God the Spirit

I regularly watch a famous TV pastor who uses the the phrase "Holy Spirit of God" or "God's Holy Spirit". I cringe each time I hear it because it subtly communicates the idea that the Holy Spirit is not a person.. the third person of the trinity. I do not want to give an exhaustive study on this but please consider these few verses:
"But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." -John 16:7
Jesus refers to the Spirit as "him".. because He is a person who can comfort and counsel us in a intimately personal way.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. -Romans 8:26-27
This passage tells us that the Spirit has a mind, He knows God's will and intercedes for us to that end. He is capable of thought and intercession.
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. -1Corinthians 12:11
This verse shows us that the Spirit has a will.. He gives gifts as He wills.

Well, I told you that this would not be exhasutive. Let me know if you agree or not.. and feel free to add scriptures to mine or pose alternate views.

5 comments:

  1. Nice little study of the Holy Spirit's Personhood. We get a little dove- and flame-minded and think of the Spirit as a pneuma, a breath, a force.

    My favorite image of the Spirit is what happened what the prophet Samuel anointed the young David, because "from that day on, the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David."

    Rushed. Rushed. The FORCE of the Holy Spirit takes some meditation.

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  2. I’m not sure if there’s anything to cringe about here Bob. If it’s OK to say “Son of God” or “God’s Only Son” then is it not OK to say “Spirit of God” or “God’s Holy Spirit”… ?

    Made me think of the relationship between John 1 and Genesis 1:

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

    In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

    Ahhhh, the mysteries of our faith!

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  3. Great points Ed. Maybe I am taking his comments wrong. I am okay with "God's Holy Son" and "Spirit of God" ... not sure why those other phrases strike the way they do.

    I guess we all equate "God" with "Father" ... but no one says "Father of God" even though it would be accurate because Jesus is God. I guess the real issue is the theology behind the words.. and I am comfortabe.. in the case of that pastor.. with his.

    Thanks for the insight Ed!

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