Chapter 2: The Deity of the Holy Spirit

I. The Trinity in the Shema

A. The Shema, the foundation stone of Judaism, is found in Deuteronomy 6:4.

1. The Hebrew word for God in the plural, “Elohim,” is used here again.

2. The Hebrew word for one is “echad” which is a compound unity rather than the word “yacheed” which is an absolute one.

II. Attributes of God in the Holy Spirit.

A. God is eternal. Hebrews 9:14 speaks of “the eternal Spirit.”

B. God is omniscient (Acts 15:18). Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:10–11 says the things of God are known only by the Spirit.

C. God is omnipresent. In Psalm 139:7 David says the Spirit is everywhere.

D. God is omnipotent. In Luke 1:35 the angel speaks of the Holy Spirit as the power of the Highest.

III. Works of God in the Holy Spirit

A. The Spirit was active in creation.

1. In Genesis 1:1 the plural word for God, “Elohim”, indicates that the Trinity worked together.

2. Genesis 1:2 speaks of the Spirit moving on the face of the waters.

3. Genesis 1:26 gives us a glimpse of the Trinity working in harmony to create man. “Let Us make man in Our image.”

4. Psalm 104:30 also speaks of the Spirit’s part in creation.

B. The Spirit gives life.

1. In 2 Corinthians 3:6, Paul says the letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2. In John 6:63 Jesus also says that the Spirit makes us alive.

3. Romans 8:10.

C. The Holy Spirit inspired the Bible. 2 Peter 1:21 declares that “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

D. The Holy Spirit works with the Father and the Son. 1 Corinthians 12:4–6 speaks of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the ministries of the church.

IV. Scriptures Relating God and the Holy Spirit

A. There are some Scriptures in the Old Testament that refer to God. In the New Testament the same Scriptures are ascribed to the Holy Spirit, which means they are one God.

1. Isaiah 6:8–10 refers to God speaking. Acts 28:25–27 quotes the same verse, but says the Holy Spirit said it.

2. In Jeremiah 31:31–33 God made a covenant. In Hebrews 10:15–17 it says the Holy Spirit made the covenant.

3. Psalm 95:7–11 speaks of hearing God’s voice. Hebrews 3:7–9 refers to the Holy Spirit speaking there.

B. There are some Scriptures that refer to the Holy Spirit as God.

1. Acts 5:1–11 tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira who “lied to the Holy Ghost.” Peter also says, “Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” Peter equated the Holy Spirit with God.

2. In 2 Corinthians 3:17–18, Paul speaks of the Lord as the Spirit and makes a direct association of One with the Other.

V. God Deals With Us By the Holy Spirit

A. We deal with God through Jesus (John 14:13 and Hebrews 4:16). God deals with us through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16).

B. When we exist on the fleshly level, we are ruled by our bodies, and our souls and spirits are in second and third place. When we are born again, our spirits are moved to the dominant position and the Holy Spirit takes control. He helps us to conform to the image of Christ.