The Holy Spirit: The Third Person

 

The Third Person of the Holy Trinity gets the most attention in Charismatic Churches. He gets only a passing mention in Liturgical Churches, in the prayer, “In The Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen,” usually at water baptisms. The Apostle Paul tells us the baptism in the Spirit differs from the Water Baptism, 

“ Paul in Ephesus

[1] And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. [2] And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” [3] And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” [4] And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” [5] On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. [7] There were about twelve men in all.” (Acts 19:1-7). 

We receive the Holy Spirit when confess Jesus as Lord and believe in our hearts He was Crucified for our sins and rose from the dead. Scripture tells us the Holy Spirit proceeds (comes forth from) The Father and Jesus Christ, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you,” (John 14:26), “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me,“ (John 15:26), and “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22). So then The Apostles went once more to Upper room and receive the Gifts of the Spirit like tongues in Acts 2, sometimes called  The Baptism in Tongues of Fire, “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” (Acts 2:3), which alludes to John the Baptist saying, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11). Jesus calls this Baptism of the Spirit the Promise of the Father, “And while staying with them Jesus  ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”” (Acts 1:4-5). The Baptism of the Spirit (Acts 2, Acts 19) seems to be some kind of activation of the Power of the Holy Spirit inside a believer, which the apostle Paul called a different baptism that comes with laying on hands (Acts 19:6) rather than baptism in water. What we see is its importance, that Jesus tells us we must be baptized in the Holy Spirit! Just as we get baptized in water to make our public confession of faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). 

There is much resistance to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Church Leaders fear it, but then they are at variance with Scripture and Christ’s own directive! Jesus told us upon His departure back to heaven, He’d send us a Advocate, “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7). This is the Holy Spirit. 

Many false beliefs demote or remove the Holy Spirit altogether. Deists/Unitarians who are false-Christians don’t believe in Him. In Eastern Orthodoxy the Holy Ghost is considered separate from Jesus, proceeding only from the Father which violates the Scriptures (John 15:26, John 20:21-22, John 16:7) which says He proceeds from The Father and The Son. Origen erroneously called the Holy Spirit the least member of the Trinity, his bad theology confronted at the Council of Nicea. 

The Holy Spirit is Co-Equal with The Son Jesus Christ, and The Father. He is not a lesser God! He is One with The Father and Jesus Christ! They are not pyramid of hierarchy but equal and elevating one another.  What disheartens me is The Holy Spirit, save for in Charismatic circles, gets neglected, and is perhaps the most feared person of the Trinity because of “Tongues!” Oh My not Tongues! What will people do if they hear another language like Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew, Latin and etc?! That would be catastrophic! Sarcasm implied. 

Its no secret I am Continuationalist, I believe The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today. The Apostle Paul urges these gifts flow at all services!:

“Orderly Worship

[26] What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. [27] If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. [28] But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. [29] Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. [30] If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. [31] For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, [32] and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. [33] For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 

As in all the churches of the saints..” (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). Originally the Holy Spirit only came upon Prophets & Kings in the Old Testament era who had lived to the best of their ability, a holy life. This changed with Christ who cleansed us of all sin, dwells in us, which means The Holy Spirit now dwells in us too! This then turns all Christians into prophets, new song writers, discerners, tongue speakers, and etc! There is no caste system anymore! The Gifts of the Spirit are there for you to use! Just ask! If you have no one to lay hands on you to be baptized in the Spirit, lay hands on yourself and ask the Holy Spirit’s gifts to manifest through you! 

I wish to end by saying our God is The Father, The Son, and Holy Spirit, One God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity. If you neglect the Third Person, The Holy Spirit, you neglect God! For God is The Father, is Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit! You cannot avoid the Spirit! For Jesus even said, “God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.””(John 4:24)! You must open your heart to The Holy Spirit you already received when you believed in Jesus! Yes Jesus is the Door (John 10:9-16), He is our Savior who hung on the cross for our sins & rose from the dead, He is the Only Way to The Father (John 14:6), No Other Name saves us but Jesus (Acts 4:10-12), and Jesus tells us He sent The Third Person, The Advocate to us! (John 16:7, John 15:26). So to avoid the Holy Spirit and partnering with Him not only is to go against Christ and the Father who sent Him, but also the Holy Spirit is One with them! So if you neglect the Spirit you neglect the whole Trinity because they are One God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity. Amen.