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FAQ – The Holy Spirit

Published since 15. Aug. 2025
Bible passages:
1 Cor. 2:13; 3:16; 6:19; 12:11,13; Eph. 1:13; 5:18; John 3:5; 4:24; 14:16,26; 16:7; Acts 2:1-4; Rom 8:14; 1 Cor. 12:11; 1 Pet. 1:11

1 Corinthians 2:13

"These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

1 Corinthians 3:16

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

1 Corinthians 6:19

"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?"

1 Corinthians 12:11,13

"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills... For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit."

Ephesians 1:13

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."

Ephesians 5:18

"And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,"

John 3:5

"Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'"

John 4:24

"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

John 14:16

"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—"

John 14:26

"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 16:7

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you."

Acts 2:1-4

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Romans 8:14

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."

1 Peter 1:11

"searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow."

 

  1. The Holy Spirit does not “speak of himself” (John 16:13). Does this mean we should not study this subject?

No. This verse does not suggest that the Holy Spirit does not speak about Himself. He does (see the many references quoted below). The point is that the Holy Spirit does not speak independently — that is, “out of” or “from” Himself. This is why it continues to say: “But whatsoever he shall hear he shall speak”. The Spirit speaks in harmony with, and in dependence on, the Father and the Son.

 

The Person of the Holy Spirit

  1. Does the Bible really teach that the Holy Spirit is a person?

Absolutely! It is true, of course, that the Holy Spirit is also spoken of as power (see Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49) but He is also a person. The Bible describes the Holy Spirit as acting in a way only a person can. For instance, the Spirit:

  • speaks (Acts 13:2; Heb. 3:7);
  • gives testimony (Heb. 10:15);
  • teaches (John 14:26);
  • calls (chooses) to service (Acts 13:2);
  • can be grieved (Eph. 4:30);
  • can be lied to (Acts 5:3);
  • has a will (1 Cor. 12:11);
  • has a view on what is good (Acts 15:28); and
  • can forbid (Acts 16:6–7).

Some have confounded the Holy Spirit with the human spirit of Christ as man. This is a fundamental error. The Holy Spirit is a divine person (see Q. 3).

 

  1. How do we know the Holy Spirit is God?

This is made very clear by several Bible passages:

  • the Holy Spirit is eternal (Heb. 9:14);
  • the Holy Spirit is coequal (on one level) with the Father and the Son (Matt. 28:19);
  • the Holy Spirit is omnipresent (Ps. 139:7);
  • the Holy Spirit is omniscient (1 Cor. 2:10–11);
  • the Holy Spirit is omnipotent (only God can create (Job 33:4) or raise up (1 Pet. 3:18)).

Acts 5 furnishes further proof: Peter charges Ananias with having lied to the Holy Spirit and, in the next verse, says: “You have not lied to men, but to God” (verses 3 and 4). Hence the Spirit is God.

 

  1. Did the Holy Spirit “come” or was He “sent”?

Both. He “came”, but He was also “sent” by the Father and “sent” by the Son:

  • “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send” (John 14:26);
  • “whom I will send to you” (John 15:26);
  • “I will send him to you” (John 16:7);
  • “when he, the Spirit of truth, is come” (John 16:13).

 

  1. The Holy Spirit was sent. Does this imply inferiority?

Absolutely not. The persons of the Godhead act in unison of counsel (they agree and work together) but undertake different tasks and activities to fulfill a common objective. The Spirit voluntarily takes the subject place of being sent (as does the Son — see John 3:16; 6:38, Phil 2,7, etc.). Yet there is no question of inferiority and both are absolutely on the same level (“coequal”) with the Father (see Q. 3)

 

  1. When did the Holy Spirit come to dwell on the earth?

In his farewell address to his disciples (John 14–16) the Lord still spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit as a future event (see Q. 4). The Holy Spirit could only come once Christ had suffered, died, risen and been glorified (John 7:39). Why? Because He was to testify of the glory Christ had received.

The Spirit actually came on the day of Pentecost (a Jewish feast – Acts 1:5; 2:1–4, 33). Since then the Holy Spirit has been dwelling on earth: in the believer and in the church (see Q. 13 and Q. 15).

 

  1. What do we know about His character?

In several passages, the Spirit is described with an attribute that gives us a glimpse of an aspect of His character. Here are some examples:

  • the Holy Spirit (many references, e. g. Acts 5:3);
  • the Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4);
  • the Spirit of grace (Zech. 12:10; Heb. 10:29);
  • the Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13);
  • the Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2);
  • the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9; 1 Pet. 1:11);
  • the Spirit of sonship or adoption (Rom. 8:15);
  • the Spirit of God’s Son (Gal. 4:6);
  • the Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16:7);
  • the Spirit of glory (1 Pet. 4:14);
  • the Spirit of God (1 Pet. 4:14);
  • the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11);
  • the Comforter (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7).

 

  1. What is “spiritual”?

Things or persons are called spiritual in contrast to those that are carnal [1], i. e. that have to do with the character of natural man. The Bible refers to several things as spiritual because the Holy Spirit gives character to them:

  • gift (Rom. 1:11);
  • the ministry of preaching or teaching (Rom. 15:27);
  • godly believers in contrast with certain carnally minded believers (1 Cor. 2:15; 3:1; 14:37; Gal. 6:1);
  • the part taken by saints in Christian assemblies, and among their fellow Christians (1 Cor. 12);
  • the whole of our blessings (Eph. 1:3);
  • our songs (Eph. 5:19);
  • the understanding of (spiritual) believers (Col. 1:9);
  • the house of which we form constituent parts, and our sacrifices (1 Pet. 2:5).

 

The Work of the Holy Spirit

  1. What are the main activities of the Holy Spirit?

We cannot underestimate the importance of the Spirit’s work. It touches virtually every area of our lives. This will become clear from the following list (which does not claim completeness!).

We can group the Spirit's activities into three categories:

(i) Activities outside of us

  • Inspiration;
  • Prophecy;

(ii) Activities to do with our salvation [2] / with a once-for-all effect

  • New birth;
  • Indwelling, sealing, and anointing;
  • Deliverance (see footnote in question 14);
  • Baptism: joining all believers together in one body;
  • Abiding with us forever;
  • Giving gifts;

(iii) Activities to do with our daily lives

  • Giving us knowledge of being children of God;
  • Helping us enjoy our relationship with the Father and the Son;
  • Guiding us;
  • Teaching us (presenting the glory of Christ);
  • Enabling us to receive the truth;
  • Leading us in worship;
  • Filling us;
  • Empowering us;
  • Enabling us to subdue the flesh (i. e. not to fulfill the lust of the flesh);
  • Producing the fruit of the Spirit in us;
  • Witnessing and supporting our witnessing;
  • Producing the unity of the Spirit in us;
  • Restoring and leading to repentance;
  • Making us long for the Lord’s return.

Let’s have a brief look at each of these in turn.

 

The Holy Spirit’s activities outside of us

  1. What was the role of the Holy Spirit in inspiration?

The Holy Spirit gave the very words of Scripture (“verbal inspiration”). In particular, we read that the Holy Spirit:

  • "moved” holy men of God to write the books of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:21) — that is, they did so under His power;
  • chose every word of the Holy Scriptures: “not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches” (1 Cor. 2:13);
  • speaks through the very words of Scripture. In Hebrews 10, before quoting from Jeremiah [3] the writer says: “The Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before …” (v. 15);
  • spoke through human instruments: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2).

The Holy Spirit used the personalities and styles of various writers but He did so in such a way that each word written was exactly what He wanted to be written (“verbal inspiration”).

 

  1. What was the role of the Holy Spirit in prophecy?

Prophets were people who uttered a message that came directly from God. Already during Old Testament times, it was the Spirit of Christ who testified in the prophets (1 Pet. 1:11). The Holy Spirit gave the prophets verbal as well as written utterances, both equally inspired. This still occurred in the early days of Christianity until the New Testament scriptures (the “prophetic scriptures” of Rom. 16:26) were completed (Col. 1:25).

 

The Holy Spirit’s activities concerning our salvation

  1. What does it mean to be “born of the Spirit”?

Natural man has a fallen nature (the Bible calls it “flesh”) which has neither ability nor inclination to please God (Rom. 8:5–9). But God, through the Holy Spirit, works on the soul of every man using the word of God to bring about a conviction of souls — in particular of their guilt and God’s holiness. In this way the miracle of new birth is brought about by water (the purifying action of the word of God) and Spirit (1 Pet. 1:23; John 3:5). At new birth, the believer receives a new nature (John 3:6), although without ever losing the old one, the flesh, while on earth (Rom. 7:18), and he is “sanctified by the Spirit” (1 Peter 1:2), i. e. set aside or reserved for God through the Holy Spirit.

 

  1. Who is indwelt by the Spirit?

This is a special privilege of Christians, or New Testament believers (John 14:17; Rom. 8:11; 2 Tim. 1:14). The indwelling of the Spirit occurs when a person believes the “gospel of … salvation” (Eph. 1:13). This involves believing in the work of Christ as well as His person. From this point onwards we are “sealed” with the Spirit (see Q. 40) so that the Holy Spirit “abides with us forever” (see Q. 16)

The believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). This is a great privilege but involves great responsibility: to use our bodies for the Lord’s glory (1 Cor. 6:13–20). This is the individual side. In addition, the Holy Spirit indwells the church (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:22). This is the collective side.

 

  1. How are we delivered from the power of sin?

A believer no longer needs to serve sin — sin no longer has dominion over him (Rom. 6:1, 2, 14). He has “died with Christ” and, therefore, sin no longer has any claims over him (Rom. 6:1-11). This is true of every believer – it is our “position”. In principle, therefore, a believer never needs to sin. He can just live his life for God. But this is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. If we try to please God in our strength we will fail. This is the painful process as described in Romans 7 (where a person, who is already born again, tries to please the Lord in his own strength but keeps failing). Once he realizes that sin still dwells in him (7:17) and that he cannot please God in his own strength but needs help from outside (7:24) that person finds full deliverance through the power of the Holy Spirit: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and of death” (Rom. 8:2). Then he can walk in the Spirit and, in this way, overcome the flesh (Q. 29).

 

  1. What exactly is meant by the baptism of, or with, the Holy Spirit?

John the Baptist stated that he had baptized with water but that one would come after him who would baptize with the Holy Spirit (and fire:[4] Matt. 3:11). Before His ascension the Lord announced that this baptism with the Spirit would occur after “not many days” (Acts 1:5). Ten days later, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven (Acts 2:1, 17, 33) to dwell on earth (in the believer and the church: see Q. 13). On this day the believers were “baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13).

The baptism of the Spirit, as such, only occurred once: when the church was formed. However, every believer today forms part of that body of Christ and can therefore be regarded as included in this Spirit baptism. The notion of a “second experience” being required is false (see Q. 46).

 

  1. What does it mean that the Holy Spirit “abides with us forever”?

We read “he will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever” and “But ye know him, for he abides with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16, 17). In the first instance, the statement that the Spirit would abide with the disciples forever is to show the contrast with the Lord Himself who had been with the disciples for a few years but was about to leave them. The Holy Spirit would always be with them, every day of their lives. In addition, it is also true that the Holy Spirit will be with us in eternity. This wonderful privilege of the permanent presence of the Spirit rests on the accomplished work of Christ on the cross and his glorification (John 7:39).

Old Testament believers did not enjoy this privilege. The Holy Spirit could come upon them (Jdg. 6:34) but could also be taken away (see Ps. 51:11). He did not dwell in them. New Testament believers, on the other hand, are “sealed” with Him forever (Q. 40).

 

  1. What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Spiritual gifts are special abilities given by the Holy Spirit, not to be confounded with natural abilities such as eloquence or a sharp mind (although God can make use of these). We read in 1 Corinthians 12: “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (v. 4). This chapter lists many spiritual gifts: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues (that is, languages), etc. All believers have received different gifts but they come from the same Spirit and should be used for the benefit of the whole body of Christ.

 

  1. Have I got a gift of the Spirit? How can I know?

The Spirit distributes the gifts “as he pleases” (1 Cor. 12:11). We should not focus on what we have received or might receive. Our job is to do the work the Lord shows us. Before long it will become clear (to us and others) what our gift is. Our responsibility is to use it “for profit” (1 Cor. 12:7) and out of love (1 Cor. 13).

 

Activities of the Holy Spirit with or in us (daily and in our practical life)

  1. How does the Holy Spirit give us the knowledge of being children of God?

He testifies with our spirits that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16). He does this by pointing us to Bible verses bringing out the truth that we are children of God (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1, 2, 10). At new birth we become children of God; but the Holy Spirit helps us to take in and to enjoy this truth.

 

  1. What is meant by the expression “the Comforter”?

This expression (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7) presents the Holy Spirit as the one who stands by believers and takes their matters in hand. We are not left as orphans (John 14:18) but supported by the Comforter. He helps us to enjoy our relationship with the Father and the Son (Q. 21) and to be witnesses in a hostile world (John 15:24–27).

 

  1. How does the Holy Spirit help us enjoy our relationship with the Father and the Son?

He does so by enabling us to appreciate the words Christ spoke on earth (John 14:26) including his revelation of the Father. He also testifies of Christ as He is now (15:26) and guides us into, that is, helps us to take in and appreciate, the whole truth, as well as future things (16:13). In this way He connects our hearts with Christ and with the Father. He also enables us to enjoy access to the Father: “For through him we have both access by one Spirit to the Father” (Eph. 2:18). The work of Christ is the basis for this access, and the Spirit gives us the power to enjoy and use it.

 

  1. How could the Lord describe His absence as an advantage for the disciples (John 16:7)?

Because He would send the Spirit who would testify of Him as the glorified Lord, enabling the disciples to enjoy a deeper relationship with Him and the Father (Q. 21). The Lord was with them, but the Holy Spirit would be in them, giving them a fuller understanding of the truth than they ever had when the Lord was on earth.

 

  1. What does it mean to be guided by the Holy Spirit?

Being led by the Holy Spirit is a characteristic of the sons of God (Rom. 8:14). This is in contrast to natural men who are “in the flesh” and cannot please God (Rom. 8:8). It is also in contrast to law-keeping (Gal. 5:18).

For us to be led by the Holy Spirit in practice, we have to be willing to do the Lord’s will rather than ours, ask Him for guidance, read the Scriptures (Acts 8:28–29; 16:6-10), and judge the impulses of our flesh (Rom. 8:13). The Spirit’s guidance will never contradict the Bible (it was given by the same Spirit, see Q. 10).

 

  1. How and what does the Holy Spirit teach us?

The Holy Spirit teaches us the glories of Christ (and the whole truth) by giving us an understanding of the Scriptures (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13–15; 1 John 2:27). He enables us to receive the truth (Q. 25).

 

  1. How can we receive the truth of God?

There are three important stages in the transmission of God’s truth to us, all of which are brought about by the Holy Spirit: its revelation by God (1 Cor. 2:10), its communication to us (1 Cor. 2:13), and its reception by us (1 Cor. 2:14–15). In other words: the Spirit knew all God’s thoughts and was able to express them in human language (“revelation”); He gave the very words that should be (and were) written in the Bible (“communication”), and now it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we receive the Word in our hearts.

 

  1. What is worship in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24)?

The Lord Jesus used this expression in His conversation with a woman from Samaria. She was used to an external and ceremonial worship, based on a mixture of heathen religion and Jewish rites (see 2 Ki. 17:24 ff.). The Lord explained that a new era was beginning and with it a new type of worship: “when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth” (v. 23).

Worshipping “in spirit” conveys that (i) Christian worship is spiritual as opposed to material (in particular, in contrast to Jewish worship: robes, buildings, incense, animal sacrifices) and (ii) the Holy Spirit guides the Christian worshipper as to what to express before God.

Worshipping “in truth” conveys that worship is based on the truth revealed, and that it should be real: we mean what we say and do not just recite things or pay lip service (Matt. 15:8; Isa. 29:13).

 

  1. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18)?

Every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Q. 13) but we are not all (and are not always) filled with the Holy Spirit — hence the exhortation “be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). Here, being filled with the Spirit is contrasted with being drunk with wine. The Christian should be controlled (not by wine but) by the Holy Spirit and guided by Him.

To be “filled” we need to make room — by judging and removing that which hinders the Spirit. If we only allow a guest into one room then he does not “fill” our house and cannot make his influence felt everywhere. For this to occur we have to open up the whole house to him.

When we are filled with the Spirit this will have a great impact on our joy, testimony, and service (see Luke 1:41, 67; Acts 4:8, 31; 13:9, 52).

 

  1. In what way does the Holy Spirit empower us?

The risen Lord had told His disciples: “you will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses …” (Acts 1:8; see also Luke 24:49). A few days later, on the day of Pentecost, this power in witness became apparent when Peter addressed the crowd and 3,000 people were saved. Today, the Holy Spirit empowers us for our testimony and gives strength to our “inner man” to appreciate the glories of Christ (Eph. 3:16). He energizes our service, our hope, and our joy (Rom. 14:17; 15:13; 1 Thess. 1:6). He does so by helping us to trust in God, in His word, and not in ourselves or men, etc. (see Zech. 4:6).

 

  1. Can the Holy Spirit help us overcome the flesh?

As born-again believers we have a new nature (Q. 12). This new nature has the right desires but lacks the power to act accordingly, or to overcome [5] the inclinations or promptings of the flesh (or sin) that still dwells in us (Rom. 7:15, 17). This is where the Holy Spirit comes in as the power that enables us to live in a way that pleases God (Rom. 8:4, 13). This does not mean that we overcome sin once and for all (we cannot) but that the only way to avoid giving in to the demands of the flesh is to walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5 gives us the divine problem statement “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh” (verse 17) as well as the divine answer: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall no way fulfill flesh’s lust” (verse 16).

By way of illustration: all the efforts of 1,000 men cannot move a train one inch. But when the driver turns the key, the power is there to move the train for miles. It is not the driver’s power that moves the train, but he removes the obstacle so that the power of the engine becomes effective. The same with us: if we remove that which hinders the Spirit, His power becomes effective.

 

  1. What is the fruit of the Spirit and how is it brought about?

The “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22–23) stands in contrast to the “works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19–21). It is one fruit but consists of nine components (love, joy, peace, etc.). Fruit is the reproduction of the features of Christ in believers who follow and imitate Him (John 15:8). It is through the Holy Spirit that these features of Christ are reproduced in our lives. This will happen to the extent that we walk in the Spirit (Q. 29).

 

  1. What is the Spirit’s role in witness?

Bearing witness is a central part of the Holy Spirit’s activities. This is in line with His character as the “Spirit of truth” (John 15:26, 16:13). Indeed, “the Spirit is the truth” (1 John 5:6–12). In particular, the Spirit gives witness:

  • to us: of the glory of the glorified Christ — what He “hears” in the glory is what He will testify of (John 16:13);
  • to us: of the fact that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16); and
  • to the world: of the gospel (Acts 5:31, 32). The disciples would have a hard time giving witness in a hostile word, but the Holy Spirit would also bear witness (to the disciples, showing them the glorified Christ as He is with the Father) and, in this way, He would strengthen their witness and make it effective (John 15:26–27).

The Spirit uses God’s word to give this testimony (see Heb. 10:15).

 

  1. What is the Spirit’s role in restoration?

The primary objective of the Holy Spirit is to help us enjoy the glories of Christ (John 16:14). However, when we have grieved the Holy Spirit (Q. 36) we will be unable to enjoy these things. In these circumstances His efforts with us will be focused on leading us to see and confess our failure and to return to the “joy of our salvation” (Ps. 51:12). This is borne out by the many practical exhortations in the New Testament epistles addressed to believers by the Holy Spirit for their restoration (see, for instance, the many exhortations in Eph. 4:17ff and 5:1ff). This is illustrated by two types:

  • The use of water on the occasion of the feet washing (John 13) speaks of the application of the word by the Holy Spirit.
  • The water of purification (Num. 19) was produced by putting the ashes of the red heifer into running water: a picture of the remembrance of Christ’s sufferings being made alive to us by the Spirit, and applied to us for cleansing and restoration (v. 17).

 

  1. What is the unity of the Spirit — and how can we keep it?

We need to distinguish the unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3) and the unity of the body (Eph. 4:4). The latter concerns the fact “there is one body”, which has always been true since Pentecost (Q. 6). No action or failure of man can ever change this. But regarding the unity of the Spirit, we are exhorted to keep it. We cannot make it but the Spirit brings it about in us if we act according to the word of God and the Spirit’s guidance –on the basis that there is one body. This also requires the qualities mentioned in the previous verse (humility, etc.). It is no easy task but requires “endeavor”. But it is worthwhile. It will mean harmony locally and between different assemblies, and dependence on the Spirit, being guided by and subject to Him.

 

  1. How does the Spirit make us long for the Lord’s return?

The Holy Spirit occupies us with the glories of Christ (Q. 24) and, in this way, makes us long for Him. In Revelation 22:17 the voice of the Holy Spirit and the voice of the bride (the church) merge into one: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come’! See also Galatians 5:5.

This is beautifully illustrated in Genesis 24 where Abraham’s servant (type of the Holy Spirit) shows Rebecca (type of the church) the glory and the greatness of Isaac (type of Christ) and then leads her to Him.

 

Our activities concerning the Holy Spirit

  1. What is meant by praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20)?

It means praying under the conscious guidance of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if we pray in the Holy Spirit we will express exactly the right requests in the right manner (see Eph. 6:18). We should be praying in the Holy Spirit, not to the Holy Spirit (see Q. 50). The Spirit is here, He is in us, and He forms and guides our prayers.

 

  1. What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit?

Believers should not, but can, grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). The surrounding verses give some examples of how and why this might occur: “corrupt words”, “bitterness”, “heat of passion”, “wrath”, “clamor”, “injurious language”, and “malice”. These things are examples of the (sinful) activity of the flesh. When a believer fails in this way the Holy Spirit will be grieved and, therefore, will not be able to help us enjoy the things of Christ, guide us further into the truth, and so on until the matter is confessed (see Q. 32).

 

  1. Is grieving the same as quenching the Holy Spirit?

Grieving is the effect of carelessness in our personal lives. Quenching is mentioned in connection with a lack of appreciation of prophetic ministry (1 Thess. 5:19–20). The word of God shows us that there are, or should be, regular meetings for edification where there is opportunity for prophesying (applying the word of God to the hearers in their current situation: see 1 Cor. 14:29). Unfortunately, in many Christian circles (so-called “churches”) no such opportunity is given, at least not every week. Where prophecy is held in low regard the Holy Spirit is quenched, which does not mean that He cannot work at all but that He will be severely constrained. This is a very serious matter.

But even where the doctrine of the guidance of the Spirit is held it is possible to hinder or even quench the Spirit through carnal activity or by following habits or tradition.

 

  1. What is meant by “insulting” the Spirit?

This expression occurs in Hebrews 10: “Who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and … has insulted the Spirit of grace” (v. 29). It is a question of an unbeliever who knows about the gospel but refuses it and in this way insults the Holy Spirit. If he does not repent from this position he will suffer eternal judgment (John 3:36).

In its immediate context, this verse refers to a Jew who had professed the Christian faith: one who had been sanctified by “the blood of the covenant’: he was set apart for God outwardly as belonging to God’s people and having professed to receive Christ as Messiah, and yet he now turned away from the sacrifice of Christ. But the principle and fate also apply to unbelievers today unless they accept Christ.

 

  1. What is “resisting” the Holy Spirit?

In the first instance, this is said of unbelievers who refuse to listen to and accept, the message God addresses to them (Acts 7:51). By extension, believers can also resist the working of the Spirit if they refuse His testimony — that is, do not obey the word of God.

 

Emblems and types of the Holy Spirit

Emblems are similar to types but not exactly the same thing: emblems are more generic items or objects (such as a seal) that represent another object or concept, while types are more specific people or things (such as “the servant in Luke 14”). However, both provide us with illustrations that help us understand the character or features of the person or matter they represent.

The Bible uses a remarkable number of emblems and types to bring home to us the many different ways in which the Holy Spirit serves and benefits us. The following is not a complete list but covers the main ones.

The first three emblems — sealing (Q. 40), unction (Q. 41), and earnest (Q. 42) — all speak of the blessing of being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but each expression shows us a different aspect of this blessing. Several other types or emblems are listed in Q. 43.

 

  1. What is the meaning of being “sealed” with the Holy Spirit?

Christians who have believed the gospel of salvation are “sealed” with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13; 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:22). The seal speaks of authenticity and authority (like the seal on a king’s letter: Esther 8:8) and of ownership (e. g. the seal on the foreheads in Rev. 7:3 ff.; 9:4). It also stands for finality: nobody can interfere (Dan. 6:17; Matt. 27:66; Rev. 20:3).

Accordingly, the believer who has been sealed with the Holy Spirit (i) is real or authentic (born again), (ii) belongs to God, and (iii) has this forever. Sealing occurs as a consequence of faith, not experience (Eph. 1:13).

 

  1. What is the meaning of “anointing” and “unction”?

In Old Testament times anointing occurred to receive a special task or office, for example as a king (1 Sam. 10:1; 16:13), a prophet (1 Ki. 19:16), or a priest (Ex. 28:41). The anointing (or “unction”, which is an alternative translation of the same Greek word) therefore speaks of being consecrated to a task or service, and of being equipped with insight (1 John 2:27) and power. This connection becomes particularly clear in the following references (which primarily speak about the Lord): Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38.

 

  1. What is the meaning of the Holy Spirit being the “earnest”?

“Earnest” is an old word for a deposit, down payment, or guarantee. When a buyer of a house pays the deposit you know he intends to pay the balance. In this sense, the Holy Spirit is called “the earnest of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14; 2 Cor. 5:5): God has already given us His Spirit, so He will also give us the future inheritance — to share in Christ’s universal dominion (Eph. 1:10, 22, 23). This is why it continues to say: “to the redemption of the acquired possession” (v. 14). It is a future redemption[6]: the inheritance is already ours but still needs to be “redeemed”, like a cheque you have already received but is only redeemed when it is presented to the bank.

 

  1. Are there other pictures or emblems of the Holy Spirit in the Bible?

1. The Oil

The oil more generally, and not only in the context of anointing (Q. 41), is also a picture of the Holy Spirit. Consider, for example, the following:

  • Oil gave light (Ex. 27:20–21; Zech. 4:2–6). The Holy Spirit illuminates and teaches (1 John 2:20, 27).
  • The vessels of the Tabernacle were anointed with oil to consecrate or sanctify them for God (Ex. 40:9; Lev. 8:10–12). The Holy Spirit sanctifies (1 Pet. 1:2).
  • The “oil in a cruse” (1 Ki. 17:12) shows the Spirit of God abiding with us forever (John 14:16) — without diminishing over time in any way, even if we share our blessings with others.
  • The vessels that had to be filled with oil (2 Ki. 4:2ff) show that believers should be filled with the Spirit.
  • The “Good Samaritan” poured oil in the wounds of the man who had fallen among thieves (Luke 10:34). This oil was for healing and overcoming the effects of sin. It is by the Spirit that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled (Rom. 8:4) and the activity of the flesh is subdued (Gal. 5:16).
  • The “oil of gladness” (Ps. 45:7) speaks of the joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17).
  • The “oil to make his face to shine” (Ps. 104:15) reminds us that, “looking on the glory of the Lord, with unveiled face”, we are transformed by the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).
  • The “holy oil” (Ps. 89:20) reminds us that the Spirit is holy and makes holy.
  1. Living Water

Water as such is a picture of the word of God, but living water speaks of the word being made alive and applied to our hearts by the Holy Spirit (John 4:10; 7:37–39). “Running water” in Numbers 19:17 has the same typical meaning. The Holy Spirit applies the word to our hearts.

  1. A Dove

John the baptist said: “I beheld the Spirit descending as a dove from heaven, and it abode upon him” (John 1:32). The dove is a clean bird. Genesis 8 shows that, unlike the raven, the dove was not comfortable in a surrounding marked by death and uncleanness and hence returned to Noah’s ark until the waters receded (vs. 8–9). But the Spirit could remain[7] on the Lord because He was sinless. The Spirit is pure and holy (Q. 7).

  1. Wind

‘Wind” and “spirit” are translations of the same Greek word (pneuma). In speaking of new birth the Lord compared the working of the Holy Spirit to the blowing of the wind: invisible, undefinable, and yet clearly detectable (John 3:8). The wind speaks of the Spirit’s mysterious and yet directed operation.

  1. A Sound of a violent blowing that filled the house (Acts 2:2)

Here we have a picture of the Spirit’s indwelling of, and powerful operation in, the church (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16; 12:6).

  1. Cloven Tongues

On the day of Pentecost, “there appeared to them parted tongues, as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them” (Acts 2:3). This sign accompanying the coming of the Holy Spirit shows two aspects of His operation: (i) the purifying effect through judgment of evil (fire); and (ii) the power for testimony (cloven tongues): not to the Jews only but also to Gentiles.

  1. The Servant in Genesis 24

This servant has the task of finding a bride for Isaac and of preparing her for, and bringing her to, Isaac, a picture of the Holy Spirit who is instrumental in forming the church and in awakening and kindling her affections for Christ, the Son, and heir. He shows us Christ’s glory (Q. 24) and makes us long for Him (Q. 34).

  1. Waters Flowing from the Smitten Rock (Ex. 17:5–6)

This rock, a type of Christ (1 Cor. 10:4), had to be smitten once with the staff of judgment. Then water flowed out. This shows that the gift of the Holy Spirit was consequent upon Christ’s bearing — once and for all — God’s judgment on the cross (John 7:39).

  1. Joshua

In Exodus 17:8–10, Moses is on the mountain praying for Israel. He is a picture of Christ interceding for us. Joshua, leading the battle in the plain, is also a type of Christ — but Christ in us by the Spirit, leading the battle and giving us the victory. Later, Joshua’s task was to bring the people into the land of Canaan and to lead the conquest of the land. This typifies Christ helping us to enjoy our spiritual blessings through the power of the Holy Spirit (see Eph. 3:1-19).

  1. The Cloud Filling the Temple

Solomon’s temple was filled with a cloud after the sacrifices had been offered (2 Chr. 5:6, 13, 14). This is a picture of the divine presence of the Holy Spirit in the assembly — based on the finished work of Christ (John 19:30; Eph. 2:22).

  1. The Innkeeper in Luke 10:35

The “Good Samaritan” (a picture of Christ) showed mercy to the man fallen among thieves. After attending to this man’s immediate needs he arranged for him to be looked after in an inn (perhaps a picture of an assembly), kept by an innkeeper, a type of the Holy Spirit. The Samaritan’s request was: “Take care of him”. We are not left as orphans. The Holy Spirit takes care of us and our concerns as the Comforter (Q. 16).

  1. The Servant in Luke 14

This servant asks men to come to the “great supper” (Luke 14:16) — a picture of the gospel feast of grace. In contrast to the parable in Matthew 22, here we have only one servant. He invites, reports back to his lord, receives commands from him, and “compels” people to come in: a fitting picture of the Spirit’s work in the hearts and consciences of men, making them sensitive to the gospel invitation.

  1. The Woman with Light in Luke 15

In this parable the three persons of the Godhead are shown to be active in the salvation of sinners: Christ typified by the man seeking the lost sheep, the Father typified by the Father receiving the prodigal son, and the Holy Spirit’s activity illustrated by the woman using the light to find the lost drachma. The Holy Spirit is engaged in the salvation of man by showing his lost condition in divine light.

  1. The Man Bearing a Pitcher in Luke 22

When Peter and John asked the Lord where they should prepare the Passover, He instructed them to enter the city and to follow a “man … bearing a pitcher of water” there (Luke 22:10). This man may be seen as an illustration of the Holy Spirit’s activity in leading and guiding us, using the word of God.

  1. The Porter in John 10

Only the good shepherd can enter by the door — that is, can demonstrate the credentials satisfying all the requirements of Messianic prophecy (son of David, born in Bethlehem, etc.). As the porter, the Holy Spirit opens the door for Him by demonstrating that the Scriptures clearly mark out and identify Christ as Messiah. John the baptist was one of many voices — albeit a very important and prominent one — used by the Holy Spirit in this process.

  1. Possible other types

Several further types have been suggested by various expositors and are listed here for prayerful consideration: (i) the cloud leading the people (Ex. 13:21; see also item 12 above); (ii) rain, especially the “latter rain” (Joel 2:23); (iii) dew (Ex. 16:13, 14); and (iv) the small gentle voice (1 Ki. 19:11).

 

Common misconceptions

  1. Should we ask to receive the Holy Spirit?

We read in Luke 11:13: “How much rather shall the Father who is of heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” These words were addressed by the Lord Jesus to His disciples — before his death, resurrection, and ascension, and before the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. But since that day the Holy Spirit has come. He now dwells on earth (Q. 15).

Christians do not need to ask for the Spirit to come. Once they believe in the finished work of Christ they are indwelt by the Spirit (Q. 13).

 

  1. How can I know I received the Holy Spirit? Do I need to speak in tongues?

No — the gift of tongues was given by the Spirit but only in the beginning and even then not to all (1 Cor. 12:29–30). So how then do we know we have received the Spirit? The plain answer is: because God said so (Eph. 1:13). It is true that we will also experience this (the assurance the Spirit gives us that we are children of God (Q. 19; Q. 21), the joy He gives, the way He opens up the Scriptures and so on) but the knowledge of His indwelling is based on the word of God, not on our experience (Rom. 8:11; 2 Tim. 1:14).

 

  1. Is it true that I need a special baptism of the Spirit or some “second experience” after I have been born again?

No. What we need is not some special experience, miraculous gifts, or the like, but faith in the gospel of our salvation (Eph. 1:13). Upon such faith we are sealed and the Spirit dwells in us and abides with us forever. But we do need to allow the Spirit to fill us (Q. 27)

Also note that being baptized with the Spirit does not imply spirituality. In Corinth, all believers were regarded as included in the baptism of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13) but most were carnal, not spiritual (1 Cor. 3:1).

 

  1. How do you recognize a Spirit-filled believer? Does he need to speak in tongues or perform other miracles?

Miraculous gifts (like speaking in tongues) were given in the beginning (Mark 16:17–18; Heb. 2:3–4). But this does not mean that every Spirit-filled believer has such gifts. The normal signs of being filled with the Spirit today are singing, joy, and power in service and testimony (Q. 27) as well as spiritual behavior (“walking according to the Spirit”, see Romans 8:4).

 

  1. What is the “special anointing” we keep hearing about?

Some teach that Christians can or should reach a higher level of spirituality, receive a “special anointing” of the Holy Spirit and, as a result, receive special power. The Bible also uses the term anointing (or “unction”) in connection with the Holy Spirit (Q. 41) but, interestingly, this is not said of the “fathers” or “young men” but of the “little children”, the youngest in the faith (1 John 2:18, 20, 27). Hence the anointing is a privilege of every believer, not just of the very advanced or spiritual ones.

 

  1. What does it mean to be “slain in the Spirit”?

This is not a Biblical expression —or a Biblical phenomenon. When people talk about being “slain in the Spirit” they normally refer to situations where, often through the influence of a “healer”, people lose control of themselves and fall over, normally backward. They claim that these experiences are brought about by the Holy Spirit. However, the many Bible passages speaking of the Holy Spirit and His power never mention any experiences of this type. In fact, they are in direct contradiction to the character (Q. 7) and the work (Q. 9) of the Holy Spirit as described in God’s word.

 

  1. Why not pray to the Holy Spirit?

First, the Bible neither asks us to nor does it give any examples of such practice (but many examples of prayer to the Father and the Son). But what is the reason for this? We have seen that the Holy Spirit is no less divine than the Father and the Son (Q 3), but His role is a different one. Our relationship is not so much directly with Him but with the Father and the Son (1 John 1:3), whereas the Spirit works to help us enjoy that relationship and fellowship (Q. 21). Further, we are asked to pray “in” the Spirit which, really, precludes the idea of praying “to” the Spirit (Q. 35).

 

  1. What is “the sin against the Holy Spirit”?

People often use this phrase but it does not occur in the Bible. Usually, they mean the “blasphemy of” (not “sin against”) the Holy Spirit (Q. 52). Every sin committed by a Christian is a sin against the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit dwells in them and is grieved by sin (Q. 36).

 

  1. What if I commit the blasphemy against the Spirit?

This question is related to Mark 3:29: “But whosoever shall speak injuriously against the Holy Spirit, to eternity has no forgiveness; but lies under the guilt of an everlasting sin”. The explanation is given in the next verse: “because they said, He has an unclean spirit”. The Lord had cast out demons in the power of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28). The crowds were amazed and said, “Is this man the Son of David?” but the Pharisees, against better knowledge, accused the Lord of casting out demons through the power of Satan (or Beelzebub) (see Matt 12:22–32). This action — seeing the evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit and ascribing it to Satan — was blasphemy. This blasphemy could not be forgiven because it implied the rejection of Christ.

Today, it is not possible to commit this sin because Christ is no longer on earth working miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

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Footnotes:

[1] Sometimes also in contrast to that which is material (see 1. Cor. 15:44).

[2] The Spirit also works with unbelievers to lead them to repentance (Gen. 6:3) – even if His work is being resisted (Heb. 10:29) and the persons concerned are never born again (this is also illustrated in the servant in Luke 14 (see Q. 43, item 12).

[3] Jeremiah 31:31-34.

[4] The baptism with fire refers to the judgment Christ will bring on those who have rejected Him. This is still future and hence completely distinct from Spirit baptism. John mentions both together to emphasize that they were far beyond what he was doing and that Christ would carry them out.

[5] In the sense of not listening or not responding to them.

[6] Our inheritance has already been purchased through the work of Christ but the day will come when it will be redeemed by power – set free from all adverse influence.

[7] It is only after redemption that the Holy Spirit can remain and dwell in man. See comments under point 12 (“the cloud”).

 

 

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