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Podcast 17: The Unique Personhood of the Holy Spirit

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My journey the last two years is summed up nicely in the last verse in 2 Corinthians.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

So far we have talked about the grace of Jesus, and the love of God, but we have only touched on the communion or fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

     I believe the Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood member of the Godhead. As I was growing up I only knew Him as mentioned in the Apostle’s Creed, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. To a child that conjures up some interesting images. But I am beginning to know and develop a relationship with the Spirit of God.

     In courses at Bible Schools or Seminaries, that study the trinity, often the title will say something like the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit. Before we talk about the work of the Spirit, I would like to focus on the Person of the third person of the Trinity.

In chapters 14 and 16 of John, there are 16 instances when the Spirit is referred to as He (12) and Him(4).

     John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

He, the Spirit, is also described with attributes that reinforce His distinct personhood, such as His mind, He prays, and He helps.

Helps-Intercedes-Mind
     Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

I hope as you listen you will see more scriptures that affirm the unique personhood of the third member of the Trinity.