Holy Spirit

T

tjguitarz

New Member
What is the Holy Spirit?

My buddy is Muslim and we had a good talk about the similarities and differences between our two beliefs. He asked me what exactly what the Holy Spirit, and I didn't have a very good answer. Hence the question.
 
Good question. I've been mulling this over for a few minutes, doing some quick reading, and here are the two main ideas about how I can express what the Holy Spirit is.

1) The Spirit is an ethereal presence of God. It functions as a guide, a helper... a "gut instinct" at times.

2) In a way similar to your soul is different than your body (but still very much connected), the Spirit is different than the embodiment of Jesus - yet they're still of the same being (God in the Trinity). Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Ghost, Spirit of Truth would come upon them after He left (Acts 1-4:8, Acts 2, Joel 2:28-32).

In the same way that the people around us can influence our decisions, God uses the Spirit to talk to us, to give us visions, to help guide our thoughts, to give us spiritual protection, to strengthen us, to give us words. There are literally hundreds of references to the Spirit and what it does. Pretty much any of the adjectives that you can use to describe God come from things that the Spirit is doing.
 
I would say that I agree with the last theory. The holy spirit might also be that part within us that tells us if we're doing something wrong.
 
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Hmmm, good question...

When Adam and Eve at the fruit in the garden, one of the things that happened was that humankind became separated, spiritually (and physically) from God. That is bad.

When Jesus came down and lived with us, we were physically and most likely spiritually connected to God because, well, he was here.

When Jesus left us and went back up to Heaven, he said that he'd send us the Holy Spirit who would act as a comforter for us.

I guess a theory about the Holy Spirit is that he is a conduit for the presence of (and therefore for the believer, a relationship with) God. Of course that makes the Holy Spirit sound like a piece of mystical machinery, which he's not. The Holy Spirit is a Person, a member of the Godhead.

The Godhead is a totally different and more convoluted discussion.
 
Hi... I am new and don't have avatar access yet. :D <-- this will suffice. (edit: Obviously I do now... thanks admin) I am a 59 y/o Bible student (since '71), retired health care professional and I am excited to have found this forum. I have been a gamer since the earlier 80's when we wrote our own programs... so much easier now. Also, the Lord has me in a university Bible distance learning program... a challenge that I deem above medicine. Forgive my large offering of meat mixed with milk.

RE: Holy Spirit... this caught my eye first of all... though a few days old, perhaps this might assist...
I agree... this is a very essential answer for a disciple of Christ Jesus to present to a seeker of the Spirit of Truth.
The answers above are good. I love the explanation Jesus, the Word of God, gave concerning the Holy Spirit (aka Holy Ghost)...
(sidebar for interested) in Hebrew His Name is the Ruach HaKodesh; in Greek... Hagios Pneuma

"These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
(John 14:25-26 NKJV)

... and this is awesome...
"So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
(John 20:21-23 NKJV)

Indeed, He will teach us all things... if we are called to receive Him.
To receive Him is so simple, a believer in Jesus has this instruction from Peter...
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 2:38 NKJV)

... and this verse has gripped my heart when I was tempted...
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV)

One more (forgive me but a retired old man has time to research)... Jesus said...

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
(Luke 11:13 NKJV)


And, lastly, let us remember the Word says God is Spirit and Love...He is Holy.
Let us ask believing we have received... He is so gentle, kind and meek...
Be blessed this week... and keep looking up... Satan's days are numbered...
Get A Life... (aka Gary)... :)
 
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