Is the Holy Spirit a person, just like God the Father and Jesus
Christ, as the doctrine of the Trinity teaches?
Let's examine the plain, clear testimony of Scripture to see what
God's Holy Spirit IS.
First, it is the power of God. “Not by might, nor by power
[of humans], but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts”
(Zech. 4:6). “I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and
judgment, and of might. . .“ declared the prophet Micah (Micah
3:8).
Second, it is the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of
counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear (deep
reverence and respect — not craven fear) of the Lord (Isa.
11:2).
Third, it is a gift. After baptism, you are to receive “the gift
of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). It is poured out. “And it
shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my
Spirit upon all flesh” (Acts 2:17). “. . . On the Gentiles
also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts
10:45).
Fourth, to be effective the Holy Spirit must be stirred up.
“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift
of God,” Paul reminded the young evangelist Timothy (II Tim.
1:7).
Five, the Spirit of God can be quenched (I Thes. 5:1 9).
Six, it is the begetting power of God (Matt. 1:18; Rom. 8:9).
Seven, it is God's guarantee to us that He will fulfill His promise
to us (Eph. 1:14).
Eight, it sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts (Rom. 5:5).
Nine, it must be renewed (Titus 3:5-6).
Notice that in all of these scriptures there is not one
characteristic even implying a “person.” Does a person do
any of these things? Is a person “poured,”
“quenched,” “renewed”? Does a person live IN
someone else or live IN people's hearts?
For further evidence proving that the Holy Spirit is not a person,
see Matthew 1:20. Here we read that Christ was conceived by the Holy
Spirit. Yet Christ calls God His Father, not the Holy Spirit (John
14:16). If the Holy Spirit were a person, it would be Christ's Father
— proof positive that the Holy Spirit is not a person but the
power God the Father uses — much as a man uses electricity.
Consider further. If the Holy Spirit were a person, Jesus Christ
prayed to the wrong individual. Throughout the four Gospels, we find
Christ speaking to God — not the Holy Spirit — as His
Father.