The Deity of the Holy Spirit

The answer to the question, “Is the Holy Spirit really God?”  Is an emphatic Yes!  This answer is not based on conjecture, opinion or hearsay.  It is based on the infallible inerrant word of God.  I will briefly present four lines of biblical evidence demonstrating the truth that the Holy Spirit is God.  This evidence is (1) the Holy Spirit bears the names of Deity; (2) the Holy Spirit exhibits the attributes of God; (3) the Holy Spirit is called God; and (4) the Holy Spirit performs the works of God.

The Holy Spirit Bears the Names of Deity (Divine Titles of The Spirit)

The title Spirit of God evidences His relationship to the Father and the Son and also affirms His deity. When the Holy Spirit is referred to as “the Spirit of God”, the truth that He is the very Person of God is being stated.  As 1 Corinthians 2:11 clearly shows the fact that as man and his spirit are one and the same being, so God and His Spirit are only one.  When the term Spirit of God is used, it is most often referring to the Holy Spirit rather than the Father, in the same way, when the term Spirit of Christis used it is usually a reference to the Holy Spirit.  If the term was intended for the Father, it would be most normal to use God, Father, and so on; if the term was intended for Christ, it would be most normal to use the name Jesus Christ, Christ, or Lord.  Let us consider the passage, Romans 8:9–11 in which all members of the Trinity are mentioned.  Specifically the expressions: “Spirit of God dwells in you” (v. 9); “Christ is in you” (v. 10); and “Spirit of Him (referring to the Father) who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you” (v. 11).  It is clear that “Spirit of God” refers to the Holy Spirit rather than to Christ or the Father.  And in Romans 8:9 and 8:13–14, it is clear that “Spirit” and “Spirit of God” are synonyms making reference to the third person of the Trinity; the Holy Spirit.  Additionally, Ephesians 4:4 states there is only one Spirit, indicating that there is not a separate “Spirit of God” and a separate “Spirit of Christ”.

The Holy Spirit Exhibits the Attributes of God (Divine Attributes of the Spirit)

The Holy Spirit possesses divine attributes or the characteristics that are only possessed by God.  These attributes being (1) Omniscience; (2) Omnipotence; and (3) Omnipresence.

1. Omniscience (1 Cor. 2:10–12).  The spirit of man (the human spirit) knows the things pertaining to humanity; the Holy Spirit knows the things pertaining to God. The Holy Spirit searches the depths of God (1 Cor. 2:10); the term depth refers to the knowledge of God.  It is unfathomable to man, but God the Holy Spirit knows that which is unsearchable and unfathomable (Rom. 11:33).
2. Omnipotence (Genesis 1:2).  The Omnipotence of the Holy Spirit is seen in creation.  In Genesis 1:2 the Holy Spirit is seen brooding over creation as a hen over its young; the Holy Spirit gave life to creation.  The Holy Spirit also gives spiritual life to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:5-7).
3. Omnipresence (Ps. 139:7–10; John 14:17).  In Psalm 139 David exclaims that He cannot flee from the presence of the Holy Spirit; if he ascends to heaven, He is there; if he descends into the depths of the earth, the Spirit is there also. Even if he could fly away swiftly, he could not escape the presence of the Spirit.  The Omnipresence of the Spirit is also taught in John 14:17 where Christ taught the disciples that the Spirit would indwell them all, an affirmation of the Spirit’s Omnipresence.

The Holy Spirit Is Called God.

In Acts 5:3-4, the deity of the Holy Spirit is affirmed in that Peter refers to Ananias lying to the Holy Spirit (v. 3) is the same as lying to God (v. 4).  A further affirmation to the deity of the Holy Spirit is found in the baptismal formula (Matthew 28:19) where he is equally associated with other members of the Godhead and likewise in the benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:14.

The Holy Spirit Performs the Works of God (Divine Works of the Spirit)

The works of the Holy Spirit give evidence of His deity because they are works that only God can do.  Some of these works are His Work in Creation; His Work in Begetting Christ; and His Work in the Inspiration of Scripture.  Concerning His Work in Creation we find several Scripture passages affirming His involvement. Genesis 1:2 indicates that He brooded over creation, bringing it to life; in Psalm 104:24–26 the psalmist describes the creation, and in v. 30 he indicates the Holy Spirit’s involvement: “Thou dost send forth Thy Spirit, they are created.”  In Job 26:13 the creation of God is expanded to the heavens; indicating the Holy Spirit created not only the earth but also the heavens.

His Work in Begetting Christ.  The overshadowing of Mary by the Holy Spirit in Matthew 1:20, assured the sinless humanity of Christ.  Christ in His deity is eternal, but the Holy Spirit begat the sinless human nature of Christ.  Lewis Sperry Chafer, in his work: Systematic Theology, speaking of the Holy Spirit states the following.  “He brought the humanity of Christ into being. It is too often assumed that Mary the mother of Christ contributed His humanity and that the Holy Spirit contributed His deity; but a moment’s reflection would disclose that the deity of Christ was His own from all eternity and therefore was not originated at the time of His birth. He became incarnate when His eternal Person took on the human form.…The Spirit caused the humanity of Christ to originate and that is His act of generation.”

His Work in the Inspiration of Scripture.  (2 Peter 1:20-21, ESV). “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.  ²¹ For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  The Holy Spirit overseeing the human writers guarantees an inerrant Scripture.  The writers of Scripture were “carried along by the Holy Spirit”, guaranteeing the inspiration of the books of the Bible.  The Spirit’s work in inspiration is comparable to the Father’s work (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16).

Clearly, The Holy Spirit Is God In The Same Manner that The Father Is God, and The Son Is God. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”  2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV)