There are many misconceptions about the identity of the Holy Spirit. Some think of Him as a mystical, cosmic force at work in the universe. Others see Him as an impersonal energy source, which God utilizes as He sees fit from time to time. Still, others render the Holy Spirit as an impersonal emanation from God. However, the Bible declares Him as God, along with God the Father and Jesus Christ.
The most prominent, straightforward declaration of the Holy Spirit’s divinity is found in Acts 5:3-4. Peter stated, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Peter’s declaration revealed that the Holy Spirit is God, and lying to Him equates to lying to God.
Additional references to the Holy Spirit’s divinity and eternality are found in Psalms, Hebrews, 1 Corinthians, and John:
Psalm 139:7-10 states, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me.”
Hebrews 9:14 declares, “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God!”
1 Corinthians 2:11 says, “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.”
John 6:63 records, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
Another proof of the Holy Spirit’s deity is His presence and participation in Creation. Genesis 1:1-5 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.'”
Additionally, Psalm 104:29-30 states, “You hide Your face, they are dismayed; You take away their spirit, they expire and return to their dust. You send forth your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the ground.”
A fourth piece of evidence for the Holy Spirit’s divinity is His participation in Jesus’ incarnation and resurrection. Matthew 1:18-20 says, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.'"
Of Jesus’ resurrection, Romans 8:9-11 states, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you [referencing the Holy Spirit], He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
A fifth proof identifying the Holy Spirit as a divine Being is the use of “He, Him, and Who” to describe Him. Jesus said in John 14:16, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”
Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:13-14, “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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Many other passages indicate the Holy Spirit’s divinity:
He convicts sinners
He saves sinners
He indwells believers
He distributes spiritual gifts to believers
He empowers believers to share the gospel
He helps believers avoid sin
He teaches and comforts believers
I hope this information helps answer the question about the Holy Spirit's divinity. For extensive Scripture references about Him, click here.
