In this article we are going to prove that the Holy Spirit is indeed a Person distinct from the Father, contrary to the Christadelphian belief in which they reject the Personhood of the Spirit of God.

We reject the doctrine – that the Holy Spirit is a person distinct from the Father.

“God fills His creation. All of its activity is because of His wise and sustaining Spirit, the divine energy working out His gracious purpose. The Spirit is not a “separate” or “other” person. It is God’s own radiant power, ever outflowing from Him, by which His “everywhereness” is achieved. The Spirit is personal in that it is of God Himself: it is not personal in the sense of being some other person within the Godhead.” — christadelphia.org

The Christadelphians claim the Holy Spirit is not a Person, when the Lord Jesus was baptised we see something interesting. We have Christ in the water, the heavens were opened “the Spirit of God” came down upon Jesus and we have a voice from heaven saying “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” there’s no mistake that the voice from heaven was God the Father.

But we have a classic view of the Trinity in this passage (1) Jesus Christ in the water (2) The Holy Spirit coming down as a dove (3) A voice from heaven which is God the Father. 3 distinct Persons are involved in Matthew 3:16-17.

Matthew 3:16-17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The Christadephians would still reject this claiming this is not enough proof, ok let’s see if we have more evidence for the Personhood of the Holy Spirit? There are certain categories in which we can prove the Holy Spirit possesses Personhood.

Intelligence

The Holy Spirit shows the capability to know, think and understand, He searches all the deep things concerning God. The Holy Spirit is capable of knowing all the divine truth of the Godhead. This is a character trait of Personhood. Just as the Lord Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things concerning Him (John 14:26).

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Emotion

He has emotional capacity to feel and love. The Holy Spirit is capable of feeling grief which is an emotional trait, only a Person can feel grieved.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

How can “energy” be grieved? It cannot because energy doesn’t have a capacity to feel emotions. Only a Person has the ability to be grieved, and if they experience grief they can also experience the capacity to love as well.

Will

Lastly, He has the ability to decide and act according to His will. According to this verse in Corinthians the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts as He wills. Thereby, this shows the Spirit of God through His actions of giving is a Person.

1 Corinthians 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Conclusion

These 3 passages show the Holy Spirit is possesses the ability of intelligence, the capacity of emotion feeling love and grief, and He can also give gifts according to His will. This are characteristics only a Person can have. The Holy Spirit is not some “force”, “energy” or power emanating from God.