with all of us. Give God the glory due his name!

Jay Z hates Jesus no more than I hated Jesus before I was saved, (or rather before I came into the realization of my salvation) no more than anyone else. My lifestyle, and not just speech, laid a heavier foundation for the hate I had for Jesus than anything Jay could ever create in all of his albums, no matter how black his may be.

A couple of friends and I listened to this song back when the album came out and heard the lyrics. Off top we accepted that it was more satanic revelry, but this accepted truth came only because we were 1) saved and 2) had already read SO MUCH about his free-mason associations and re-listened to so many of his older songs which carried the same demonic connotations.

Honestly, I may be a bit off on this and by God’s grace I can accept if I am, but I have problems with the idea of “stealing” glory from Jesus. From my very admittedly very limited understanding theologically, I am not sure that that is very sound. Jesus, being sovereign, is glorified in everything eventually, good and bad. We can see that most specifically in Saul of Tarsus who became Paul. I don’t believe that because Jay Z is blaspheming now Jesus will not be glorified. We don’t know, Jay Z may turn into a beast for Christ, can we say that it is impossible? Regardless, the modern say Simon must answer to Christ upon death or when Christ returns in “great glory” (Luke 21:27).

All in all, I appreciate the video. The man’s right in addressing the blatant blasphemy on a forum where many can see it. The focus on “stealing glory” really just bothered me.

Just trying to get some perspective. Thanks