The Holy Spirit: Is He A Force?
| Q: What denotes a person? |
| Q: Would we say God (Jehovah) is a person? |
A: 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 person hood. A: To be a person or to have the attributes of person hood one must have the following attributes: Mind / Emotion / Will Please examine the Scripture quotations below with the concept of person hood in mind. |
| NWT 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. (No priest, prophet, apostle, minister or organization needed.) |
| 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. |
| 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.) |
| 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. |
| Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. |
| 1 Corinthians 2:10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. |
1 Corinthians 2:11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Q:It takes a mind to know the thoughts of God does it not ? Q:How can a force know things? |
| Romans 15:30 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, |
Ephesians 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption Q: How can an impersonal force, an energy field feel grieved? Does that make sense to you? |
Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. Q: How in the world can an unfeeling force comfort a living breathing human being? |
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: An inanimate force can never be self-aware would you agree?
Q: Why does the Holy Spirit personally choose Barnabas and Saul? Q: Does this not strike you as an example of the Holy Spirit's person hood and will? |
1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 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? |
Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go up and join this chariot. Q: Why is it that the Holy Spirit thought by some to be simply God's force can issue his own commands? |
| Lk 2:26,27 The Spirit reveals and moves |
| Jn 14:16-17 Spirit is a counselor and Spirit of truth |
| Jn 16:13 Spirit of truth, guides in all truth |
| Jn 14:26 Spirit is counselor, teacher, and a reminder |
| Neh 9:20 The Spirit instructs |
| Q: The Word is the source of God's message. The Word can be found in Jn 1:1-5, yet it is the Holy Spirit who reveals truth...how can this be? Why are they similar? |
| Why is He called God (Acts 5:3-5)? |
| How is it that He can teach, bear witness and guide in all truth (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:13)? |
Why can He be blasphemed (Matt.12:31,32, Luke 12:10))? Q: Why is it bad to speak against the Holy Spirit if he is a 'mere' force? Q: Co-incidentally why is it that we are not to use God's name in vain? Is there a connection? Q: Why is it that we are warned not to blaspheme God The Father, The Son and Holy Spirit? |
| How is it possible for Him to speak (Acts 28:25)? |
| How then can He be resisted (Acts 7:51)? |
| How can He help us in our weaknesses (Rom. 8:26)? |
| Why does he bring Glory to Christ. Jn 16:14 |
Q: Where in the Holy Scriptures does it declare the Holy Spirit to be a 'force' like electricity? Q: How do you reconcile the fact that the Holy Spirit grieves, speaks, comforts, brings glory, guides, witnesses, has a mind and a will but is not a person? Does this really make sense to you? |
| Acts 1:16 the Holy Spirit spoke through David |
| 1 Pet 1:11 Spirit of Christ was in the prophets |
| 1 Pet 1:12 Apostles were able to preach the gospel by the Holy Spirit |
| Jn14:18 I (Jesus) will come to you. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live in believers, and to have the Holy Spirit is to have Jesus (NIV p1911) |
| Eze 3:24 The Spirit came upon Ezekiel and spoke |
| Exe 11:5 The Spirit came upon Ezekiel and spoke |
Ephesians 3:19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Q: If God who is a person can fill us up, then should it not make sense that the Holy Spirit can fill us up to and be a person? |
| Mt 28:19 Go and baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (why would God want to equate the Father and the Son and with an impersonal force like the Holy Spirit?) |
| Q: Can an impersonal force intercede for personal beings to a personal father? |
*move this section below to hyper link
Holy Spirit is Creator Job 33:4 The Spirit of God creates Gen 1:2 Holy Spirit present at the creation of life Gen 1:26 Let us make man in our own image |
Holy Spirit is Omni-Present Ps 139:7-8 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens you are there;... |
God is Spirit Acts 3:17 /18 The Lord is the Spirit / Lord, who is the Spirit |
There is Only One Spirit Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit |
(1)* Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry J. Slick, B.A., M. Div. welcomes your comments via E-mail at mslick@connectnet.com
Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.