SPELLING EDITED Christians who believe and teach the doctrine of the Trinity sincerely believe and teach that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity Godhead who is called God the Holy Spirit. Non-Trinitarian Christians also called Unitarian Christians argue that the phrases “God the Holy Spirit”, God the Holy Ghost”, and “God the Spirit” are NOT found in the Bible. Now, one of the reasons for this argument is to show Trinitarian Christians that the Trinity doctrine cannot possibly be true if there are only TWO persons who are called God in the Bible. And since the Holy Spirit is never SPECIFICALLY called God in the Bible ITSELF then to Unitarian Christians the Holy Spirit cannot be the THIRD person of a so-called Trinity God. Consequently, some Unitarian Christians, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, have reasoned that since the Bible itself does not specifically call the Holy Spirit by the name or title of God, then to THEM the Holy Spirit must NOT be a person. And thus the Jehovah’s Witnesses sincerely believe and teach that the Holy Spirit is a FORCE or POWER that is USED BY Almighty God and to THEM the Holy Spirit is NOT a PERSON. Likewise, another Unitarian group of Christians called the Christadelphians have also concluded that the Holy Spirit is a force of power that is used by God. And just recently I have learned about some other Christians that sincerely believe that the Holy Spirit is the Angel of the Lord. Now, this was new to me. And to be honest I thought to myself, “How could anyone ever draw such a conclusion that the Holy Spirit is an ANGEL which is a created being?” Now I know that the word translated as angel also means messenger. So I asked the brother in the Lord who wrote to me saying that he believes that the Holy Spirit is the angel of the Lord this question. And he said that the word angel also means a messenger sent by God and that he does not mean that the Holy Spirit is a LITERAL angel but rather the Holy Spirit is a MESSENGER sent by God who is called the Angel of the LORD in the Old Testament. Later, he explained that this is what the book called the Shepherd of Hermas and the book of Enoch teaches. Well, I myself do NOT teach Bible doctrine from books that are NOT in the 66 books of the Holy Bible. So in just a moment in this study of God’s word we will look at what the Bible ITSELF says about the angel of the Lord and the Holy Spirit to see if they are one and the self-same being. But first, let us see what some other Christians believe and teach concerning who or what is the Holy Spirit. Biblical Unitarians, on the other hand, do indeed believe and teach that the Holy Spirit is a PERSON but that he is NOT the THIRD person of a so-called Trinity Godhead. Now SOME Biblical Unitarians believe that the Holy Spirit is Yahweh the Father himself but ALSO that the Holy Spirit is a power, force, or energy that is used and sent by Yahweh the Father. So then, to many Biblical Unitarians that Holy Spirit is BOTH a PERSON who is Yahweh the Father and also IT is a POWER. So to THEM, the Holy Spirit is both a HE and an IT. Now, I myself believe and teach that the Holy Spirit IS the Father. And since God is Spirit who is present everywhere at the same time then God, in essence, is a part of all his creation. And like our muscles and our strength are a PART of our own body. So also is the POWER of the Holy Spirit a PART of the whole BEING of Yahweh the Father. Obviously, we, as human beings, cannot detach our arms and send them to help empower someone but we are NOT Almighty God who is SPIRIT. So who is to say that God cannot send a PART OF or an EARNEST of his OWN Holy Spirit to dwell in millions of Christians all at the same time plus be present everywhere else in the entire universe. So for ME, I do NOT see the Holy Spirit as an IT. For a deeper understanding on this subject, please read the study called “THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE FATHER!” for all the verses in the Bible on this topic. But for right now, let us view all the beliefs listed above as OPINIONS and take a closer look at the Bible by considering ALL the verses concerning the Holy Spirit. So then, what does the Bible ITSELF teach us as to who is the Holy Spirit? Let us begin this study in God's word to see what the Bible teaches concerning who or what the Holy Spirit is NOT! In this section we will be searching for the answer to the question, “Is the Holy Spirit the Angel of the Lord?” and “Is the Holy Spirit the angel Gabriel?”. SECTION 1. IS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD THE HOLY SPIRIT? Let us begin this section of who is the Holy Spirit by reading some passages of Scripture having the phrases “the angel of the Lord” and “the Holy Spirit” or “the Holy Ghost” in them. Please read Matthew 1:20. “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is OF the Holy Ghost.” Please notice that the angel of the Lord who is the one speaking to Joseph did NOT say that what was conceived in Mary your wife was conceived in her by ME. The angel of the Lord spoke of the Holy Spirit of something or someone OTHER THAN himself. Now let us compare Scripture with Scripture and read where the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. The Quran teaches that the Holy Spirit is the angel Gabriel and some Christians believe that the angel Gabriel is the Angel of the Lord. Please read Luke 1:19 first. And then we will skip down to Luke 1:26-35. Luke 1:19,26-35. “19. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto you and to show you these glad tidings. ... (So, from this verse we can clearly see that the angel Gabriel is NOT Almighty God Yahweh because he stands is the PRESENCE OF Almighty God Yahweh) … 26. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, (BUT so also is the Holy Spirit SENT from God. So just these verses alone and by themselves do not prove that Gabriel is the Holy Spirit. So let us keep reading the context where the angel Gabriel was sent by God) 27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, you that are highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed are you among women. 29. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God. 31. And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS. 32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there shall be no end. 34. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.” So then, in verse 35 we can clearly see that the angel Gabriel is NOT the Holy Spirit as well. The angel Gabriel did NOT say that he would come upon Mary but rather Gabriel said the SAME thing as the angel of the Lord said in Matthew 1:20 that it was BY the Holy Spirit that she would conceive the baby Jesus in her womb. Now, we really should not have to look any further in the Scriptures to KNOW that the Holy Spirit is NOT the angel of the Lord or the angel Gabriel but I would like to point out a few other characteristics that DIFFER between the Angel of the Lord from the characteristics of the Holy Spirit. DIFFERENCE #1. The Angel of the Lord APPEARS to people. The Holy Spirit does NOT APPEAR to people. Judges 6:12. “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor.” Every time the angel of the Lord APPEARS to someone he also has a message from God to give to them. Here in this verse we again see that the angel the LORD is NOT Yahweh. Judges 13:3. “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, you are barren, and bear not: but you shall conceive, and bear a son.”
Matthew 1:20. “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is OF the Holy Ghost.” We have already covered this verse but I thought I should point out again that the angel of the Lord is NOT the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:11. “And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.” We have seen several verses where the angel of the Lord APPEARED to people. But yet there are no verses in the King James Version of the Bible that says the Holy Spirit APPEARED to anyone. DIFFERENCE #2. The Spirit of the Lord comes UPON the people of God. The Angel of the Lord does NOT come UPON anyone. Judges 3:10. “And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.” 1 Samuel 10:10. “And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came UPON him, and he prophesied among them.” Acts 1:8. “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Luke 1:35. “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: THEREFORE (Or for this very reason of the Holy Spirit coming upon you to conceive in your womb) also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.” Again, we find several verses where the Holy Spirit COMES UPON people. But yet there is not one verse where the Angel of the Lord COMES UPON anyone. DIFFERENCE #3. The Angel of the Lord is SEEN by people. The Holy Spirit is NOT SEEN by people. We have already covered many verses where the Angel of the Lord was SEEN by people when he APPEARED to them to give them a message from Yahweh. But there is one event where the Holy Spirit was seen AS a dove descending upon Jesus at his Baptism. And there is also one more event in Acts chapter 2 where the Holy Spirit was HEARD as a mighty rushing wind and perhaps seen as cloven tongues of fire upon the heads of the disciples. So the question becomes whether or not the Holy Spirit was literally seen or not. Here is what Jesus says about the Holy Spirit being like the wind where we can see the EFFECTS of the wind but we do not actually SEE the wind. Now, I believe that most Christians can clearly see that the Holy Spirit is NOT the Angel of the Lord or the angel Gabriel. So then, let us begin section 2 with searching for SIMILARITIES between the Holy Spirit and God.
SECTION #2. IS THE HOLY SPIRIT GOD? Let us begin section two by reading the verse where Jesus describes to Holy Spirit as the WIND which blows but no man can tell where the wind comes from or where the wind is going. In other words, we can see the EFFECTS of the wind but we cannot actually see the wind itself with our natural eyes. Please read John 3:5-8. “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is BORN OF the Spirit is spirit. 7. Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again. 8. The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it cometh, and whither it goes: so is every one that is BORN OF the Spirit.” In other words, we can see the EFFECTS of a person who is truly a born-again Christian but we cannot actually SEE the spiritual BIRTH happening. Please notice the phrase “BORN OF the Spirit”. Now, let us take a look at the phrase “BORN OF God”. Please read the following verses. 1 John 3:9. “Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 4:7. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God.”
1 John 5:1. “Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and everyone that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him.”
1 John 5:4. “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:18. “We know that whosoever is born of God sins not, but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not.” Now, since Jesus also said that God is a SPIRIT in John 4:23,24 and that he is speaking of the FATHER who desires to be worshiped in Spirit and in truth then we can conclude that the Holy Spirit IS the Father. John 4:23,24. “But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. 24. God IS a SPIRIT: and they that worship him must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.” Now according to 1 Timothy 6:13-16 we know that God is INVISIBLE and that he cannot be seen. Please read 1 Timothy 6:13-16. “I give you charge in the sight of God, who quickens all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14. That you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15. Which in his times (Speaking of both the first and second coming of Jesus) he shall show, WHO is the blessed and ONLY Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16. Who ONLY has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.” So according to Jesus, no man has SEEN the FATHER. And according to his disciples NO man has SEEN God and neither CAN mortal man SEE him. The word man here means human, as in, mortal man. My point right now is that God is INVISIBLE and cannot be seen with mortal human eyes. Please read the following verses. John 6:46. “Not that any man has seen the Father, save he which is of God, he has seen the Father.” John 1:18. “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.” 1 John 4:12. “No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us.” We also know that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Colossians 1:15. “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” 1 Timothy 1:17. “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
So I would have to say that John the Baptist saw the EFFECT of the Holy Spirit descending from heaven LIKE a DOVE. Remember that God dwells in the LIGHT. And we can see light. When light passes through a prism the light forms SHAPES. So to me, what John SAW was the effect of the Spirit dwelling in the light forming a shape of light LIKE or AS a dove would be descending down from heaven. Also, the word translated as SAW means that John PERCEIVED or was AWARE OF the Holy Spirit descending LIKE or AS a DOVE would descending. So John may have not literally seen anything with his eyes and rather he perceived that Holy Spirit descended slowly and resting upon Jesus. When some Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit their continence changes and there is a LIGHT around them. Another likeness between God and the Holy Spirit is that they are said to be ETERNAL or immoral. Please read Hebrew 9:14. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, (Or the Blood of the ANOINTED Son of man, Jesus) who through the eternal Spirit (Or through the POWER of the ANOINTING dwelling in him. So then, Jesus) offered himself without spot TO God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Now, Trinitarian Christians interpret that verse as a TRINITY because the Son of God the Holy Spirit and God are all mentioned in the same verse. But to ME, there is a problem with this Trinitarian interpretation because 1 Timothy 6:13-16 clearly teaches us that there is only ONE who has always been IMMORTAL. Please read 1 Timothy 6:15,16. “Which in his times (Speaking of both the first and second comings of Jesus) he (Jesus) shall show, WHO is the blessed and ONLY Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (Remember that 1 Timothy 1:17 teaches us that the INVISIBLE God is the ETERNAL KING) 16. Who ONLY has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.” People have SEEN Jesus. So this verse is speaking of the INVISIBLE ONE and ONLY TRUE God the Father. OR this verse is speaking of the ETERNAL Holy Spirit because there is ONLY ONE who has always been IMMORTAL or ETERNAL. So to ME, since there is but ONE SPIRIT, and since there is but ONE God, and since God IS a SPIRIT, and since there is ONLY ONE INVISIBLE being who has always been ETERNAL or IMMORTAL. And since there can only be ONE ALMIGHTY God, then I myself have concluded that the Holy Spirit IS Yahweh the Father who ALONE is the Almighty and one TRUE God. We know that Almighty God the Father DWELT in Jesus. John 14:10,11. “Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father IN me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that DWELLS IN me, he does the works. 11. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father IN me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.” And we know that Jesus was ANOINTED with the HOLY SPIRIT. Acts 10:38. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was WITH him.” So for ME, I sincerely believe that the Holy Spirit IS God but I do NOT believe that the Holy Spirit is a SEPARATE person from Almighty God the Father. Rather I myself believe that the Holy Spirit and Almighty God the Father are ONE and the SELF-SAME being. And, therefore, I do NOT see the Holy Spirit as a THIRD person of a so-called Trinity God. Please read the studies related to the doctrine of the Trinity listed in “A LIST OF STUDIES ON THE TRINITY”. Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to see the truth of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark. RETURN TO HOMEPAGE AT VERSES USED TO TEACH THAT JESUS PREEXISTED! Below is a link to a complete list of all the studies that I have which show WHY I no longer believe in the doctrine of the Trinity and why I can NEVER believe in the doctrine of Oneness. I assure you that every verse that SEEMS to be saying that Jesus pre-existed in eternity past has another meaning that does NOT contradict any other verses of Scripture in the entire Bible. >>>VERSES USED TO TEACH THAT JESUS PRE-EXISTED!<<< |
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