What is Holy Spirit?

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Pearl

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The OP asked What is Holy Spirit?
The question should have been, 'Who is the Holy Spirit?' For the Holy Spirit is our helper, our advocate. He is called the Paraclete, who is somebody who runs the race alongside you to support and guide you. He is our power source. He is the life within us when we are born again.
 

1stCenturyLady

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Oh. You were born of water?
1stCenturyLady, I hope I am not asking too much of you, but where can I find that in the Bible, or any science text book?
Please provide a reference.

Did you know that just before a woman gives birth her "water breaks"? The fetus grows in the womb in water, and when it time to be born the water comes out. However, as I said, some believe the "water" refers to baptism. But I've noticed those people also give more emphasis on water baptism than being baptized in the Spirit if they know anything about that important baptism or not. There are scriptures refer to being baptized in water, but Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus was in answer to N's question of how can he go back into his mother's womb and be born again? So, myself, I believe born or water had to do with our first physical birth. That was not as important as the main topic of Jesus' teaching to Nicodemus which was to be saved we MUST be born again of the Spirit.

Let me look at the scripture again.
John 3:3-8
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew. 8 The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.



They had to be baptized in water. Only then were they born again - born as sons of God... not sons of men.

As I just said, there are some people who put such an emphasis on water baptism they are clueless to being baptized in the Spirit. Yes, we must obey and be baptized, but why did John the Baptist come first before Christ? He prepared the way for the Messiah to be revealed through John's ministry of REPENTANCE. The water from that baptism does not cleanse us from sin. Only the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin and opens the door for the Spirit to enter a clean vessel and then empower us to remain clean. Water baptism is a sign that that our sin nature has died and the old man has been nailed to the cross.

I was baptized three times and still had no power over sin. But four years after the last baptism I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and was empowered with gifts of the Spirit and was freed from son, and could hear God's voice. It was a few months later that God spoke to me and said, "Now be baptized in water."

(Sorry, I had to edit out some of your post because it made over 10,000 words.

Divine like Christ? They became gods, do you mean?
I like Romans 8. Paul explains what they were born for.

Everyone cannot be born again.

I mean we become children of God with His divine nature. Not all of his power like God, but with the nature of Christ while He was on earth. As you know Jesus while in His earthly minister was not omnipresent. He couldn't be everywhere at once, but now He can in the form of His Spirit. He can now be in me, and at the same time be in you, or others around the world. That is a glory. In John 17 Jesus asked the Father to return His glory that He had before when He was with God before becoming human.

We were born sinful with a nature inherited from Adam after he sinned. That is why "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That is from our birth, but Christ cleanses us of the nature from Adam. Jesus is referred to the second Adam, meaning His followers do not have the sin nature from Adam anymore, but have the same nature that Jesus had while on earth. Jesus did not sin, nor did he succumb to temptation. We have that same power, plus we are authorized to do all the same miracles He did.

Jesus was sinless because He was conceived with the seed of the Father. 1 John 3:9, and when we are born again and baptized with His Spirit we receive the same seed of the Father that Jesus had. Romans 8:29-30 tells us that Jesus was the firstborn of MANY BRETHREN. We are like Jesus and have the mind of Christ - 1 Corinthians 2:16. So can you see why the baptism of fire (the Holy Spirit) is what makes us "born again"? The water in water baptism does nothing to cleanse us, but only as a sign to the world that we are followers of Christ.

1 Peter 3:21
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

What saved us is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

First comes the crucifixion and burial and the blood of Jesus to cleanse us of sin. This is the death of the old sin nature.
But then to have the power to not sin again is the resurrection of Christ to walk as a new creature with a divine spirit.

Romans 6:5-14
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Grace means the divine power of God.

A clever false doctrine is the definition of grace being unmerited favor as if we are still sinners. Don't be deceived by them. That is a doctrine of demon, minimizing the freedom from sin that comes only in Christ. Only overcomers will go to heaven.


  1. 1 John 5:5
    Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
  2. 1 John 3:23-24
    23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

    24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

  3. Revelation 2:7
    “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

  4. Revelation 2:11
    “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

  5. Revelation 2:17
    “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

  6. Revelation 2:26
    And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

  7. Revelation 3:5
    He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

  8. Revelation 3:12
    He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

  9. Revelation 3:21
    To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
 

Bob Estey

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This question is open to everyone.
Please explain
1) how did Jesus used the holy spirit to cast out demons.
  • Matthew 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
2) how did Jesus pour out the holy spirit on his disciples.
  • Acts 2:33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
@Ronald David Bruno I would like to hear you explain please. Thanks.
I believe the Holy Spirit is God - his thoughts.
 
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David in NJ

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This question is open to everyone.
Please explain
1) how did Jesus used the holy spirit to cast out demons.
  • Matthew 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
2) how did Jesus pour out the holy spirit on his disciples.
  • Acts 2:33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
@Ronald David Bruno I would like to hear you explain please. Thanks.

Never believe anyone that refers to the Holy Spirit as a 'force'.
The Holy Spirit is Eternal and ONE with the Father and the Son = Read Genesis chapters 1-3 and the Gospel of John.

The Lord Jesus Christ clearly stated that the Holy Spirit is 'He' and comes from the Father just as the Son is from the Father and the THREE are ONE.

Read the gospel of John and as you read pray and ask the Lord for understanding in what you read.
 
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Where is Goldilocks when you need her? LOL
This one is too long, this one is too short...
HAHAHA
okay, I'm outta here.
HUGS
Seriously Ziggy?
You guys are serious aren't you!!!?
Your idea of Bible study is either...
User A
John 4:16

User B
John 11:4

User A
Matthew 4:16

User B
Matthew 11:4
Or...
User A
posts 40 scripture

User B
posts 60 scriptures

User A
posts 100 scriptures

User B
posts 200 scriptures
What a strange form of Bible study or discussion.
I think both break the rules of these forums.
The former, throws a scripture which the poster has interpreted in a way the receiver considers twisted - which renders it meaningless, and the receiver is supposed to respond how? By throwing a scripture that the receiver will interpret different to how the sender expects the receiver to take it. ?Weird:(

The latter makes the post extremely long, and the receiver is expected to sift through every text which he sees different to what the poster claims... to respond how?
Shocking!

I guess there is always a first for things one never expects. Lol
 
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Not true. God blesses those he chooses with the Holy Spirit. In fact the Pharisees were well versed in scripture and so is the devil. What matters to God is the heart of a person. Not so much the mind, but that the mind is clean and the heart pure. God leads us to the Holy Spirit and he does'nt use scripture to do it. It is by deed that we are blessed with the Holy Spirit. We learn what actions lead to the holy spirit and what thoughts drive it away. By giving to the poor and obeying the simple commandments that you should already know to obey from your heart. You don't need the bible too much to know what's right and wrong.

Acts 2:17

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
The fact that the Pharisees rejected the coming promised Messiah, prove they did not have an accurate knowledge of truth.
Jesus said as much... John 5:39 Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me...
He even told them, they did not know the scriptures. Matthew 22:29
Having the Bible is one thing. Being taught its truth is another.

Paul put it this way... Romans 10:2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge of a particular point (directed towards a particular object).

Jesus said, "But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. " John 14:26
If there is nothing inside, there is nothing the holy spirit can bring to mind.
You disagree with this?

You are right though. God blesses those he chooses with the Holy Spirit.
 
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The OP asked What is Holy Spirit?
The question should have been, 'Who is the Holy Spirit?' For the Holy Spirit is our helper, our advocate. He is called the Paraclete, who is somebody who runs the race alongside you to support and guide you. He is our power source. He is the life within us when we are born again.
I understand how you feel about it. What are your thoughts on Hebrews 4:12?
Some people try to apply that verse to the one mentioned at John 1:1, but we know Paul spoke of it, in the way he did at 1 Thessalonians 2:13.
Do you think these verses relate to a "who", or "what"?
 
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Did you know that just before a woman gives birth her "water breaks"? The fetus grows in the womb in water, and when it time to be born the water comes out.
I hope you don't start telling me we are born of blood.

However, as I said, some believe the "water" refers to baptism. But I've noticed those people also give more emphasis on water baptism than being baptized in the Spirit if they know anything about that important baptism or not. There are scriptures refer to being baptized in water, but Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus was in answer to N's question of how can he go back into his mother's womb and be born again? So, myself, I believe born or water had to do with our first physical birth. That was not as important as the main topic of Jesus' teaching to Nicodemus which was to be saved we MUST be born again of the Spirit.
You believe that based on your reason you gave here.
The Bible however gives the meaning in the several places I referenced.
There is no place in the text that reads you MUST be born again of the Spirit.
The text reads as I quoted.

As I just said, there are some people who put such an emphasis on water baptism they are clueless to being baptized in the Spirit. Yes, we must obey and be baptized, but why did John the Baptist come first before Christ? He prepared the way for the Messiah to be revealed through John's ministry of REPENTANCE. The water from that baptism does not cleanse us from sin. Only the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin and opens the door for the Spirit to enter a clean vessel and then empower us to remain clean. Water baptism is a sign that that our sin nature has died and the old man has been nailed to the cross.
I don't know why you are saying this, because I don't know whom you are referring to.
There is nothing in the text, nor in anything I wrote that puts emphasis on one or the other.
There is also nothing in the texts, nor in anything I wrote that separate one from the other, so that anyone is clueless to being baptized in the Spirit.
Jesus specifically said, one must be born of water and spirit. That's what is meant by born again.
Your post, however 1stCenturyLady, has emphasis on one, and minimizes the other to something that every living being naturally has - birth. Not something they must do.
Jesus said one must be born of water and spirit.
There is no need to say one must breath. To think that Jesus is saying one must come out from between their mothers legs, and not be surgically removed... Well... That's all I can say.

I was baptized three times and still had no power over sin. But four years after the last baptism I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and was empowered with gifts of the Spirit and was freed from son, and could hear God's voice. It was a few months later that God spoke to me and said, "Now be baptized in water."
You believe that. I'm not here to quarrel with, or discuss what you believe.
We are discussing the Bible right?

(Sorry, I had to edit out some of your post because it made over 10,000 words.
If you prefer. Another way is to split your post. I try to do that, because I hate to edit someone's quote. I did that once because even after I split my post, the second was still too long because of the long list of scriptures the person wrote. So I just chopped off the scriptures.

I mean we become children of God with His divine nature. Not all of his power like God, but with the nature of Christ while He was on earth. As you know Jesus while in His earthly minister was not omnipresent. He couldn't be everywhere at once, but now He can in the form of His Spirit. He can now be in me, and at the same time be in you, or others around the world. That is a glory. In John 17 Jesus asked the Father to return His glory that He had before when He was with God before becoming human.
We disagree, because I do not see that idea in the scriptures.
The eyes of Jehovah are roving about throughout the earth, from where he dwells in his elevated position in heaven - his place of dwelling.
That's what the Bible says. Nowhere does the Bible say that God or his son is everywhere. People say that.
God's holy spirit, allows him to reach anywhere, and manifest his power. He empoweres his son with holy spirit. He sends it forth.
He also has angels ministering to him. These he sends forth, as he did his firstborn son.
That's what I see the scriptures say.

We were born sinful with a nature inherited from Adam after he sinned. That is why "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That is from our birth, but Christ cleanses us of the nature from Adam. Jesus is referred to the second Adam, meaning His followers do not have the sin nature from Adam anymore, but have the same nature that Jesus had while on earth. Jesus did not sin, nor did he succumb to temptation. We have that same power, plus we are authorized to do all the same miracles He did.

Jesus was sinless because He was conceived with the seed of the Father. 1 John 3:9, and when we are born again and baptized with His Spirit we receive the same seed of the Father that Jesus had. Romans 8:29-30 tells us that Jesus was the firstborn of MANY BRETHREN. We are like Jesus and have the mind of Christ - 1 Corinthians 2:16. So can you see why the baptism of fire (the Holy Spirit) is what makes us "born again"? The water in water baptism does nothing to cleanse us, but only as a sign to the world that we are followers of Christ.

...
Seems you have delivered a sermon. Hope you are not on a mountainside. ;)
I get the impression you are a pastor.
 

Raccoon1010

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The fact that the Pharisees rejected the coming promised Messiah, prove they did not have an accurate knowledge of truth.
Jesus said as much... John 5:39 Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me...
He even told them, they did not know the scriptures. Matthew 22:29
Having the Bible is one thing. Being taught its truth is another.

Paul put it this way... Romans 10:2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge of a particular point (directed towards a particular object).

Jesus said, "But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. " John 14:26
If there is nothing inside, there is nothing the holy spirit can bring to mind.
You disagree with this?

You are right though. God blesses those he chooses with the Holy Spirit.
Well if you're so big on the bible blessing us with the Holy Spirit then you'll want to know what the bible teaches about having the Holy Spirit. It teaches that the holy spirit is given us after baptism and being prayed for after that. Jesus received the Holy Spirit after baptism and so do we. John 1:32-33, Acts of the Apostles 8:15.
 
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I believe the Holy Spirit is God - his thoughts.
What does the Bible say? Does it agree with you?
Those are the important questions. What we believe isn't as important. Would you agree with me?

Never believe anyone that refers to the Holy Spirit as a 'force'.
Then you don't believe me. :)
That's cool. I am of the view that one should actually find out for themselves. I'm with that.

The Holy Spirit is Eternal and ONE with the Father and the Son = Read Genesis chapters 1-3 and the Gospel of John.

The Lord Jesus Christ clearly stated that the Holy Spirit is 'He' and comes from the Father just as the Son is from the Father and the THREE are ONE.

Read the gospel of John and as you read pray and ask the Lord for understanding in what you read.
I do, thanks, but I do more. I listen to those Jesus appointed to carry on his work on earth. Matthew 24:45
I also share in that work. Do you?
Did you know that this work must be done urgently? Matthew 24:14 ; Matthew 28:18-20 ; Romans 10:13-15

Since God considers the feet of those who carry the message of the good news of the kingdom to every nation, tribe and tongue, to be beautiful, the holy spirit must really be empowering them. Would you agree.

Can I ask, are you actively involved in using your feet to carry the good news of the kingdom to all your neighbors? Or is it only the Jehovah's Witnesses you see zealously doing that?
 
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Well if you're so big on the bible blessing us with the Holy Spirit then you'll want to know what the bible teaches about having the Holy Spirit. It teaches that the holy spirit is given us after baptism and being prayed for after that. Jesus received the Holy Spirit after baptism and so do we. John 1:32-33, Acts of the Apostles 8:15.
What about Cornelius. Acts 10:44-48
What does that tell us?
 
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Pearl

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I understand how you feel about it. What are your thoughts on Hebrews 4:12?
Some people try to apply that verse to the one mentioned at John 1:1, but we know Paul spoke of it, in the way he did at 1 Thessalonians 2:13.
Do you think these verses relate to a "who", or "what"?
Nowhere does the bible refer to the Holy spirit as 'it'. Now what about your own spirit? Is he an it or part of a person ie you?
 

David in NJ

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What does the Bible say? Does it agree with you?
Those are the important questions. What we believe isn't as important. Would you agree with me?


Then you don't believe me. :)
That's cool. I am of the view that one should actually find out for themselves. I'm with that.


I do, thanks, but I do more. I listen to those Jesus appointed to carry on his work on earth. Matthew 24:45
I also share in that work. Do you?
Did you know that this work must be done urgently? Matthew 24:14 ; Matthew 28:18-20 ; Romans 10:13-15

Since God considers the feet of those who carry the message of the good news of the kingdom to every nation, tribe and tongue, to be beautiful, the holy spirit must really be empowering them. Would you agree.

Can I ask, are you actively involved in using your feet to carry the good news of the kingdom to all your neighbors? Or is it only the Jehovah's Witnesses you see zealously doing that?

Are you a jw false witness spreading the error of watchtower?

Saying the Holy Spirit is just a 'force' is bearing false witness.

Intentionally denying the Word was God in the beginning is bearing false witness.
 

Bob Estey

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What does the Bible say? Does it agree with you?
Those are the important questions. What we believe isn't as important. Would you agree with me?
The Bible is more than 1000 pages. There isn't room here to quote all of it.

Yes, I think it agrees with me.

I would agree that truth is truth no matter what we believe.
 

farouk

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Well if you're so big on the bible blessing us with the Holy Spirit then you'll want to know what the bible teaches about having the Holy Spirit. It teaches that the holy spirit is given us after baptism and being prayed for after that. Jesus received the Holy Spirit after baptism and so do we. John 1:32-33, Acts of the Apostles 8:15.
@devin553344 I understand Romans 8.9 to say that all believers have the Holy Spirit indwelling.
 
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