Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, otherwise called the Spirit of God, is first and foremost a Person. He is not a breath, thing, force, or later-made-up concept, but a Person whom Jesus Himself introduces to us (Matt. 28:19). Several Scriptures reference or describe the Holy Spirit in ways that one could only use when speaking about a person:

– Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Genesis 1:2 NIV

– While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 13:2 NIV

– And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:27 NIV

– Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19 NIV

He is a member of the Triune God, equal in power, honour, divine nature, and glory to both the Father and the Son, but distinct in terms of the works He brings about. For example, it was not the Holy Spirit who died on the cross; Jesus, the Son, did. However, the Holy Spirit was the One who raised Him bodily from the grave on the third day (Rom. 8:11; Acts 13:30).

He is strictly for those of the fold (John 14:17). Anyone who is not a believer but claims to be operating by a spirit is not operating by the Spirit of God, but rather by a familiar spirit. In Acts 16:16–18, we get a better understanding of this when a girl whom Scripture describes as having a spirit of divination kept following Paul everywhere, declaring that he was a servant of God. Although she was not wrong, the spirit she was operating by could not have been the Holy Spirit because she was not a believer. This was later confirmed when Paul cast the spirit out of her. Only a person who believes and trusts in Jesus has the Holy Spirit.

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The Gift of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit becomes the advantage of all who believe and trust in Jesus. When Jesus was about to ascend into heaven, the disciples were distraught, worried that they might not be able to go on without Him. But Jesus told them that He would ask the Father to send them another Comforter (John 14:16). Jesus promised them—and us—the Holy Spirit so that we would not be left comfortless or helpless.

This is the very first advantage we have in Him. Acts 9:31 mentions the expansion of the Church in relation to the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit. How is it possible that the Church continues to grow despite the persecution believers face in different parts of the world? It is one of the advantages of the Holy Spirit’s comfort.

Jesus also speaks of the Holy Spirit as a teacher and guide (John 14:26; 16:13). He is given to us as a teacher to give us a better understanding of all that Jesus said, revealing Jesus to us more and more. He helps guard us against deception by guiding us into all truth.

In John 14:26, Jesus also calls Him the Helper. Romans 8:26–27 tells us that we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. He intercedes on our behalf according to the will of God.

As simple as Christianity is—believing in the Lord Jesus with our hearts and confessing Him as Lord—it still comes with responsibilities that a person walking in the ordinary cannot fulfil (Rom. 10:9). For example, evangelism, despite the knowledge that you could be reviled, ignored, or worse, persecuted for it, is not easy to carry out. But Acts 1:8 helps us understand that the Holy Spirit gives us power—the strength, the boldness, and the utterance—to be witnesses. He is the One who helps us in our walk with God.

Even in the Old Testament, we see specific individuals in whom the Holy Spirit operated, giving them supernatural advantage. Scripture records that Bezalel was filled with the Spirit of God and given uncommon wisdom and skill to construct the tabernacle and its furnishings (Exod. 31:1–6).

But following Jesus’ ascension, the Holy Spirit was poured out on believers, extending the promise of His empowering presence to all who believe. By the Spirit of God, we are empowered to do what we could not accomplish through our strength alone.

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The Holy Spirit helps us recognise the reality of our salvation. This happens in two phases.

The first phase is the evidence of our salvation, a tangible proof that we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. 2 Corinthians 5:5 describes the Holy Spirit as a guarantee, and Romans 8:15–16 tells us that the Holy Spirit bears witness that we are children of God. He is the proof of our salvation.

In the same vein, He is the deposit of our inheritance. By Jesus’ sacrifice, we gained access to so many things, including the blessing of salvation. However, as long as we remain in these earthly bodies, there are some promises we cannot fully inherit yet. The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit within us is a deposit of what is to come. Ephesians 1:13b–14 BSB explains that when we became believers, we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is a guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it. Until we reach the point where we can lay hold of those possessions, the Holy Spirit remains our pledge, down payment, or first instalment. He is the assurance of the greater things we will soon receive.

The second phase is the consciousness that we have been saved. According to John 16:8–11, the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. For believers, He reminds them of their righteousness. He helps us embrace the idea that we are justified not by works but by faith in the sacrifice of Jesus. This conviction eventually brings about good works through a process called transformation. It is easy to profess with our mouths that we are saved, but the witness of the Spirit in our hearts, minds, and actions affirms the truth of that profession. He brings the reality of our confession to life, transforming us from within and giving expression to the faith we profess. As Garrett Wikle of Watermark Community Church explains in his article, “Who Is the Holy Spirit?”, the Holy Spirit “is sent from the Father and the Son to apply Christ’s saving work to those who trust in Him.”

Still, in believers, He brings an awareness of attitudes, desires, and practices that are inconsistent with their new life in Christ, leading them to turn away from sin and walk in righteousness. For unbelievers, He exposes the reality of sin and their need for Christ.

The Holy Spirit is indeed a gift to every believer, and we have only begun to explore the depth of all that He is and all that He does in us. From His role in our salvation to His work in our daily walk with God, there is still so much more to learn about this wonderful gift of God.