Reasoning with Jehovah's Witnesses |
2. The Personality of the Holy Spirit |
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2. The Personality of Holy SpiritJehovah's Witnesses believe that: a. The holy spirit is God's active force, and is not a person.11
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Q1. Did Jesus speak of the Holy Spirit as He and Whom? John 14:16-17-"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; [that is] the Spirit of the truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, [but] you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you." John 14:26-"But the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He [Gr. that one] will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." John 15:26-"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, [that is] the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me." John 16:7-8-"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world..." John 16:13-15-"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose [it] to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose [it] to you."
Q2. Does the Holy Spirit speak? Matt 10:20-"it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you." Acts 1:16-"...the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David..." Acts 10:19-20-the Spirit said to him..."I have sent them Myself" Acts 20:23-"the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me." Heb 3:7-Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says... Heb 10:15-And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us, for after saying... Rev 22:17-The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"
Q3. Does the Holy Spirit teach? Luke 12:12-"the Holy Spirit will teach you" John 14:26-"But the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." John 16:13-15-"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose [it] to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose [it] to you."
Q4. Does the Holy Spirit bear witness? John 15:26-"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, [that is] the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me." Rom 8:16-The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Q5. Is there other Scriptural evidence that the Holy Spirit is a person? Matt 3:16, Mark 1:10, John 1:32-the Spirit of God descending as a dove Acts 5:3-But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back [some] of the price of the land?" Acts 5:9-Then Peter [said] to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test?" Acts 15:28-"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden..." 1 Cor 12:11-But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills Eph 4:30-And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Q6. Can a Christian have fellowship with the Holy Spirit? John 14:16-17-"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; [that is] the Spirit of the truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, [but] you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you." Rom 8:9-But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. Rom 8:11-the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you...His Spirit who indwells you Rom 8:14-For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Rom 8:26-the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 1 Cor 3:16-Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Cor 6:19-your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you 2 Cor 13:14-the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all 2 Ti 1:14-the Holy Spirit who dwells in us
Q7. What is the position of the Holy Spirit? Gen 1:2-the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters Gen 1:1-In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Matt 12:32-"whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven" Luke 12:10-"he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven" John 14:26-"the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name..." Acts 1:16-"the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David" Heb 1:1-God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways... Acts 5:3-4-"lie to the Holy Spirit...You have not lied to men, but to God." Acts 28:25-"The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers..." [cp. Heb 1:1] 2 Cor 13:14-the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all Heb 10:15-17-And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds...I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more."
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Summary 1 The Holy Spirit: a. He is spoken of as He and Whom by Jesus (John 14:16,17,26, 15:26, 16:7,8,13-15). b. Has a name (Matt 28:19). c. Is a revealer of future events (Acts 1:16). d. Is an inspirer of prophecy (Heb 3:7). e. Bears witness to us through Old Testament prophecy (Heb 10:15). f. Is God (Acts 5:3,4). g. Descended in bodily form as a dove (Matt 3:16). h. He is sent by the Father in Jesus' name (John 14:26). i. He is sent by Jesus (John 15:26). j. Is a sender of persons (Acts 10:19,20). k. Appoints overseers (Acts 20:28). l. Is a decider of decrees (Acts 15:28). m. He convicts the world (John 16:8). n. The world does not behold Him or know Him (John 14:17). o. Can be grieved (Eph 4:30). p. Can be spoken against (Matt 12:32). q. Can be put to the test (Acts 5:9). r. Can be blasphemed against (Mark 3:29). s. Can be lied to (Acts 5:3). t. Can forbid one to speak (Acts 16:6). u. Gives testimony to persons (Acts 20:23). v. Bears witness with a Christian's spirit that he is a child of God (Rom 8:16). w. Intercedes in prayer for Christians (Rom 8:26). x. Distributes gifts to Christians (1 Cor 12:11). y. Speaks in Christians for their defense (Matt 10:20). z. He is a counselor (John 14:16). aa. He teaches a Christian all things (John 14:26). ab. He brings to a Christian's remembrance all that Jesus said (John 16:13). ac. He guides Christians into all the truth (John 16:13). ad. He bears witness to Jesus (John 15:26). ae. He glorifies Jesus (John 16:14). af. He takes of what is Jesus' and discloses it to Christians (John 16:14). ag. He hears (John 16:13). ah. He is a helper (John 16:7). ai. Is one with whom to have fellowship (2 Cor 13:14). aj. Is a comforter (Acts 9:31). ak. Jesus' disciples know Him (John 14:17). al. He abides with Christians (John 14:17). am. He will be with Christians forever (John 14:16). an. With the bride says, "Come!" (Rev 22:17)
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Summary 2: a. The Holy Spirit is a Person. b. The Holy Spirit is God with the Father and with the Son.
Endnotes: 11. Reasoning From the Scriptures, pp. 136-137, 361; Make Sure of All Things, p. 487 |
