Monday, October 17, 2005
John 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak."
I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST
These words in John were spoken by Jesus to His disciples before He died and had risen again. Jesus promised to send the "Helper" who would be with them forever. This "Helper" is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Triune Godhead. Depending on what translation you are most comfortable with, you might say "Holy Ghost" and you might say "Holy Spirit." Both of those words (Spirit and Ghost) are based on the Greek word "pneuma" which literally means "wind" or "breath." Very literally we might call the third person of the Trinity the Holy Breath or the Holy Wind -- pictures which Jesus Himself used to describe the third person of the Trinity (see John 3:8 and John 20:22). The Holy Spirit is much like the wind because we cannot see Him, although we can see the effects of His work in and around us.
Many people today look at the Holy Spirit, not as true God, but only as a force which God uses to bring us to faith. The Holy Spirit is not some impersonal force, but is a real being who can and does relate to you and your problems, who does care about you, and with whom you can communicate. The Holy Spirit is our Helper who will be with us throughout our lives and who, as true God, has the power to help us when troubles attack our faith. He guides you in the truth.
Notice that in the verse above Jesus describes the Holy Spirit, not in a impersonal way, but in a very personal way. We need to remember that the Holy Spirit is not just some impersonal force that God uses, but is a real personal being who is sent from God the Father and God the Son be our Helper during each of our times here on earth. Even more, the Holy Spirit is True God along with the Father and the Son!
