Who Is the Holy Spirit—The Holy Ghost?
The Holy Spirit, also called the Holy Ghost, is not an impersonal force, religious influence, or emotional experience. He is the eternal God, the third Person of the Godhead. He possesses all the attributes of deity and performs works that only God can perform.
The titles “Holy Spirit” and “Holy Ghost” refer to the same divine Person. Both expressions are used in the King James Bible.
The Holy Ghost Is God
The deity of the Holy Ghost is plainly declared in the account of Ananias and Sapphira. Peter said:
“Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?”
—Acts 5:3
Peter then explained:
“Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”
—Acts 5:4
To lie to the Holy Ghost is to lie to God because the Holy Ghost is God.
The Holy Ghost is named together with the Father and the Son:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
—Matthew 28:19
Notice that the verse says “in the name,” singular, while naming three distinct Persons. There is one God eternally existing as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost is also a Person. He speaks, teaches, leads, commands, wills, reproves, and may be grieved. He is not merely the “power” of God.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things.”
—John 14:26
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
—Ephesians 4:30
An influence cannot teach, speak, exercise a will, or be grieved. These are the actions of a personal Being.
The Holy Ghost Convicts the Sinner
One of the Holy Ghost’s ministries toward the unsaved world is conviction.
Jesus said:
“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”
—John 16:8
The word “reprove” includes exposing, convincing, and bringing guilt to light. The Holy Ghost uses the Word of God to show the sinner:
- His guilt before God.
- The perfect righteousness found only in Jesus Christ.
- The certainty of coming judgment.
The Holy Ghost does not merely make a sinner feel sad or emotional. He brings the sinner face-to-face with the truth of his lost condition and his need of Christ. Nevertheless, the sinner must personally respond to that conviction by believing the gospel. The Holy Ghost does not force a man to be saved against his will.
The Holy Ghost Regenerates the Believing Sinner
Regeneration is the new birth. Jesus said:
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
—John 3:5
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
—John 3:6
A man’s first birth is physical. His second birth is spiritual. Regeneration is not baptism, church membership, moral reform, or religious ceremony. It is the work of the Holy Ghost by which the believing sinner receives spiritual life.
This new birth takes place when the sinner receives Jesus Christ by faith:
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
—John 1:12
The Bible does not teach the Calvinistic doctrine that a sinner must be regenerated before he can believe. The scriptural order is that the sinner hears the gospel, believes in Christ, and is then sealed by the Holy Spirit:
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”
—Ephesians 1:13
Regeneration is entirely a work of God, but it is received through personal faith in Jesus Christ—not through works, sacraments, or irresistible regeneration.
The Holy Ghost Indwells Every Believer
Every person who has truly received Jesus Christ is permanently indwelt by the Holy Ghost.
“Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
—Romans 8:9
The presence of the Holy Ghost is not limited to unusually spiritual Christians. Every born-again believer possesses the indwelling Spirit. A person without the Spirit of Christ is not an unfilled Christian; he is not a Christian at all.
Paul wrote:
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
—1 Corinthians 6:19
Under the Old Testament economy, God’s presence was especially associated with the tabernacle and temple. Under the present church age, the believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. This truth demands purity, separation from sin, and personal holiness.
The believer belongs to God and should glorify God in his body and spirit.
The Holy Ghost Seals the Saint
The Holy Ghost does not enter the believer temporarily and then leave when the believer fails. He seals the believer unto the day of redemption.
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
—Ephesians 4:30
The seal speaks of ownership, security, and the certainty of God’s completed redemption. The believer may grieve the Holy Ghost through sin, but the verse does not say that the Spirit departs. Instead, it says that the believer remains sealed “unto the day of redemption.”
The sealing ministry of the Holy Ghost supports the eternal security of the believer. Salvation is preserved by God’s power, not maintained by human works.
Although the believer’s union with Christ is secure, his fellowship with God may be hindered by sin:
“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.”
—1 John 1:6–7
Indwelling is permanent, but fellowship requires walking in the light and confessing known sin.
The Holy Ghost Gives Spiritual Gifts
God sovereignly gives spiritual gifts to believers for service within the body of Christ.
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
—1 Corinthians 12:4
“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
—1 Corinthians 12:11
Spiritual gifts are not selected according to personal ambition. The Holy Ghost distributes them “as he will.” God determines how each believer is equipped to serve.
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”
—Ephesians 4:7
Romans 12:3–8 lists such areas of service as prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, and showing mercy. These gifts are to be exercised humbly, faithfully, and for the edification of the church—not for personal recognition.
Every believer has a place of service, but not every believer has the same gift or function. First Corinthians 12 compares the church to a body with many members. The hand, eye, foot, and ear have different functions, yet each is necessary.
A spiritual gift is not a badge of superior spirituality. It is a stewardship to be used for the glory of God and the benefit of others.
The Temporary Sign Gifts
Certain gifts recorded in the New Testament were supernatural signs connected particularly with the apostolic period. These included tongues, miraculous healing, and revelatory prophecy.
The Bible foretold that these gifts would cease:
“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
—1 Corinthians 13:8
These gifts served a temporary purpose while the apostolic foundation was being laid and the New Testament revelation was being given.
Tongues Were a Sign
Biblical tongues were actual human languages, not unintelligible sounds or private prayer speech. At Pentecost, every man heard the apostles speak “in our own tongue, wherein we were born” (Acts 2:8).
Paul explained their sign purpose:
“In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people.”
—1 Corinthians 14:21
“Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not.”
—1 Corinthians 14:22
Tongues were especially a sign to unbelieving Israel. They authenticated the new revelation being delivered through Christ’s apostles. They were never given as proof that a believer was saved, Spirit-filled, or spiritually superior.
Modern charismatic speech consisting of ecstatic or unintelligible utterances does not match the biblical gift of tongues.
Miraculous Healing Authenticated the Apostles
The apostles possessed miraculous signs that confirmed their divine commission.
“Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”
—2 Corinthians 12:12
These signs accompanied the original apostolic witnesses and authenticated the message while the New Testament revelation was being established.
This does not mean that God no longer heals. God remains fully able to heal in answer to prayer and according to His sovereign will. However, no person today possesses the apostolic gift of healing—the ability to heal directly, immediately, and consistently as Christ and His apostles did.
Christians should pray for the sick and trust God’s wisdom, but they must reject fraudulent healers, commercialized “miracle” ministries, and the claim that physical healing is guaranteed to every believer.
Apostles and Prophets Were Foundational
Ephesians 4:11–12 explains that Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the perfecting and edifying of the saints.
The apostles and New Testament prophets had a foundational ministry:
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”
—Ephesians 2:20
A foundation is laid once. The apostolic office did not continue through an alleged succession, and no modern prophet is receiving new revelation from God. The completed Scriptures are sufficient for faith, doctrine, and Christian living.
Evangelists, pastors, and teachers continue to serve the church by preaching and teaching the completed Word of God. They do not add to it.
Walking in the Spirit
Although every believer is indwelt by the Holy Ghost, not every believer consistently walks in the Spirit.
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
—Galatians 5:16
To walk in the Spirit is to live in submission to the written Word of God. The Holy Ghost never leads contrary to Scripture, never produces confusion, and never glorifies man. His ministry always exalts the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Spirit-filled life is demonstrated not by spectacular signs but by obedience, holiness, biblical love, sound doctrine, faithful service, and the fruit of the Spirit.
Summary
The Holy Ghost is God and is equal in deity with the Father and the Son. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates the sinner who believes the gospel, permanently indwells every believer, and seals the saint unto the day of redemption.
The Holy Ghost sovereignly distributes spiritual gifts to believers for the edification of the church. No believer chooses or earns his gift, and no gift is given for personal pride or entertainment.
The miraculous sign gifts—including tongues, apostolic healing, and new revelation—were temporary. They authenticated the apostles and the message they preached during the foundational period of the church. Those signs have ceased, but the Holy Ghost continues His work through the complete Word of God, gospel preaching, biblical conviction, regeneration, sanctification, and faithful Christian service.
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