Is The Holy Spirit A Person Or A Thing?

So you have read our previous article on what or who the Holy Spirit really is, where we shared over 30 names and attributes of the Holy Spirit. This article will go a step further by proving with biblical evidence whether the Holy Spirit is a person or a thing.

Growing up, I have always thought of the Holy Spirit as a Dove. Do you remember the baptism of Jesus? The Bible says the Heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended on Him like a Dove. So after all, it wasn’t wrong to think of the Spirit as a dove. And if a dove, then it is possible to conclude that the Spirit is a thing; not a person, right?

Until recently, I have always thought of the Spirit as a ‘thing’ and used the pronoun ‘it’ whenever referring to the Holy Spirit. Thank God I know better now. The truth of the matter is that the Holy Spirit is more than a dove. In fact, the Holy Spirit is a person; not a thing.

Here are some evidences in the Bible that prove the Holy Spirit is a PERSON not a THING:

1.    1. There are three in Heaven

In 1 John 5:7, the Bible says, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” Although the Bible did not clearly say the ‘three’ are persons or things, we can easily figure that out. How? We know the Father and the Word (Jesus), are all persons. So obviously the third entity (the Holy Spirit) is also a person, not a thing.

2.     2. Jesus categorically used the pronoun ‘he’ for the Holy Spirit

-         He shall testify of me… (John 15:26)

-         Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)

-         When he comes, he will reprove the world of sin… (John 16:8)

-         He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine… (John 16:14)

3.     3. The use of ‘him’ and ‘himself’ justifies that the Holy Spirit is a PERSON.

-         He shall not speak of himself… (John 16:13)

-         … the world don’t know him (John 14:17)

-         … but if I depart, I will send him… (John 16:7)

In view of the above references, it is evident that the Holy Spirit is a PERSON, and not a THING. He is the third person in the Godhead.

Did you find article helpful? Hit the +1 or 'Like' button below.

What or Who Is The Holy Spirit?

Growing up in Christ, the true personality of the Holy Spirit (also called The Holy Ghost) had always been confusion. So the question, “Who is the Holy Spirit?” used to be a big blow to me. In this post, I want to cover who the Holy Spirit really is, and whether the Holy Spirit is a person or a thing. Let’s go…

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit, also referred to as the Holy Ghost, is the third entity in the Godhead (the Trinity). The Holy Spirit has many attributes or names. Most of these names are as a result of the functions or roles that the Spirit plays in our lives.

Below is a list of some names of the Holy Spirit and their references in the Bible.

Some names and attributes of the Holy Spirit

Comforter (John 14:16, 26; 15:26, 16:7)

Spirit of Truth (John 14:17, 16:13, 1 John 4:6)

Holy Ghost (John 14:26)

Promise of the Father (Luke 24:49, Acts 2:33)

Breath of the Almighty (Job 33:4).
Eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14).
Free Spirit (Psalms 51:12).
God (Acts 5:3, 4).
Good Spirit (Nehemiah 9:20; Psalms 143:10).
Holy Spirit (Psalms 51:11; Luke 11:13; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30).
Power of the Highest (Luke 1:35).
Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15).
Spirit of burning (Isaiah 4:4).
Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 1:11).
Spirit of counsel (Isaiah 11:2).
Spirit of glory (1 Peter 4:14).
Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2; 1 Corinthians 2:11; Job 33:4).
Spirit of grace (Zechariah 12:10; Hebrews 10:29).
Spirit of holiness (Romans 1:4).
Spirit of judgment (Isaiah 4:4; 28:6).
Spirit of knowledge (Isaiah 11:2).
Spirit of life (Romans 8:2; Revelation 11:11).
Spirit of might (Isaiah 11:2).
Spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10).
Spirit of revelation (Ephesians 1:17).
Spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:20).
Spirit of the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).
Spirit of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2; Acts 5:9).
Spirit of the Lord God (Isaiah 61:1).
Spirit of the Son (Galatians 4:6).
Spirit of understanding (Isaiah 11:2).
Spirit of wisdom (Isaiah 11:2; Ephesians 1:17).
Spirit (Matthew 4:1; John 3:6; 1 Timothy 4:1).

(List provided by: Embassyofheaven.com)

Where Will You Spend Eternity - Heaven or Hell?

Does life ends at death? This question comes up because death is inevitable. Every human being once born is bound to die one day. In a previous post, we talked about a very important question: What happens when you die?

In this post, we want to look at the two destinations beyond the grave – Heaven and hell. Where will you spend eternity, Heaven or Hell? Many people, especially atheists and evolutionists don’t believe in a hell or Heaven. While it is possible to live a life of disbelieve in hell or Heaven, such unbelief does not change the reality of these two destinations beyond the grave.

Dr. Donald Whitaker, a physician atheist-convert who had a near death experience, acknowledged, “It is easy to be an atheist, but it very difficult to be an atheist on your death bed. You start to think, ‘What if truly God exists and there is a hell and a heaven?’” Dr. Whitaker after considering the possibility of a hell and a heaven repented and received Jesus Christ as his Saviour at the hospital and got healed from a deadly disease.

Heaven and hell are very real. Let’s consider this true story:

      There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 

 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 

 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 

 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

                                               -          Luke 16:19-31

New Year, New Resolutions... Same Hope, Same Jesus!

Days passed and the clock ticked, like a journey we made a ‘successful’ end to 2011. Although I couldn’t achieve all I planned to achieve in 2011, I am grateful to God for the mere fact that I made it to the end. If we look back, we will be greeted with the fact that we began 2011 with so many people who did not make it to the end. So for a fact, I am grateful to God for His Mercies, Love, and Grace showered on me throughout the past year.

How was New Year’s Eve with you? I was at church on New Year’s Eve. And few minutes before we entered 2012, a friend shouted, “Two minutes more.” Then we began to pray; thanking God for His goodness and mercies. We prayed our way into the New Year, and crowned it with singing and dancing to the glory of God who had dealt wondrously with us.

With all the anticipation and anxieties, 2012 is finally here and we’ll have to live it out. It is New Year, and of course, new resolutions. I don’t know about you, but I did not achieve all I wanted to achieve in 2011. But that is not keeping me from making new resolutions.

Talk of new resolutions, this question keeps crossing my mind: "Does the devil make New Year resolutions too?" I think he does. Think about this more seriously; what’s the number one thing that hindered the achievement of your resolutions for 2011? The Bible said, “The thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy, but [Jesus] came that we might have life and that we will have it more abundantly” – John 10:10. And if Jesus be for us, then no one can be against us. So as it is New Year and we are making new resolutions, the devil too will probably be making new resolutions against us. But No weapon formed against us shall prosper!

This year is the year of God’s divine governance. No weapon formed against us shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against us in judgment shall be condemned in Jesus’ name. The Lord had said that those that trust in Him shall be like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved nor shaken (Psalm 125:1). That is our portion for 2012; we shall not be moved nor shaken in Jesus’ name.