God the Holy Spirit
Holy Ghost - "or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit; the third person of the Trinity; the sanctifier of souls." (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
The Holy Spirit is God
The Holy Spirit is God. (Ac 5:3,4)
The Holy Spirit is eternal. (Jn 14:16, Heb 9:14)
The Holy Spirit took part in the creation. (Ge 1:2)
The Holy Spirit took part in Christ's incarnation. (Lk 1:35)
The Holy Spirit took part in Christ's baptism. (Mt 3:16,17)
The Holy Spirit took part in Christ's resurrection. (Ro 8:11)
The Holy Spirit is Called the Spirit of Truth
The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth. (Jn 14:16,17)
The Holy Spirit Inspired the Bible
Inspiration - "The infusion of ideas into the mind by the Holy Spirit." (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
The Holy Spirit inspired the Bible. (2Sa 23:1,2, 1Ti 4:1, 2Ti 3:16, Heb 3:7,8)
Like all other scripture, Bible prophecy was also inspired by the Holy Spirit. (Ne 9:20,30, Jn 16:13, Ac 28:24-26, 1Co 2:9,10, 1Pe 1:10,11, 2Pe 1:20,21)
Thus, the Spirit of Truth inspired the Written Truth. (compare Jn 17:17)
The Holy Spirit is Called the Spirit of Christ
The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ. (Ro 8:9, 2Co 3:17,18, Gal 4:6, Php 1:19, 1Pe 1:11)
The Holy Spirit Testifies about Jesus
The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus. (Jn 16:13-15, Jn 15:26, Ac 1:8, 1Pe 1:12)
Thus, the Spirit of Truth testifies about the Living Truth. (compare Jn 14:6)
The Holy Spirit Works for our Complete Salvation
The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. (Jn 16:7,8)
Jesus saves us from the penalty of sin. (Isa 53:6, 1Pe 2:24)
Jesus saves us from the power of sin. (1Jn 3:4-6)
Jesus is our Righteousness. (Jer 23:6, Jn 15:4,5, Ro 5:17-19, 2Co 5:20,21, Php 1:11, Php 3:9)
Jesus will judge the world. (Jn 5:22,23, 2Co 5:10)
The Holy Spirit helps us progress through our lifelong, sanctification process. (Ro 8:26,27, 1Pe 1:2)
We Receive the Holy Spirit when we Receive Jesus as Saviour and Lord
We receive the Holy Spirit when we receive Jesus. (Ac 10:34-48, Eph 1:12-14)
Jesus can only truely be received as both Saviour and Lord. (Jn 14:15-17, Ac 5:32, Ro 8:1-10)
We confess Jesus as Lord as part of the salvation experience. (Ro 10:9)
Only through the Holy Spirit can we genuinely confess Jesus as Lord. (1Co 12:3)
Since God is one, when we receive Jesus, we receive the entire Godhead: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (compare Dt 6:4, Jn 14:18-23, and Jn 17:20-23)
The Holy Spirit Lives within and through Genuine Believers
The Holy Spirit lives within and through genuine believers. (Eze 36:26,27, Jn 14:16,17, 1Co 3:16, 1Co 6:19,20, Eph 2:19-22, 2Ti 1:14)
We experience spiritual birth. (Jn 3:5-8, 2Co 5:17)
We experience Christ within us. (2Co 13:5, Gal 2:20, Gal 4:19, Eph 3:16-19, Col 1:27, Col 3:11)
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Began an Era of Powerful Witnessing for Christ
The baptism of the Holy Spirit began an era of powerful witnessing for Christ. (Jn 15:26, Ac 1:8, Ac 2:17,18,21)
John baptized with water; Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. (Mt 3:11, Jn 1:32-34)
Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to His disciples after His resurrection. (Jn 20:17-22 compare Ge 2:7)
The promised "baptism" of the Holy Spirit began later at Pentecost, shortly after Christ's ascension. (Ac 1:1-9, Ac 2:1-4,32,33)
The Holy Spirit Gives Spiritual Gifts for Ministry
The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts for ministry to each believer. (1Co 12:1,4,11, Eph 4:11-13)
Every believer is to be involved in the gospel ministry. (Jn 15:26, 2Co 5:18-20, Eph 2:10)
The Holy Spirit anointed Jesus for ministry at the time of His baptism. (Mt 3:13-17, Lk 4:1,14,16-18, Ac 10:38)
Spiritual gifts can be given at any time. (Lk 11:13, 1Co 12:28-31, 1Co 14:1,12)
Gifts needed for building the temple (Ex 31:2-7):
List of gifts (Ro 12:4-8):
List of gifts (1Co 12:8-10):
List of gifts (Eph 4:7,8,11,12):
Prioritized list of gifts (1Co 12:28):
We are to Live by the Spirit
We are to live by the Spirit. (Zec 4:6, Ro 8:13, Gal 5:24,25, Gal 6:8)
We are to be filled with the Spirit. (Lk 11:13, Ac 6:3, Ac 11:22-24, Eph 5:18)
We are to speak as guided by the Spirit. (Lk 12:11,12, 1Co 2:13)
We are to produce the fruit of the Spirit. (Lk 3:7-9, Jn 15:1,2, Gal 5:22,23)
We can only produce fruit when connected to Jesus the Vine. (Jn 15:4,5)
Difficult
Is there an unforgivable sin that involves the Holy Spirit? (Mt 12:32, Mk 3:29) (Yes)
The Holy Spirit can communicate with people through their conscience. (Ge 6:1-3, Ro 2:14,15, 1Co 2:11-14, 1Pe 3:21)
We are not to resist or stifle the Spirit. (Ac 7:51-53, Eph 4:30, 1Th 5:19)
Through repeated, willful rejection, the conscience connection can be broken. (1Ti 1:19, 1Ti 4:1,2)
The unforgivable sin is to permanently reject Christ by turning deaf to the Holy Spirit. (Nu 15:29-31, Mt 13:14,15, Lk 12:10, Ac 28:25-28)
Anyone who is truly repentant can still receive forgiveness. (Lk 15:18-24, Ro 11:23,24, 1Jn 1:7,9)
Prior to Jesus' resurrection, did believers live without the benefit of the Holy Spirit? (Jn 7:37-39, Jn 16:5-7) (No)
In old testament times, the Holy Spirit empowered believers for special tasks. (Ex 31:1-6, Jdg 3:9,10, Jdg 15:12-15, 1Sa 11:5-11, 1Sa 16:11-13)
In old testament times, the Holy Spirit spoke through God's prophets. (2Sa 23:1,2, 2Ch 20:13-15, Eze 11:5, 2Pe 1:20,21)
In new testament times, prior to the resurrection, the Holy Spirit witnessed of Jesus through God's people. (Lk 1:41,42, Lk 1:67-79, Lk 2:25-32)
In old testament times, genuine believers were born of the Spirit. (Jn 3:5 compare Mt 8:11)
This verse also implies they were baptized with water. (compare 1Co 10:1,2)
In old testament times, the Holy Spirit guided believers. (Nu 11:16,17,25-29, Ne 9:19,20, Ps 51:11,12, Ps 143:10)
Prior to Jesus' resurrection, did the Holy Spirit live within believers? (Jn 7:37-39, Jn 16:5-7) (No)
In old testament times, the Holy Spirit was constrained because Christ had not yet overcome the flesh. (compare Jn 15:26)
In old testament times, the temple and the presence of God were external. (Ex 25:21,22, Ex 40:33-38, Heb 9:1-8)
Jesus' sacrificial death ended the external system. (Mt 27:50,51)
Jesus' resurrection began a new era of direct, personal access to God through Christ our High Priest. (Heb 4:14-16)
Did some receive the Holy Spirit only after their baptism? (Ac 2:36-41) (No)
Since the steps mentioned here ocurred all in one day, they cannot be automatically generalized as sequential for situations involving a longer time span.
The imperative to "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" implies first accepting Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
Those in the assembly who did not accept Jesus could not be genuinely baptized in His name. (Ro 10:13,14)
Baptism, in itself, does not wash away sins. Rather, we are cleansed by receiving Christ as Saviour and Lord. (Ro 10:8-10, 1Jn 1:7)
To receive Jesus, we need only ask Him to enter our life as Saviour and Lord. (Rev 3:20)
Note that the thief on the cross was saved, even though it was impossible for him to be baptised. (Lk 23:39-43)
Since he was saved, he certainly had received Jesus. (compare 1Jn 5:12)
Since God is one, when we receive Jesus, we receive the entire Godhead: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (compare Dt 6:4 and Jn 17:20-23)
Did some receive the Holy Spirit only after their baptism? (Ac 8:14-17) (No)
After their baptism, they received a bestowing and outward manifestation of spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit.
That spiritual gifts were outwardly manifest is evidenced by Simon the sorcerer's foolish request to purchase "this power" with money. (Ac 8:18-20)
Did some receive the Holy Spirit only after their baptism? (Ac 19:5,6) (No)
After their baptism, they received a bestowing and outward manifestation of spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit.
That spiritual gifts were outwardly manifest is evidenced by their speaking in tongues and prophesying.