The Person Of The Holy Spirit Series

The Person of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit Part 1

2 Corinthians 13:14

(From Steve Meenho Kang, Live by the Spirit (Bloomington, IN: Westbow Press, 2022)

Today we are starting a new message series, “The Holy Spirit.”

During this series, we will examine topics that are related to the Holy Spirit.

Today we will talk about the person of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 13:14 is very familiar to all of us.

It is because this passage is often used to pronounce the benediction at the end of worship services.

Because this passage is so familiar to us, we tend to not think about the meaning and the importance of this passage.

However, this passage has important implications for our lives.

This passage tells us of the Triune nature of our God, and the persons and the ministries of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

This is why, in order to fully experience the work of the Holy Spirit daily in our lives, we need to understand this passage well.

I. We must correctly understand the doctrine of Trinity (v. 14).

2 Corinthians 13:14 says this.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Here the Apostle Paul mentioned God the Son, God the Father, and God the Spirit.

We believe in one God.

But we believe that in one Godhead, there are three distinct persons.

We call this belief the doctrine of Trinity.

The word “Trinity” is not mentioned in the Bible.

However, the idea of it is there in many places.

It indeed is one of the clearest inferences to be drawn from the Bible.

The simplest and clearest definition of the doctrine of the Trinity that I know is this: There are three distinct persons in one Godhead.

There is only one God.

But there are three distinct persons in one Godhead.

In other words, God the Father is not God the Son.

God the Son is not God the Holy Spirit.

God the Holy Spirit is not God the Father.

But there is only one God.

Even though this is one of the most important doctrines of our faith, it is often one of the most misunderstood doctrine of all.

Therefore, this morning, I want to give a simple quiz on the doctrine of the Trinity.

I will give four illustrations, and you have to decide which one best illustrates the doctrine of the Trinity.

Which one of these illustrations best illustrates one God in three person, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?

First, some believe that the doctrine of the Trinity is best illustrated by H2O.

H2O is one chemical component, but when it gets hot, it becomes steam.

When it gets cool, it becomes water.

And when it gets cold, it becomes ice.

H2O is one chemical component, but it shows itself in different forms.

This is the example number one.

Second, some believe that the doctrine of the Trinity is best illustrated by Sun in the sky.

There is only one Sun, but it gives out heat, light, and rays.

One Sun, but it gives out three different components.

This is the example number two.

Third, some believe that the doctrine of the Trinity is best illustrated by a pretzel.

There is one pretzel, but in it, there are three holes.

One pretzel, but three holes.

This is the example number three.

Fourth, some believe that the doctrine of the Trinity is best illustrated by a person.

There is only one Steve Meenho Kang.

But to my wife, I am her husband.

To my daughter, I am her father.

And to you, I am your pastor.

One person but three different roles.

This is example number four.

So, which one best illustrates the doctrine of the Trinity?

Number one, H2O.

Number two, sun in the sky.

Number three, pretzel.

Number four, me.

Number five, all of the above.

Number six, none of the above.

The correct answer is number six.

None of the above.

The doctrine of the Trinity states that there are three distinct persons in one God head.

There is only one God.

But there are three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

And none of these examples adequately explain this concept.

So, how can we explain the doctrine of the Trinity?

The answer is… we cannot.

Our knowledge is finite and there are some things in the Bible that we cannot totally comprehend.

And the doctrine of the Trinity is one of them.

Other examples include… the virgin birth of Jesus.

Can anyone explain this?

The authority of the Bible.

It is written by people, but it is 100% word of God.