The Third Person Pt. 1 Series

"The Third Person"

John 15:26-27

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Introduction: What is the Holy Spirit?

The Greek word that is translated Holy Spirit is PARACLETE. It means- "to call alongside for the purpose of helping, to exhort, to console, to encourage. Of all the doctrines of Scripture the one that is shrouded in the most mystery and the one that is the most difficult to understand and the one that has been the focus of more misinformation and misunderstanding is the truth surrounding the Holy Spirit, the One we call the Third Person of the Trinity. FWB's are Trinitarians that is we believe that the godhead consists of three personalities, God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Spirit (Holy Spirit). We believe that these three are separate yet one and the same! This belief in the Trinity is as difficult to understand today as it was in the early days of the church when believers were accused of worshipping more than one god because the Greeks and Romans in particular claimed that because of the teachings concerning the three persons of the godhead those early Christians were idolaters and polytheists! There is a lot more I could say on this subject but this morning I want to focus on the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity. First, let's examine some of:

I. THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

a. His nature

As the name implies the Holy Spirit or "Spirit of Truth" is a spirit, but more particularly He is the Spirit of God! Since He is a spirit He does not have a body per se.

In Matthew chapter 3 we have the record of the baptism of Jesus and in verses 13-17 we read:

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

b. His names

We've already mentioned the fact that the Holy Spirit is the Paraclete but He has many other names in Scripture and all of these names help to reveal more about His nature and work.

The Spirit of "Truth"

John 14:17 "Even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

The Spirit of "Wisdom and Understanding"

Isaiah 11:2 "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding ..."

The Spirit of "Counsel and Might"

Isaiah 11:2 "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might..."

The Spirit of "Knowledge and of the Fear of the LORD"

Isaiah 11:2 "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."

The Spirit of "Judgment"

Isaiah 4:4 "When the LORD shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of judgment ..."

The Spirit of "Burning"

Isaiah 4:4 "When the LORD shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of judgment, and by the Spirit of burning."

The Spirit of "Grace"

Hebrews 10:29 "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"

The Spirit of "Promise"

Ephesians 1:13 "In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise."

The Spirit of "Holiness"

Romans 1:4 "And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."