John 16:7-15
Introduction
The doctrine of the Trinity and the distinct personalities of the Trinity have been attacked by false teaching. Throughout the church’s history, and particularly today, the personality of the Holy Spirit has been denied.
A. Sabellius (215 AD) taught that God revealed Himself in three different modes.
B. Arius (325 AD) called Him the “exerted energy of God,” and that the Spirit was the Son’s first creation.
C. Socinius (1517 AD) said the Holy Spirit was “a virtue or energy flowing from God to man.”
D. Arminius (1575 AD) replaced the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation with the human will, emphasizing human effort and freedom of will to make salvation a work of man rather than a work of God.
E. Neoorthodoxy and liberalism (1900s AD) denied the personality of the Holy Spirit; instead, they taught that the Spirit is a “force” of God.
F. Montanism (150 AD) and John Wimber’s Vineyard movement and Holy Laughter movement emphasize a new work of the Holy Spirit in giving new revelations that supercede Scripture; the Holy Spirit also manifests Himself in signs, wonders, and tongues.
Thesis: The Holy Spirit is a distinct and unique person of the Triune God.
Holy Spirit Possesses the Attributes of Personality.
A. Intellect
- The Holy Spirit knows and searches the things of God, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11.
- The Holy Spirit possesses a mind and is able to teach people, 1 Corinthians 2:13.
B. Emotion
- The Holy Spirit is grieved by sinful actions of believers, Ephesians 4:30.
- The Holy Spirit loves, Romans 15:30.
C. Will
- The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts according to His will, not the desire of believers, 1 Corinthians 12:11.
- The Holy Spirit directs the activities of God’s servants, Acts 16:6-12 (the Holy Spirit prevented Paul from preaching in Asia and Bithynia).
Holy Spirit Performs the Actions of Personality.
A. The Spirit teaches, John 14:6.
B. The Spirit testifies, John 15:26 and Romans 8:16.
C. The Spirit guides, Romans 8:14.
D. The Spirit convicts or convinces, John 16:7-8.
E. The Spirit restrains, Genesis 6:3 (restrains evil by striving with man).
F. The Spirit commands and directs people, Acts 8:29.
G. The Spirit performs miracles, Acts 8:39.
H. The Spirit calls for special service, Acts 13:2.
I. The Spirit sends forth into Christian service, Acts 13:4.
J. The Spirit intercedes, Romans 8:26.
Holy Spirit Receives the Ascriptions of Personality.
A. The Spirit can be obeyed, Acts 10:19-21a.
B. The Spirit can be lied to, Acts 5:3.
C. The Spirit can be resisted, Acts 7:51.
D. The Spirit can be grieved, Ephesians 4:30.
E. The Spirit can be reverenced, Psalm 51:11.
F. The Spirit can be blasphemed, Matthew 12:31.
G. The Spirit can be outraged, Hebrews 10:29.
Holy Spirit Contradicts the Accident of Personality.
A. The word for spirit, “pneuma,” is neuter.
B. The personal pronouns referring to the Holy Spirit is masculine, John 15:26; 16:13-14; Ephesians 1:14.