A Truth to Believe

What does it mean that God is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son as a distinct divine Person. He is fully God—of one essence with the Father and the Son—coequal and coeternal with them. Though He willingly submits in the order of divine relations, he is not inferior within the Godhead, but equal in power, glory, and majesty. Therefore, he is to be worshiped, loved, and obeyed together with the Father and the Son.

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force, energy, or influence. He is a divine Person who acts in perfect unity with the Father and the Son in all God’s works. In Scripture, he is often revealed as the One through whom God engages the world and carries out his divine will. The Holy Spirit is thus the powerful acting person within God's work among people and principally bears witness to the Son, Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the Giver of life, the Comforter, the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, our Intercessor, and our Teacher. He convicts the world of sin, dwells within believers, guides them into truth, strengthens and equips them for obedience, and brings to remembrance the words of Christ. He sanctifies God’s people, distributes spiritual gifts according to his will, and seals believers at the moment of salvation. Thus, the Spirit’s role is primarily one of speaking, applying salvation, and indwelling God’s people.

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 that I have said to you.

John 14:26

Something about Caregiving

As a caregiver, realize that you can do nothing apart from Christ. In fact, all that you have to give is first given to you by God. Jesus tells us in John 15:4–5, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." This means that

Your peace is an extension of God's peace in you:

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

Your patience is an extension of God's work in you:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

Your joy is an extension of Christ's joy in you:

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (John 17:13)

Your kindness is an extension of God's kindness to you:

Be king to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Your love is an extension of God's love for you:

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

Your hope is an extension of God's work in you:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may about in hope. (Romans 15:13)

We have nothing lovely in and of ourselves to give to others. Instead, all that we need to love and care for another is first found in God and comes to us from God through the work of God. As an extension of who God is, we serve ultimately to be a pointer back to the glory of our source of life.

A Quote

Aslan is a lion–the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

C.S. Lewis - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

A Resource

Sometimes it is helpful to deep dive into specific topics. One wonderful resource is the Gospel Coalition's theological essays written by a host of biblical scholars.