Question 31: Who is the Holy Spirit?

Read: Genesis 1:2
Listen: Genesis 1

Question: Who is the Holy Spirit?

Answer: The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity, the power behind all that God does. The Spirit is active in believers’ lives.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Genesis 1:2

From the very beginning of Scripture, the Holy Spirit is present and active in God’s creative work. The Spirit of God hovers over the waters as God speaks creation into existence, revealing the Spirit’s essential role in all God does. Throughout the Old Testament, the Spirit empowers individuals like Samson, Saul and David in amazing ways. The Spirit is fully God, yet distinct from the Father and the Son. He is involved in the virgin birth of Christ (Matthew 1:20). He descends upon Jesus at his baptism and anoints him for ministry (Matthew 3:16). The Spirit empowers Jesus to remain sinless and obedient to the Father (Hebrews 9:14). And through the Spirit, human beings faithfully recorded God’s Word (2 Peter 1:21).

This same Spirit continues divine work in believers’ lives today. The Spirit living within us is fully God—not a force or inclination. This understanding transforms how we approach our spiritual lives. The Spirit who empowered people and inspired Scripture now regenerates, indwells, adopts and seals us when we come to faith in Jesus. The Spirit transforms us into Christlikeness, helping us defeat sin and produce the fruit of the Spirit. We can walk in confidence knowing God himself lives within us.

TODAY: Thank God for his Spirit. Ask the Spirit to reveal areas of your life that need his transforming power. Submit to his guidance, trusting that the Spirit is actively working in your life. Learn more about the Holy Spirit’s work in our We Believe document.