gillespie9669 surmises great evil

Joined: 29 Aug 2003 Posts: 136 Location: JAMAICA, WEST INDIES
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Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 5:14 am Post subject: The Bible Speaks- THE SPIRIT IS A SEPARATE PERSON!! |
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Who is the Holy Spirit?
He is alive (a "living" person). He is a person ("as God is a person"). He is not particularly visible in the Bible, especially the New Testament because His ministry is to be the Father's 'ever-ready' Representative (Rev. 1:4), and bear witness of Jesus (John 15:26). Please consider the following verses (among many more) as support for the individual personhood of the Holy Spirit. See also my links already posted on the message board.
The Holy Spirit loves
"Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me," (Rom. 15:30). This is the greatest evidence of individuality!! How can a non-entity love you?
The Holy Spirit is lied to
"But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land?" (Acts 5:3).
The Holy Spirit has a will and is called "He."
"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills" (1 Cor. 12:11). How can you lie to a non-entity, an extension of another (like your literal arm), or a non-person?
The Holy Spirit speaks, and Even in the First Person
"And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot," (Acts 8:29).
"And while Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. 20"But arise, go downstairs, and accompany them without misgivings; for I have sent them Myself," (Acts 10:19-20).
"And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them," (Acts 13:2). THE EARLY DISCIPLES FREELY SPOKE OF HIM AS THEY WOULD OF A PERSON.
The Holy Spirit can be insulted and grieved
"How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?" (Heb. 10:29). See also Eph. 4:30 about "grieving" Him.
If the Holy Spirit is like a force , then how can it be lied to? How can a force have a will (1 Cor. 12:11), or be able to love, or speak to the mind, or be insulted? Clearly the Bible demonstrate that the Holy Spirit is alive and has attributes of life, self awareness, and a will and is not a mere force.
In addition, for the Adventist blessed with "the Spirit of Prophecy" (Rev. 12:17) how can we deny that we have been counselled in the Spirit to see Him as the "third" of a Divine "Trio", or of "the three Holiest BEINGS in Heaven" (Matt. 28:19, Rev. 1:4 and Isaiah 48:16), and not a LITERAL extension of another (despite language metaphors describe both Him and Jesus like an extension ladder or arm from the Father)? Now IF WE REJECT THE TRUTHS ABOUT HIM, THEN HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE THE PUNISHMENT FOR SPEAKING LIES, IN CONTRADICTION TO THE WORD OF GOD, AND THE CONFIRMATORY 'SOP' WRITINGS? _________________ Derrick Gillespie (First labelled "SDA", THEN, "Pseudo-SDA", and then "Impolite". What label next?) |
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