Catechism Questions on the Holy Spirit1. Who is the Holy Spirit? a. The Holy Spirit is the 3rd member of the Trinity. He is fully divine, fully personal, and distinct from the Father and the Son. 2. How do we know that the Holy Spirit is God? a. We know that that Holy Spirit is God because the Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit has divine names, possesses divine attributes, and exercises divine works. 3. What are some of the divine names of the Holy Spirit? a. The Holy Spirit has been called “Breath of the Almighty” (Job 33:4), “Spirit of Judgment” (Isaiah 4:4), “Power of the Highest” (Luke 1:35), “Spirit of the Father” (Matthew 10:20), “Spirit of Christ” (Romans 8:9), “Eternal Spirit” (Hebrews 9:14), “Lord” (2 Cor. 3:16-17), and “Spirit of Glory” (I Peter 4:14). 4. How does Scripture show that the Holy Spirit possesses divine attributes? a. The Bible calls the Spirit “Holy” more than 90 times. Hebrews 9:14 calls the Spirit eternal. Psalm 139:7-8 points to the Spirit’s omnipresence when it indicates that there is nowhere one can go to flee from the Spirit’s presence. Scripture also tells us that the Spirit knows the thoughts of God and can teach all things (I Cor. 2:10, 11; John 14:26). This shows that the Holy Spirit is omniscient. 5. How does Scripture show that the Spirit exercises divine works? a. The Spirit was involved in creation and in the performance of miracles (Genesis 1:2, Psalm 104:30; Matt. 12:28), he inspired Scripture (2 Peter 1:21), he convicts of sin (John 16:8), and he regenerates (Titus 3:5), sanctifies (I Peter 1:2), seals (Ephesians 4:30), and empowers believers (Ephesians 3:16). 6. How do we know that the Spirit received honor and glory as God? a. The benedictory prayer of 2 Cor. 13:14 invokes Father, Son, and Spirit, acknowledging that blessings come from all three members of the Trinity. This form of prayer is an act of worship, not just to the Father and the Son, but also to the Spirit. Since the Spirit is God, then he is worthy of worship. The Nicene creed declares that “with the Father and the Son [he] is worshiped and glorified.” 7. Where are two places in Scripture that the terms “Holy Spirit” and “God” are used interchangeably? a. “God” and “Holy Spirit” are used interchangeably in the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Peter indicated that to lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God (Acts 5:3-4). Also, Christians are called both the temple of God, and the temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 3:16; I Cor. 6:19). 8. What are some Scriptural evidences that the Holy Spirit is a person? a. The Holy Spirit exhibits attributes of personality. Mind (I Corinthians 2:11 - “…no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” Also, Romans 8:27 – “And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit…”), Will (I Cor. 12:11 – The Spirit apportions spiritual gifts “to each one individually as he wills.”), Emotions (Ephesians 4:30 – “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…”). 9. What is the significance of Christ being conceived by the Holy Spirit? a. The virgin conception (by the Holy Spirit) means that Jesus is God come in the flesh, and is not simply a Spirit-anointed man. The virgin conception is essential to the incarnation (Matthew 1:20-23). 10. What is the fruit of the Spirit? a. The fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control” (Galatians 5:22, 23a). 11. What are the gifts of the Spirit listed in I Corinthians 12? a. According to I Corinthians 12, the gifts of the Spirit are wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. 12. Other gifts and graces that God gives include what? a. Other gifts and graces include administration, apostleship, prophecy, evangelism, exhortation, giving, helps, hospitality, leadership, mercy, serving, teaching and shepherding (Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:6-8). 13. What is one reason God give gifts? a. God gives gifts to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). 14. What are biblical symbols of the Holy Spirit? a. Biblical symbols of the Holy Spirit include: dove, water, fire, cloud, finger, hand, anointing of oil, and a seal. 15. What famous Trinitarian benediction is found in 2 Corinthians 13? a. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14). 16. What is the baptismal formula of Matthew 28:9? a. We are to baptize “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” 17. What did Jesus say would happen once the Holy Spirit came upon his disciples? a. Jesus said, “You shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8). 18. Why has God given us the Spirit? a. God has given us of his Spirit so that we may share in Christ and all his spiritual blessings through faith, and that he would comfort and abide with us forever. (Gal. 3:14, John 14:16-17, Acts 9:31). 19. How does the Holy Spirit assure us of our salvation? a. The Holy Spirit witnesses to our spirit that we are the children of God. It is by the Spirit that we, as adopted children, are able to call God our Father (Romans 8:15-16; Galatians 4:6). We know we are born of God because of the Spirit he has given us (I John 4:13). |