Who Is the Holy Spirit?

Official answer 2026-07-13

The Holy Spirit is often misunderstood as a "force" or a "feeling," but Scripture clearly reveals that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the triune God, equal in glory and honor with the Father and the Son. He is not an "it" but a "He" - a personal God with mind, emotion, and will. The Holy Spirit is fully God. In Acts 5:3-4, when Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, Peter said he had "lied to God," directly identifying the Spirit as God. The Spirit also has the marks of a person: He speaks (Acts 13:2), He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), and He distributes gifts "as he wills" (1 Corinthians 12:11). In John 14:16-17 Jesus calls the Spirit "another Helper," and the word "another" means one of the same kind as Jesus, yet a distinct Person. The Holy Spirit does many precious works in a believer's life. First, He brings us to new birth and salvation. John 3:5-6 says that unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. It is the Spirit who makes us, who were dead in spirit, alive. Second, He indwells the believer. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Everyone who belongs to Christ has the Spirit dwelling in them (Romans 8:9). Third, He is our Helper and Guide. John 16:13 says, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth." He comforts us, teaches us, and reminds us of the words of Jesus. Fourth, He produces the fruit of a transformed life. Galatians 5:22-23 says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." The Spirit changes our character to make us like Christ. Fifth, He gives gifts and empowers us. Acts 1:8 says, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses." He enables us to serve God and testify for the Lord. The Spirit also assures us that we are God's children, crying "Abba, Father" within us (Romans 8:15-16), and He intercedes for us when we do not know how to pray (Romans 8:26). What a gift that this personal, divine Helper lives within every true believer. Our calling is to walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) and not to grieve Him, but to yield to His gentle leading day by day. It is worth clearing up a common confusion: every true believer already has the Holy Spirit from the moment of faith (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14). We do not earn Him or wait for Him as a second blessing reserved for a special few. Yet Scripture also calls us to keep on being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), which is a daily surrender of every area of life to His gentle control. The real question is not how much of the Spirit we have, but how much of us the Spirit has. Open the free BiblePro 主内圣经 app and read John 14-16, Galatians 5, and Romans 8, and come to know the Holy Spirit who is with you and lives within you.