Question
What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
Answer
That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe.
That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe.
That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son.
Scripture
—John 14:16–17 (ESV)And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
—John 14:16–17 (NIV)I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
—John 14:16–17 (NLT)And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
Song
Video
Prayer
Adult
“We desire to thank you heavenly Father for the marvelous resources that you have given to us through the Holy Spirit. We thank you that each of us who has come to put our trust in Jesus Christ has the privilege of the indwelling Spirit. We pray that he may so fill us as to show Christ to us and to form Christ in us from day to day. We ask these things for ourselves and for one another for the glory of your great name.”
Footnote
John Stott (1921–2011). An English Anglican preacher who for many years served as rector of All Souls Church in London, Stott was one of the principal framers of the Lausanne Covenant (1974). His numerous books include The Cross of Christ.
Attribution
From the end of the sermon “The Work of the Spirit” on John 16:5–15, recorded 18th August 2002, available fromwww.allsouls.org.
Child
We thank you heavenly Father for all that you have given to us through your Holy Spirit. We thank you that each of us who has come to put our trust in Jesus Christ has the Spirit in us and living with us. We pray that he may show Christ to us and make us more like Christ from day to day. We ask these things for the glory of your great name. Amen.
Attribution
Derived and adapted from John Stott’s prayer at the end of his sermon “The Work of the Spirit” on John 16:5–15, recorded 18th August 2002, available from www.allsouls.org.
“We desire to thank you heavenly Father for the marvelous resources that you have given to us through the Holy Spirit. We thank you that each of us who has come to put our trust in Jesus Christ has the privilege of the indwelling Spirit. We pray that he may so fill us as to show Christ to us and to form Christ in us from day to day. We ask these things for ourselves and for one another for the glory of your great name.”
Footnote
John Stott (1921–2011). An English Anglican preacher who for many years served as rector of All Souls Church in London, Stott was one of the principal framers of the Lausanne Covenant (1974). His numerous books include The Cross of Christ.
Attribution
From the end of the sermon “The Work of the Spirit” on John 16:5–15, recorded 18th August 2002, available fromwww.allsouls.org.
We thank you heavenly Father for all that you have given to us through your Holy Spirit. We thank you that each of us who has come to put our trust in Jesus Christ has the Spirit in us and living with us. We pray that he may show Christ to us and make us more like Christ from day to day. We ask these things for the glory of your great name. Amen.
Attribution
Derived and adapted from John Stott’s prayer at the end of his sermon “The Work of the Spirit” on John 16:5–15, recorded 18th August 2002, available from www.allsouls.org.
Commentary
“Wherefore, when our Lord breathed on His disciples, and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost,” He certainly wished it to be understood that the Holy Ghost was not only the Spirit of the Father, but of the only begotten Son Himself. For the same Spirit is, indeed, the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, making with them the trinity of Father, Son, and Spirit, not a creature, but the Creator.”
Footnote
Augustine of Hippo (354–430). Bishop of Hippo in Roman North Africa, philosopher, and theologian, Augustine is considered a saint and Doctor of the Church by both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He wrote an account of his conversion in his Confessions, his most known work, but he is also one of the most prolific Latin authors in terms of surviving works with hundreds of separate titles (including apologetic works, texts on Christian doctrine, and commentaries) and more than 350 preserved sermons.
Attribution
From The City of God, translated by Marcus Dods (Digireads, 2009), 329–330.
Further Reading
“Be Filled with the Spirit” in A Faith to Live By, by Donald Macleod.