1. Since the Spirit is said to do that which is possible only for a person to do:

(1) He reproves the world, "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (Joh 16:8).

(2) He teaches, "He shall teach you all things" (Joh 14:26; Neh 9:20; Note, also, Joh 16:13-15; 1Jo 2:27).

(3) The Spirit speaks, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying, Abba, Father" (Gal 4:6).

(4) The Spirit maketh intercession, "But the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom 8:26).

(5) The Spirit leads, "led of the Spirit" (Gal 5:18. Comp. Act 8:29; Act 10:19; Act 13:2; Act 16:6-7; Act 20:23; Rom 8:14).

(6) The Spirit appoints the service of men, "The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them" (Act 13:2. Comp. Act 20:28).

(7) The Spirit is Himself subject to appointment (Joh 15:26).

(8) The Spirit ministers: He regenerates (Joh 3:6), He seals (Eph 4:30), He baptizes (1Co 12:13), He fills (Eph 5:18).

2. He is affected as a person by other beings:

(1) The Father sends Him into the world (Joh 14:16, Joh 14:26), and the Son sends Him into the world (Joh 16:7).

(2) Men may vex the Spirit (Isa 63:10), they may grieve Him (Eph 4:30), they may quench (resist) Him (1Th 5:19), they may blaspheme against Him (Mat 12:31), they may lie to Him (Act 5:3), they may do despite unto Him (Heb 10:29), they may speak against Him (Mat 12:32).

3. All Bible terms related to the Spirit imply His personality:

(1) He is called "Another Comforter" (Advocate), which indicates that He is as much a person as Christ (Joh 14:16-17, Joh 14:26; Joh 16:7; 1Jo 2:1-2).

(2) He is called a Spirit and in the same personal sense as God is called a Spirit (Joh 4:24).

(3) The pronouns used of the Spirit imply His personality. In the Greek language, the word spirit is a neuter noun which would naturally call for a neuter pronoun and in a few instances the neuter pronoun is used (Rom 8:16, Rom 8:26); but more often the masculine form of the pronoun is used thus emphasizing the fact of the personality of the Spirit (Joh 14:16-17; Joh 16:7-15).

1. He is called God. This fact will be seen by comparing Isa 6:8-9 with Act 28:25-26; Jer 31:31-34 with Heb 10:15-17 (Note, also, 2Co 3:18, R.V., and Act 5:3-4 -- "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? ... thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God"). Though the judgments of God have fallen so drastically on some who have lied against the Spirit (Act 5:3) and though men are evidently not permitted to swear in the name of the Holy Spirit and though He is called The Holy Spirit, it is certain that He is not more holy than the Father or the Son; absolute holiness being the primary attribute of the Triune God.

2. He has the attributes of God (Gen 1:2; Job 26:13; 1Co 2:9-11; Heb 9:14).

3. The Holy Spirit performs the works of God (Job 33:4; Psa 104:30; Luk 12:11-12; Act 1:5; Act 20:28; 1Co 6:11; 1Co 12:8-11; 2Pe 1:21).

Through meditation on the Word of God and through the experience gained by trusting the Spirit for His power, His guidance, and His instruction, the believer may come to realize the personality and sufficiency of the Holy Spirit, the importance and value of which is beyond all estimation.

1. What has tended to discredit the personality of the Holy Spirit?

2. What is the corrective against all false theories concerning the person and work of the Spirit?

3. Name eight activities predicated to the Spirit which prove that He is a person.

4. Name the proofs that He is a person which are based on His relation to other beings.

5. What are some of the titles by which the Spirit is designated which prove His personality?

6. Is it any discredit to the personality of God that He is called a spirit?

7. What are the proper pronouns to be used in speaking of the Spirit?

8. a. What is the gender of the word Spirit in the Greek language?

    b. How has this affected translations?

9. Indicate important passages which assign absolute deity to the Holy Spirit.

10. Who was punished for lying against the Spirit?

11. a. Is the Spirit more holy than the Father or the Son?

      b. Are men permitted to swear in His name?

      c. Do they swear in His name?

12. Indicate the Scriptures wherein the attributes of God are assigned to the Spirit.

13. Indicate the Scriptures wherein the Spirit is said to perform the works of God.

14. How may the Spirit become more real to the child of God?