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The Holy Ghost

Who is He?

 What is He?

 What does He do?

 How does He affect our lives?

As I study scripture, it’s my belief that no one can be a consistent believer of the Bible without holding to the doctrine of the tri-unity of the God Head. 1 John 5:7 states:

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Note: In this study, all scripture is quoted from the King James Version unless otherwise stated. All scriptures are italicized.

These are three separate individuals with one purpose, one goal in mind: to reach a lost mankind; to give them a chance to receive salvation and join in fellowship with God. We were created for this fellowship with God but foolishly let Satan steal it away.

God

  /\

  /             \

  /                       \

 Jesus Christ /______________\ Holy Ghost

In addition to the numberless references to the different persons of the Godhead found throughout the word of God, there are certain passages which refer to all three members of the Trinity. Note the word Trinity is not found in the Bible, but we use it to denote the tri-unity of God.

You might say everybody knows that, but not everyone believes in the Trinity. Some believers are “two-list.” They believe God is a person, that Jesus is a person, but the Holy Ghost is not a person; the Holy Ghost is the spirit or ghost of Jesus after He died on the cross. Jesus isn’t dead. He’s alive and well. I cannot personally believe this teaching. The Holy Ghost, as we shall see, has all the characteristics of being his own person.

Another belief is the “oneness” belief, which teaches that God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are not three, but all the same person. I don’t doubt the salvation of the “two-list” or the “oneness” believers. I do have trouble with their doctrines. If Jesus and God are the same person, then to whom did Jesus pray? Himself? I hardly think so. If Jesus, as scripture states, is seated at the right hand of God, then is Jesus seated at His own right hand? Again, I think not. A “oneness” believer once said to me there aren’t three Gods; there is only one God. I know I’m far from being smart. I, however, through the leading of the Holy Ghost, can see that the Godhead is made up of three individual persons, and all three work with one mind and in one accord; three in one and one in three.

The following scriptures prove a Divine Trinity of separate persons in the Godhead.

1. The word one means “one in unity as well as one in number.” It means unity in 1 John 5:7 as well as it does in John 17:11, 21-23.

1 John 5:7

For there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 John 17:11

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one; as we are.

 John 17:21-23

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Matthew 28:18-19

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

          Jesus is explaining the formula for water baptism. In this passage He’s giving us a look at the Godhead. In His own words He tells us there are three. “The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.” Water baptism does not wash away our sins and save us. Salvation comes when we repent of our sins and ask Jesus to come into our life. While salvation comes when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Master, water baptism is the outward sign to the world that there has been a change. It symbolizes the death of the old man of sin as we go under the water, and the new man in Christ Jesus as we rise out of the water. The water doesn’t save us; Jesus saves us by His blood washing us free from sin.

John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

2. These three persons, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, are spoken of as one, each in number and individuality in scripture. There is one God the Father, one Lord Jesus Christ, and one Holy Ghost. These three make up the one triune Godhead.

1 Corinthians. 8:6

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.

Ephesians 4:3-6

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and though all, and in you all.

There are three separate persons in divine individuality and divine plurality: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Each is a separate individual with his own likes and dislikes, his own personality and feelings. Yet, together they make up one Godhead; a tri-une Godhead; and a divine plurality consisting of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

The Father is called God (1 Corinthians 8:6); the Son is called God (Isaiah 9:6-7, Hebrews 1:8, St. John 1:1-2 and 20:28); and the Holy ghost is called God (Acts 5:3-4). As individual persons, each can be called God, and collectively they can be spoken of as God because of their perfect unity (Acts 2:32-33). 

1 Corinthians 8:6

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Hebrews 1:8

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

John 1:1-2

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.

John 20:28

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Acts 5:3-4

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Acts 2:32-33

32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

These scriptures reveal the truth of the tri-unity of the Godhead. A wealth of additional scriptures throughout the Bible further illustrate the triune nature of God. The last verse I leave with you on the Trinity or tri-unity of the Godhead is:

2 Corinthians 13:14

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

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