Monday, September 10, 2018

Who Is the Holy Spirit?


Who Is the Holy Spirit? 

By R.C. Sproul

 Reviewed by Linda Cliff

The topic of the Holy Spirit is one I have been thinking about for awhile and most books I looked at seemed to be very deep with much theology.  So when I came upon the Crucial Questions Series by Sproul and his booklet about the Spirit I felt I had hit the jackpot.  This series takes topics and discusses them in a pared down way.  So I felt this would be a beginning way to look at the topic of the Holy Spirit.

Sproul opens the booklet with a story of his fiancĂ©e's conversion and her recognition that the Spirit is a person and not a thing.  He goes on to say that it is important for Christians to know who the Holy Spirit is. Since the Biblical teaching on the Holy Spirit is extensive this booklet provides basic answers to the question of who the Spirit is and then touches briefly on some of the important roles He plays in the lives of believers.

Sproul begins with a discussion of the Trinity; he explains that in the Godhead there is one being with three persons.  Already this sounds confusing but with references to scripture and a measured approached the reader is introduced to the Holy Spirit as a person who empowers the people of God not just an abstract force. 

The next chapters describe the Holy Spirit as:
  • The Life Giver
  • The Advocate
  • The Sanctifier
  • The Anointer
  • The Illuminator

These chapters were not easy reads, but Sproul’s use of personal reflections and stories, and references to scripture help the reader to answer the question of who the Spirit is.  The chapter that I found most interesting was The Anointer. This chapter looked at the Spirit’s work in the Old Testament.  When I think of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost comes to mind.  I have never really thought about His work in the Old Testament, so this chapter opened a whole new meaning of who He is and his role in scripture.

I do recommend reading this booklet on the Holy Spirit.  It is less than a 100 pages and it will expand your understanding of His role in the Trinity.  Also the good news is that the booklet is easily down loaded from the Internet so you do not have to go searching for it! Ed. Note: epub and mobi files available here. 

In his introduction Sproul suggests that if you wish a fuller examination of the subject to see his book The Mystery of the Holy Spirit.

Linda Cliff

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