The Deity of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit: His Full & Genuine Deity

By Pastor Terry L. Reese, Valley GBC of Armagh; Jan. 23, AD 2022

 

The Historic Grace Brethren Statement of Faith:

Article IV: The Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit, in His personality (John 16:7-15), deity (Acts 5:3-4), and His work in each believer…

 

I. Last week, we saw that the Holy Spirit is a PERSON—not an impersonal “force” or some “diffusion of divine energy.”

 

II. Today we demonstrate that the Holy Spirit is truly and fully the Eternal GOD—not some created, lesser entity.

 

A. His association in Scripture with the Divine Persons of the Father & the Son in a manner that indicates equality would be blasphemous if He were not Divine Himself (Matt. 28:19).

 

B. He is bestowed with names & titles that are indicative of His full Deity, relating Him to other Persons of the Godhead (e.g., in Acts 16:7 He is called “the Spirit of Jesus;” in 1 Cor. 6:11, He is called “the Spirit of our God.”

 

C. In John 14:16, Jesus promises “another Helper” [i.e., another of the same kind]. Jesus, of course, is God, and it follows that the Spirit, who is of the same kind, is God.

 

D. He possesses attributes that are characteristic of Deity.

These include omniscience (1 Cor. 2:10), omnipresence (Ps. 139:7-10), omnipotence (Ps. 104:30; i.e., He is Creator), and eternality (Heb. 9:14). Further, He is holy (Matt. 12:32) & loving (Gal. 5:22), and is called the Spirit of truth (John 14:17).

 

E. He performs uniquely Divine labors. He is Creator (Gen.1:2, Ps. 33:6), Redeemer (e.g., His regenerative work; John 3:5-8), and Sustainer (Ps. 104:30). He possesses the power of Resurrection (Rom. 8:11).

 

F. He can be blasphemed (Matt. 12:31-32).

 

G. His indwelling makes us living Temples of God (1 Cor. 6:19).

 

H. He is directly referred to as GOD (Acts 5:3-4). When Ananias lied to the Spirit, He lied to GOD!

 

Acts 5:3-4: But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit… You have not lied to men but to God."