When we read the Bible we see the Father identified as God in Galatians 1:1 and lots of other places. Jesus is identified as God in Heb. 1:8, and also in several other passages, but where’s the Holy Spirit?
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead
Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,”
Why don’t we know as much about Him? Peter speaks of the Holy Spirit as God in Acts 5:4,3, but other than this, we have nowhere where the Holy Spirit is directly called God:
Acts 5:3,4 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.
So, the question is why doesn’t Scripture tell us more about the third Person of the Godhead?
I think the answer is twofold. First of all, Jesus tells us to be perfect as the Father is perfect:
Matt 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
How do we become perfect? By following His commands. So, following His commands makes us like Him. He wants us to be like Him by doing this.
Isa. 66:2b But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
So, to use a little logic here: God wants us to be like Him. He wants us to be humble, therefore God is humble. That’s a hard idea, that the God who created all things simply by speaking would be humble.
Let’s take that as the premise of our discussion, though. The Holy Spirit is God just as much as the Father and Son are God. If God is humble then it follows the Holy Spirit is humble.
The Bible is written to magnify the Father and the Son. They are the ones about Whom the Holy Spirit writes, not so much about Himself.
Some folks also ask why we don’t see the three Persons in the Old Testament. God is just “God.” We don’t see the three Persons distinctly presented.
I was also asked recently if the Old Testament Jews were trinitarians. That is a really good question. I don’t think most were, but we do see the trinity indicated a few times in the Old Testament: Genesis chapters 18 & 19; Amos 4:11; Isa. 44:6, and others. So, Moses, Amos, and Isaiah were trinitarians, but I don’t think it was a commonly held belief. After all, belief in the trinity is not necessary for salvation, only confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in your heart God raised Him from the dead is necessary (Rom. 10:9)
Why is this important?
The Holy Spirit is often ignored or paid less attention to compared to the Father and the Son. We don’t want to forget all the things He does and how He works in us.
The three Persons of the Trinity were not obvious in the Old Testament because all they needed to believe in was God. He is their salvation.
Ps. 17:7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.
To the Israelites, God was understood in a general way. He was their Savior, He was the one they prayed to, He was their hope. “God is one.” Then in the New Testament, we find this great Savior of theirs came to earth to dwell with men:
Acts 4:11, 12 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
A better understanding of God creates a better relationship with Him, our Lord and Savior.
To learn more about the Holy Spirit and some of the places He’s mentioned in Scripture, look here.
Believers Armed and Dangerous 