The spirit is an important concept in the Bible. The spirit has been defined as “the divine nature of God, the mind and will of God.” It is also used to refer to other things such as human emotions or “the Holy Spirit.” The Bible says that Jesus was born of a virgin (Mary) and was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This means he was born without a father, but instead had a mother and father who were both human beings.
The Holy Spirit is referred to throughout the New Testament. It is believed that this entity was sent from God in order for Jesus to perform miracles on Earth. It’s known that he performed many miracles including healing people from their sicknesses, raising people from the dead, casting out demons from possessed individuals and even calming storms at sea!
There are many examples of how Jesus’ miracles were performed through his ability with this spirit:
- He healed a blind man by spitting on his eyes and washing them with mud (Mark 8:22-25).
- He healed another blind man by putting mud over his eyes (Matthew 20:29-34).
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Some Bible readers assume that the Spirit’s activity in Scripture is limited to the New Testament. But actually He is just as active in the Old Testament.
No clearer statement of the intimate interworking of the triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and especially of the Spirit’s powerful role can be found in the Old Testament than in Isaiah’s prophecy of the Servant of the Lord (Is. 42:1–9). The passage summarizes the redeeming work of all three Persons of the Trinity in the salvation of the lost. Thus it ties together in remarkable harmony both the Old Testament and New Testament understandings of God’s grace. It also sheds light on our understanding of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Spirit participated in creation (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Is. 32:15).
2. The Spirit gives life to humanity and the other creatures (Ps. 104:29, 30). It is interesting that when Genesis says God endows people with life by breathing into their nostrils the “breath of life” (Gen. 2:7), the word for “breath” is the same word translated elsewhere as “spirit.”
3. The Spirit strives with sinners (Gen. 6:3), which is perhaps related to His work in convicting people of sin (John 16:8–11).
4. The Spirit came upon certain judges, warriors, and prophets in a way that gave them extraordinary power: for example, Joshua (Num. 27:18), Othniel (Judg. 3:10), Gideon (6:34), Samson (13:25; 14:6), and Saul (1 Sam. 10:9, 10). However, the Spirit later departed from Saul because of his disobedience (16:14).
5. The Spirit played a prominent role in the long span of Old Testament prophecy. David declared that “the Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2). Likewise, Ezekiel reported that “the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me” (Ezek. 2:2).
6. The Spirit inspired holiness in Old Testament believers (Ps. 143:10). And Scripture promised that someday God would put His Spirit in His people in a way that would cause them to live according to His statutes (Ezek. 36:27).
7. The Spirit was crucial in helping God’s people anticipate the ministry of the Messiah. For example, Isaiah 11:1–5 is a trinitarian preview of the working of the Father, the Spirit, and the Son, who is the Branch of Jesse. Looking forward to the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit inspired Isaiah to prophesy: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him” (Is. 11:2), inspiring God’s Chosen One with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, righteousness, and faithfulness. Thus we come full cycle to the New Testament, where Jesus claimed to be the fulfillment of this prophecy (Is. 61:1, 2; Luke 4:18, 19).
WHY IS THE HOLY SPIRIT CALLED, “THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST” AND, THE “SPIRIT OF JESUS?”
The Identity of the Holy Spirit – Question 16
The Holy Spirit is called by a number of different titles. They include the “Spirit of Jesus Christ” and the “Spirit of Jesus.”
When Paul wrote to the Philippians he referred to the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance (Philippians 1:19 NRSV).
In the Book of Acts we read of the Spirit of Jesus.
And after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them (Acts 16:7 NASB).
The Apostle Paul, when he wrote to the Galatians, called Him, “the Spirit of His Son.”
And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father (Galatians 4:6 NLT).
The Spirit of God is the Spirit of His Son.
Is There a Distinction between Them?
Does this mean they are the same Person and there is no distinction between them? Why do we find the Holy Spirit called the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of Jesus, and the Spirit of His Son?
The best answer seems to be the nature of the ministry of the Holy Spirit – Jesus sent the Holy Spirit and His job is to speak about Jesus. From Scripture we learn the following.
1. Jesus Sent the Holy Spirit
In a very real sense Jesus was the one who was the giver of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus came back from the dead, but before He ascended into heaven, He said the following to His disciples.
And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven (Luke 24:49 NLT).
Jesus said that “He” will send the Holy Spirit.
In the Gospel of John, we read about the risen Christ breathing on His disciples and telling them to “receive the Holy Spirit.” Scripture says.
Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22 CEV).
On the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter explained the source of the power they had experienced.
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear (Acts 2:33 NKJV).
The Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus Christ and is under the authority of Jesus.
2. The Holy Spirit Speaks Only of Jesus
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would be given to speak about Him. On the night of His betrayal, He said the following to His disciples.
However, the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything. He will remind you of everything that I have ever told you (John 14:26 God’s Word).
The Spirit of God, who will be sent in the name of the Father, will remind the believers of everything which Jesus taught. On that same night, Jesus again said that the Spirit would testify of Him. He said.
I will send you the Spirit who comes from the Father and shows what is true. The Spirit will help you and will tell you about me. Then you will also tell others about me, because you have been with me from the beginning (John 15:26-27 CEV).
The Spirit will teach these disciples the truths about Jesus.
Jesus then made these concluding remarks.
I have a lot more to tell you, but that would be too much for you now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into the full truth. He won’t speak on his own. He will speak what he hears and will tell you about things to come (John 16:12, 13 God’s Word).
According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit has come to glorify Jesus.
3. The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit now lives inside each believer in Jesus Christ. His ministry is to glorify Christ. Jesus said.
The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine. That is why I have said that the Spirit takes my message and tells it to you. (John 16:14, 15 CEV).
His job is not to speak of Himself but rather of Jesus.
4. There Is a Close Relationship between Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit
In fact, their relationship is so close that the Bible says both the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, live in the believer. Paul wrote.
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness (Romans 8:9, 10 NRSV).
Jesus, as well as the Spirit of God, dwells inside each believer.
Paul wrote that we have died to sin but are alive to Christ since Christ lives in us. He put it this way to the Galatians.
I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me. I don’t turn my back on God’s undeserved kindness. If we can be acceptable to God by obeying the Law, it was useless for Christ to die (Galatians 2:20, 21 CEV).
Both the Son and the Spirit live in the believer.
5. The Holy Spirit Reveals Jesus in Another Way
For the disciples, the coming of the Holy Spirit was like having Jesus with them in a new and meaningful way. When Jesus was with them they felt courage to do anything. Indeed, we read of Thomas giving the following words to the disciples.
Thomas, whose nickname was “Twin,” said to the other disciples, “Come on. Let’s go, so we can die with him” (John 11:16 CEV).
There was boldness with these men when they were in the presence of Jesus.
On the other hand, when Jesus was taken away from them, these same men became fearful of the crowds. The Bible says.
Then everyone deserted him and fled (Mark 14:50 TNIV).
Therefore, when Jesus was absent from them their behavior changed.
Indeed, after Jesus’ death the disciples went into hiding. The Bible says.
In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were [gathered together] with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” (John 20:19 HCSB).
On Easter Sunday, these disciples of Jesus were hiding when He appeared to them.
When they realized Jesus had risen they were again courageous. The Bible records what occurred in this manner.
After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.” Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:26-28 HCSB).
The presence of God, whether through the person of Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit, gives strength to believers.
6. The Holy Spirit Came down in a Unique Way on the Day of Pentecost
When the Day of Pentecost arrived, and the Holy Spirit came down on the disciples in a new and unique way, the presence of Christ was with them all the more.
Although the visible presence of the risen Christ was no longer with the disciples, the Spirit of Christ was with them always.
CONCLUSION: THE TITLES EMPHASIZE THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES THE WORK OF JESUS
Therefore the title “Spirit of Jesus Christ,” “Spirit of Christ,” or “Spirit of His Son” emphasizes the fact that the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus. The Holy Spirit is not the same Person as Jesus Christ but rather He came to do Jesus’ work. In that sense He is the Spirit of Jesus.
Summary – Question 16
Why Is the Holy Spirit Called, “the Spirit of Jesus Christ” and “the Spirit of Jesus?”
The Bible makes a distinction between Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. They are, in fact, distinct Persons. Yet the Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Spirit of Jesus or the Spirit of Christ. This particular designation of the Holy Spirit has caused some people to assume that He and Jesus Christ are the same person. Yet, this is not the case.
The reason as to why the Holy Spirit is called the “Spirit of Jesus Christ,” the “Spirit of Jesus,” and the “Spirit of His Son” because He was sent by Jesus to remind the world of what Jesus did – not because they are the same Person.
For the disciples, the Holy Spirit was like having Jesus with them in a new and meaningful way. While the visible presence of Jesus Christ is no longer in the world, He is with believers in the Person of the Holy Spirit. This is the likely reason the Holy Spirit is known as the Spirit of Jesus of the Spirit of Christ.
