What Does God Require of Us?
Questions for Lesson 2
Who Is God?
Lesson 2.3: What, though is the holy spirit? It is not a person like
God. Rather, it is God's active force.
Q: If the holy spirit is God's active force is he created or an extension
of God?
Q: If the holy spirit is an extension of God (God is indivisable)
then who is the holy spirit?
Acts 2:17 "AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, "THAT
I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND
YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND
YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
Q: God can pour out His spirit, yet he is a spirit. The Holy Spirit
according to the Bible is a spirit. They must therefore share the same
nature or substance or stuff...what does this mean to you?
Q: If you believe the Holy Spirit to be a force, then it follows that
God must be a force too right? (Remember God is indivisable-
he is not made up of 'parts')
Q: Is it not possible then that the Holy Spirit is Spirit (not a force)
as the Bible clearly illustrates A.K.A. GOD?
Q: Would you agree that a person must have the qualities of {mind(intellect)
/ will / emotions}?
I think that most would agree that God is a person because He is a distinct
entity, personality or individual. God possesses love, compassion, truth,
wisdom, a will, emotions, and creates. God is referred to as and refers
to Himself in the terms of 'He,' 'Me,' 'My,' 'I' and Whom' all which denote
personhood.
Q: Do you believe that Jehovah is a person?
Read the following Bible verses:
Jn 16:8 And when that one arrives he will give the world
convincing evidence concerning sin....(NWT)
Jn 16:13 he guides into all truth, for he will
not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears
he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming (No priest,
prophet, apostle, minister or organization needed.) (NWT )
Q: Why the use of pronouns if the Holy Spirit is not a person? Why
does the the bible refer to the Holy Spirit as 'he' and not it?
Q: Isn't it true that only persons are called 'he'?
Q: How can a force hear? Or act under 'its' own impluse?
Jn 14:26 But the counselor, the Holy Spirit , whom the Father
will send in my name...
Jn 14:17 the Spirit was to be in the Apostles (the world cannot
accept him, because it neither sees him or
knows him.)
Q: Do you think Christ chooses his words carefully? (Read the verses
above)
Q: Why does Christ use personal pronouns such as 'whom, he, him.'
Q: If Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit in personal terms and as a person
shouldn't you follow his example?
Acts 13:2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the
Holy Spirit said, Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for
the work to which I have called them.
Q: Here the Holy Spirit speaks with authority. Do you know of any 'forces'
ie electricity that can speak with his own authority?
Q: To be set apart...is to be Holy. How can a 'force' command and set
apart for God's work?
Romans 8:27 and He who searches
the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is,
because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. see
Isaiah 11:2 / 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
Q: How can a force have a mind?
Q: A mind implies what?
Q: It takes a mind to know the thoughts of God does it not ?
Q: How can a force know things?..especially God's thoughts!
Q: Can an impersonal / unfeeling / unthinking 'force' will something?
Q: Does one who wills suggest or imply a mind?
Q: Why does this verse infer that the Holy Spirit thinks or wills?
Ephesians 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of
God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (see Hebrews 10:29
/ Romans 15:30 / Acts 9:31)
Q: How can an impersonal force, an energy field feel grieved or love?
Does that make sense to you?
Q: Since when can a force or a thing be insulted? Only people can be
insulted...can you comment?
Q: Should we trust our preconceived notions about the Holy Spirit or
should we trust the words of Holy Scripture when it applies personhood
to the Holy Spirit?
Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your
heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the
land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it
was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived
this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to
God. Q: Who did Ananias lie to?
Q: Why does Peter refer to the Holy Spirit as God? "ie lied
to...God"
Q: If Peter calls the Holy Spirit God should you not believe this too?
The bible reveals some interesting characteristics regarding the Holy
Spirit. For instance, He is refered to with personal pronouns 'Him, He,
Whom,' the Spirit can love and be grieved, insulted, can command, will,
reveal truth and comfort....hmmm just like God the Father.
Q: Can you honestly and truthfully say the Holy Spirit is a force in
light of so many Bible passages?
