The third person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit of God. We should remember that He is just as truly a person in the Godhead as God the Father and God the Son. This is more clearly understood when we see that the Holy Spirit is responsible for ministries only a person can do. He is to "convict the world of sin" 1, to teach 2, to make intercession for us 3, to appoint for service 4, and to direct in service.5
The perfect Deity of the Holy Spirit is revealed in that He is called God 6, He has the qualities of God 7, and He performs the works only God can do.8
The reality of His personality and the importance of His ministry is lovingly emphasized by the Lord Jesus Christ as He looked forward to His death on Calvary, and to the coming work of the Holy Spirit to make known this good news to the world.9
Before the Universe was made, the Holy Spirit existed as a member of the Trinity with God the Father and God the Son. Before Jesus Christ came into the world, the Holy Spirit was present in the world, and ministered in and through the people of God according to God’s will.10
A beautiful picture of the entire Trinity is seen at the baptism of Jesus Christ where the Father spoke from heaven, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and the Son was baptized.11
The ministry of the Spirit of God to the age in which we live is very important. He is God’s plan for success in the Christian life. It is just as impossible for the believer today to live a life pleasing to God without the Holy Spirit as it is for an unbeliever to be saved without Christ.
The day of Pentecost, which was fifty days following the death of Christ, was chosen by God for the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world. At that time the Spirit accomplished three remarkable things:
1. He took up residence in the world in the hearts of believers.
2. He baptized, or united, all believers into one body (church) with Christ as the Head.
3. He energized and filled all believers so they would have gifts to operate in the church, and would be gifted in the world to bring the kingdom and witness to other people.12
From that day until now the Holy Spirit has successfully ministered both to the world and to the believers. To the new believer the Spirit has a four-fold ministry:
1. He regenerates or causes a person to be born anew (from above) into God’s family.13
2. He indwells the temple of the heart of the believer, or He lives in us.14
3. He baptizes, or welds, the newly claimed believer into the Body of Christ which is called the church.15
4. He Seals him for Protection and Power; He, Himself being the Seal.16
1. John 16:8
2. John 14:26
3. Romans 8:26
4. Acts 13:2
5. Acts 16:6-7
6. Acts 5:3-4
7. Genesis 1:2, 1 Corinthians 2:9-11, Hebrews 9:14
8. Job 33:4, Psalm 104:30, Matthew 12:28
9. John 14
10. Genesis 41:38, Numbers 27:18, Psalm 139:7
11. Matthew 3:16-17
12. Acts 2:1-47
13. John 3:1-8
14. 1 Corinthians 6:19
15. 1 Corinthians 12:13
16. Ephesians 4:30
