Firstly, great emphasis is given that the contents of this series are intended to give Biblical information and insights on some of its contents. They are not intended to scare or offend anyone. It is one’s prerogative to read and never be shoved into one’s throat.
This piece is a simple sharing of bible passages. It doesn’t endorse any specific faith, religion, denomination, system of beliefs or theology aside from those in the bible.
It is in the “exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference” as provided by The Philippine Constitution that this article was made.
If you find them scary, intimidating or offensive, please feel free to take them with a grain of salt and regard them like a badly written movie script.
Least talk about but bears some of the biggest roles in a believer’s life today
The Holy Spirit is the least understood and talked about among the three Godhead characters in the bible. It might be about time to give Him more exposure as he is designated as the companion of every Christian today and causes one to be permanently deprived of forgiveness from sin.
Believers’ companion who enable them to perform works beyond imagination
Among the promises of Jesus to His believers after He dies is the receiving of the Holy Spirit.
37On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39, New International Version
Here’s the Lord telling his disciples more about the coming of Holy Spirit to them after He dies and how His role bears a ton of weight:
7But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. John 16:7-11, NIV
21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:21-23, New King James Version
12“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12 NKJV
Not to be messed with, He causes the unpardonable sin
Jesus also reminded some scribes and Pharisees about how to treat the Holy Spirit. The Lord made it clear, wrongful treatment of the Holy Spirit will positively lead someone to hell and this is irreversible.
28“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” 30for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3: 28-30, NKJV
This declaration is also found in Matthew 12:31-32 and Luke 12:10, as well as testified to by John, the writer of the fourth gospel, and Paul, who was traditionally attributed the authorship of Hebrews:
16If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. 1 John 5:16-17, NKJV
4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6, NKJV
The example of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was clearly elaborated in Mark’s version: attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to the devil.
More about the Holy Spirit on the bible’s account
A true blue believer should learn more about the Holy Spirit. Here are more bible accounts of this very powerful character:
The Holy Spirit can be everywhere
7Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:7-10, ESV
11Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11, NKJV
(For more on the Holy spirit, click to go straight for more specific topic:)
1. Who is the Holy Spirit
He is a real being, not just a force nor a ghost
He is a gift, free to be acquired by a believer who asks
2. What the Holy Spirit can do
The Holy Spirit can be everywhere
3. Roles the Holy Spirit plays
He reveals things
He reminded the apostles of what Jesus taught and taught things of His own
He changes the heart of His human home and manifests His presence
Having the Holy Spirit results to major fruits and changes for the good
Who is the Holy Spirit
He is a real being, not just a force nor a ghost
There are many myths and concepts about the Holy Spirit. He has been described as a force, a ghost, a thing and a replacement god. He is also often confused with His manifestations.
The bible says these are nothing but further from the truth. Here are biblical proofs confirming the Holy Spirit is a real person:
1. His causing failures among humans through sin. Sin cannot be committed against something, only against someone.
2. He will be looking for a place to stay. And He is meticulous in selecting the place, He only wants the body of true-blue believers as a temple residence. This cannot be done by “something” which cannot exercise discernment.
19Or do you [addressed to members of the church of God which is at Corinth] 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 6:19, NKJV
9But You [addressed to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints], are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Romans 8:9, NKJV
3. He is addressed in the same manner as God, the Father and Jesus. The old and new testament has been very clear about the sin of blasphemy. A “something” will never be talk about in the same breath as the Godhead. That would be blasphemy.
19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19
3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Acts 5:3-4, NKJV
He is a gift, free to be acquired by a believer who knows and asks
11If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:11-13, NKJV
15“If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, 17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17, NKJV
32And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:32, NKJV
38Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38, NKJV
Roles the Holy Spirit plays
He reveals things
9However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”, the things God has prepared for those who love him, 10these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, NIV
[Go back to list]
He reminded the apostles of what Jesus taught and taught things of His own
26But 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 14:26 NKJV
11And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:11-12, NKJV
He changes the heart of His human home and manifests His presence
Here’s John 7:38 again, this time emphasizing on a certain aspect of what Jesus declared in front of a crowd of Jews:
38“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38, NKJV
The Holy Spirit will work inside out a person as someone who has Him will have his heart changed and become a vehicle for the Holy Spirit to influence others.
Having the Holy Spirit results to major fruits and changes for the good
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23, NKJV
6Therefore I remind you [Timothy] to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:6-7, NKJV
Purpose of the bible
The bible made clear what kind of book is it. It is intended for those who want eternal life. It is not a medical, science, logic or history book. Many tend to forget this.
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. John 5:39-40, New King James Version
It also made its theme clear. While there are many tales narrated by the bible, one thing remains clear from start to finish: Humans caught in a crossfire between powerful adversaries and one of them, a loving God, is offering redemption/salvation.
The bible says the devil rebelled and continues to rebel against God and dragged humans along to be involved in this godly battle he started.
7And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. Revelation 12:7-8, NKJV
…she [Eve] took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband [Adam] with her, and he ate… And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the Lord God said to the serpent…I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed…. Genesis 3: 6, 14-15, NKJV
12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Luke 8:12, NIV
God’s love and the danger posed prompted Jesus to come to earth and provided everyone a way to get out of the mess.
16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16, NKJV
8He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8, NKJV
These verses encapsulates what the new testament is for. If you are encourage by these verses, you are invited to search the bible deeper and find out more about Jesus and his teachings.
Conservative approach
The presence of spirits and unexplainable events and multiple scientific, medical, and logical reasons that supports the bible and its authors’ credibility project a possibility that God do exists. If you are still unconvinced of the existence of God despite these proofs, being conservative might be the best alternative here.
Accountants describe conservatism as selecting the option that would show the worst possible financial standing of a business entity when two or more unproven alternatives are available. This is to remove the user of the account’s output be exposed to a bigger risk in case the worst possible scenario happens.
As it stands, the risk of not believing in and obeying God far outweighs the benefits of doubting his existence. It might be best to act conservatively, believe what the bible says, until you have absolutely proven that there is indeed no God nor hell.
By: Armando M. Bolislis
If you are inspired and want to give Jesus a try, continue a deeper search of the bible, especially the New Testament. This will show you how to become his disciple. Always ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in your search.
If you feel the want or need to belong to a Christian church or organization, find one that preaches the Word of God and will help you improve your relationship with Christ and lead you to his eternal promises.
The theologies and doctrines about faith contained in this article are solely from God through the bible. The author is just an instrument used to spread the word for the glory of God. The personal opinions and suggestions on issues outside of biblical coverage from the author doesn’t necessarily reflect the stance of Baguio Herald Express management and staff.