The Holy Spirit: God With Us and In Us

The Holy Spirit: God With Us and In Us

Among the most misunderstood doctrines in Christianity is the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Some reduce Him to a vague “force.” Others overemphasize ecstatic experiences. Still others neglect His role entirely. Yet, without the Holy Spirit, there is no power for the Christian life, no transformation, no Church, and no application of the gospel.

The Holy Spirit is God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. He has always existed, was active in creation, operated distinctly in the Old and New Testaments, and now dwells in believers to empower, sanctify, and equip them for ministry.

The Holy Spirit in the Trinity

Christian doctrine holds that God is triune: one God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal energy, nor is He the “junior member” of the Godhead. He is fully divine and personal.

• Acts 5:3–4 — Lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God.

• 2 Corinthians 3:17 — “Now the Lord is the Spirit.”

• Matthew 28:19 — Jesus commands baptism in the name (singular) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• Hebrews 9:14 — Refers to Him as the “eternal Spirit,” affirming His timeless nature.

• The Spirit has a mind (Romans 8:27), can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), speaks (Acts 13:2), teaches (John 14:26), and intercedes (Romans 8:26).

He is not an “it”—He is He, a divine person.

The Spirit from the Beginning

The Holy Spirit was present and active from the very beginning:

• Genesis 1:2 — “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”

• Job 33:4 — “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

• Psalm 104:30 — “When you send your Spirit, they are created.”

From creation to the call of the prophets, from empowering judges to guiding kings, the Spirit was never absent in the Old Testament. However, His indwelling presence as experienced by New Testament believers was unique to the New Covenant.

Old Testament vs. New Testament Operation

Old Testament:

In the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit came upon people for specific tasks or offices, but did not permanently indwell them.

• Judges 6:34 — The Spirit “clothed” Gideon.

• 1 Samuel 16:13–14 — The Spirit came upon David and departed from Saul.

• Exodus 31:3 — Bezalel was filled with the Spirit for craftsmanship.

These encounters were selective, temporary, and tied to leadership or service roles. The people longed for the day when the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28–29).

New Testament:

That day came at Pentecost (Acts 2), when the Holy Spirit was poured out on believers following the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. From that point forward, every true believer is indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

• John 14:17 — “He lives with you now and later will be in you.”

• Ephesians 1:13–14 — Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their inheritance.

• 1 Corinthians 3:16 — “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?”

The New Covenant gift of the Spirit is not partial, temporary, or limited to a select few—it is permanent and universal among all true Christians.

What the Holy Spirit Does for Believers

The work of the Spirit is multifaceted. Without Him, no one could be saved, sanctified, or equipped.

1. Convicts of Sin

   • John 16:8 — “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”

2. Regenerates and Saves

   • Titus 3:5 — “He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (LEB)

   • John 3:5–6 — “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

3. Indwells and Seals Believers

   • Romans 8:9 — “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him.”

   • Ephesians 1:13 — Sealed with the Spirit at the moment of belief.

4. Sanctifies and Transforms

   • Galatians 5:16–25 — Produces the fruit of the Spirit and helps crucify the desires of the flesh.

   • 2 Thessalonians 2:13 — Chosen for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit.

5. Leads and Teaches

   • Romans 8:14 — “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

   • John 14:26 — The Spirit teaches and reminds believers of Jesus’ words.

6. Empowers for Ministry

   • Acts 1:8 — “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

The Distribution of Spiritual Gifts

The Holy Spirit also gives spiritual gifts (χαρίσματα, charismata — Strong’s G5486) for the building up of the Church:

• 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 — Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning spirits, tongues, and interpretation.

• Romans 12:6–8 — Teaching, exhorting, giving, leadership, mercy.

• Ephesians 4:11–12 — Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers—given “to equip the saints for the work of ministry.”

Importantly, the Spirit sovereignly distributes these gifts:

“It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” (1 Corinthians 12:11)

The gifts are not signs of spiritual superiority but are tools for edifying the body of Christ in love (1 Corinthians 13).

Conclusion

The Holy Spirit is not an optional doctrine. He is God, the third person of the Trinity, actively at work in the world and within every true believer. He brings dead hearts to life, convicts the world of sin, empowers believers for ministry, and prepares the Church as the bride of Christ.

To know God rightly is to understand not only the Father who sends and the Son who saves, but also the Spirit who sanctifies, empowers, and dwells within. He is the Spirit of truth (John 16:13), the Comforter (John 14:16), and the seal of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13–14).