Let us now discuss the role of God the Holy Spirit in the life of Christ and Christians.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, a Triune God who manifests himself as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each of whom is God in and of themselves. He is a true member of what is known as “the Godhead,” and He is an equal among them. He is the Creator Spirit, who existed before the universe was created, and with His might, God the Father created everything in Jesus Christ. Every act in the life of Jesus, as well as the work of redemption, required the presence of the Spirit of God.
The Comforter joins the believer to Christ and places him in the Church, which is the body of Jesus. Believers are redeemed, anointed, sealed, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit’s power. The Spirit of Truth unveils God’s thoughts to Christians, teaches them, and leads them into all truth, including the knowledge of the future. The Holy Ghost also assists and intercedes for believers in their times of need and weakness.
God the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
While God the Holy Spirit has always nourished all life (Job 27:3; 33:4), He has worked differently in the lives of various generations of men and women of faith. In the age before Abraham, the Holy Spirit is only referenced five times in the Scriptures, but His work of unveiling God to men is obvious in the amount of divine truth understood by people like Job and Noah.
The Holy Spirit came upon certain men in the period between Abraham and Christ—the Age of Israel—usually to expose the truth or prepare or enable them for service (Genesis 41:38; Exodus 28:3; 31:3; 35:31; Numbers 11:18–25; 27:18; Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6; 15:14; 1 Samuel 10:9–10; 16:13; Daniel 4:8; 5:11–14; 63; Zechariah. 4:3, 12–14). Believers may petition for the Holy Spirit (2 Kings 2:9–10), but they could also have Him taken away (Psalm 51:11).
The Role of God the Holy Spirit in the Life of Christ
Like the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is both personal and unique. Although all three members of the Trinity are equal and have the same divine nature (Isaiah 6:8–9; Jeremiah 31:31–34; 1 Corinthians 12:11; 2 Corinthians 13:14), their works are distinct. The Holy Spirit was deeply involved in Jesus Christ’s mission on Earth.
- Christ’s conception was a miracle effected by the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18).
- The Old Testament foretold the Holy Spirit’s sustaining work to the incarnate Christ (Isaiah 11:2–3; 42:1–4; Matthew 12:18–21).
- Christ received the Holy Spirit in abundance (John 3:34).
- During Christ’s earthly, public ministry, the Holy Spirit had a special relationship with Him (Matthew 3:16–17; 4:1; Mark 1:12).
- The Holy Spirit gave Christ’s earthly ministry its power (Matthew 12:28; Luke 4:14–15).
- The Holy Spirit withdrew from Christ at the cross of Calvary. The Holy Spirit did not sustain Jesus during the last three hours on the cross, while He was enduring spiritual death (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Psalm 22:1).
- In Christ’s resurrection, the Holy Spirit played a key role (Romans 1:4; 8:11; 1 Peter 3:18). Christ’s resurrection ministry was made possible by the Holy Spirit’s power (Acts 1:2).
- The Holy Spirit empowers the Body of Christ—the Church—today through the anointing of individual believers, just as He did during Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (1 Corinthians 12:7–13; Ephesians 5:17–18).
God the Holy Spirit in the New Testament
God the Holy Spirit resides in every believer in the Age of the Church (John 7:37–39; 14:16–17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19–20; Romans 8:9; Galatians 3:2; 4:6). By dwelling in individual believers, the Holy Spirit makes it possible for them to live a holy and faithful life. In times of trial, the Holy Spirit also acts as a comforter or Paraclete, someone who intercedes, strengthens or acts as a defender.
The Role of God the Holy Spirit in the Life of Christians
- The Holy Spirit is a teacher who reminds all that Jesus taught (John 14:26).
- The World is Convicted of Sin by the Spirit of God ( (John 16:7-8).
- The Holy Spirit abides in and anoints Believers ( (1 Corinthians 3:16).
- The Comforter is a fountain of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and might. He searches all things, even the Almighty’s deepest secrets (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
- The Holy Spirit leads us to every truth, even knowledge of the future (John 16:13-15).
- Believers receive spiritual gifts from the Comforter (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
- In the lives of believers, the Holy Spirit acts like a seal (Ephesians 1:13).
- The Spirit of Truth assists Christians in their weakness and intercedes on their behalf (Romans 8:26-27).
- Believers are reborn and given eternal life by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:10-11).
- The Spirit of God sanctifies and enables believers so that they bear good fruit in their lives (Galatians 5:16-21; Galatians 5:22-25).
Let us magnify the Father, glorify the Son, and adore the Spirit of God with confidence, the undivided Trinity, and Unity in essence. Let us pray that God the Holy Spirit, whom the Father has sent as the Comforter for all who believe, may complete his work in the world by filling, guiding, renewing, and transforming us.
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