29 Jan 18
Without going to another source...
I tend to view it as the omnipresent and all pervading will of God, and a sort of metaphysical "logos" that animates the spiritual structure of existence.
I think St. Augustine properly summed up the Trinity, though, by saying that we cannot fully comprehend God. It's like trying to put the sea into a single bucket. You can't do it. So, the Holy Spirit is incomprehensible to us and we cannot be certain of what it entials fully.
Great question.
29 Jan 18
Originally posted by @ogbGood question and one that has been discussed here at length before.
There are three parts to God...The Father, the son (Jesus) and the "Holy Ghost" whats that all about ?
First the bible says at Deut 6:4 that God is one God, not three gods. Yes Jesus is called a god in the bible, but so is Satan. The bible says there are many Gods, so for Jesus to be called a god is appropriate. But Jesus is never called the "Almighty God". Only Jehovah is referred to as the "Almighty God".
The Bible never refers to the holy spirit as a god in itself, but it has been called many other things that this link explains. Simply put it is the power or force that Jehovah uses to do his will not matter what it is. It would be like a human using the force or power that we use from our bodily muscles to use to pic up a book or wave to someone. God does not have a physical body but is a spirit being.
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/what-is-the-holy-spirit/#?insight[search_id]=659f92d8-6fba-4c78-b2d4-7f81cb19feaa&insight[search_result_index]=0
Originally posted by @ogbAccording to the gospel that Jesus preached, it is the "spirit of truth".
There are three parts to God...The Father, the son (Jesus) and the "Holy Ghost" whats that all about ?
As people are wont to do, over time they deified Jesus and mysticized the spirit of truth thus painting themselves into a theological corner which resulted in a nonsensical explanation that was dubbed the "trinity". Perhaps the biggest mystery is how many have bought into it.
Originally posted by @jacob-vervilleI’ve heard many explaination, similes, metaphors and idioms describing the godhead, but I think that saying “we cannot fully comprehend God” and that trying to do so is like “putting the sea into a single bucket”, has to be the least effective, least evocative and least scriptural attempt to describe either God, the trinity or the holy spirit that I’ve ever come across.
I think St. Augustine properly summed up the Trinity, though, by saying that we cannot fully comprehend God. It's like trying to put the sea into a single bucket. You can't do it. So, the Holy Spirit is incomprehensible to us and we cannot be certain of what it entials fully.
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29 Jan 18
1 edit
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity.
For lack of a better human language word, I am forced to use the word "Person".
The Holy Spirit as God Himself is God reaching man's inner being for the imparting of God into man.
The Third "Person" of the Triune God finally reaches man to be life to man and within man by the Holy Spirit.
In older times they used the word "Ghost."
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29 Jan 18
I was prayreading this morning First Corinthians. And I was confirmed that the Holy Spirit is more than just an impersonal force. Galveston will try hard to teach that.
But as in so very many verses, "Person" is more applicable for the nature of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit "searches", as a "Person" the depths of God.
"But to us God has revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God." (1 Cor. 2:10)
An impersonal force or energy does not search.
The Person of the Spirit searches the depths of the Person of God.
Originally posted by @sonshipYou were prayreading and you were confirmed?
I was prayreading this morning [b]First Corinthians. And I was confirmed that the Holy Spirit is more than just an impersonal force. Galveston will try hard to teach that.
But as in so very many verses, "Person" is more applicable for the nature of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit "searches", as a "Person" the depths of God.
[quote] [b ...[text shortened]... e or energy does not search.
The Person of the Spirit searches the depths of the Person of God.[/b]
What does that mean? Was God talking to you?
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29 Jan 18
Originally posted by @rajk999You mean God doesn't speak to you?
You were prayreading and you were confirmed?
What does that mean? Was God talking to you?
It is normal to have the speaking of God for a Christian.
It is abnormal if you never have the speaking of God and you claim to be a Christian.
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Originally posted by @divegeesterTo say that we cannot fully comprehend God is not the same as saying that we can never experience and enjoy God.
I’ve heard many explaination, similes, metaphors and idioms describing the godhead, but I think that saying “we cannot fully comprehend God” and that trying to do so is like “putting the sea into a single bucket”, has to be the least effective, least evocative and least scriptural attempt to describe either God, the trinity or the holy spirit that I’ve ever come across.
We also cannot fully comprehend even our own selves. But we know that we are real.
We can enjoy the "Wonderful" One as mysterious and not completely comprend-able. Yet He is "unto us" for our experience and enjoyment. See Isaiah 9:6.
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Originally posted by @fmfMy experience is that when God speaks to me it is ALWAYS based upon what He has said in the Bible.
Do you say things and behave in certain ways here because you feel your god figure has been speaking to you and telling you what to do?
If I come to you saying God spoke this or that to sonship and it flatly contradicts the word of God in the Bible, don't believe me.
God certainly speaks to the believer in Jesus Christ.
It is nothing to boast about if you have believed in Jesus and say " Why God never talks to ME !"
That means something abnormal is going on in your spiritual life. One needs to give attention to it.
One may pray thusly for an example:
" Lord Jesus, I have no word from You. I don't know what God wants to say to me. Lord Jesus, give me one word. I ask for just one word from You this week. Show me O Lord. Show me if there is something wrong with my heart that I cannot hear You. Thankyou Lord Jesus. I love You."
This little prayer is not a legality. It is a sample of a good place to start. You can always be HONEST with God.
God receives an HONEST opening of the heart and complaint.
Accompany such with thanksgiving and praise. You will get your answer in most cases.
29 Jan 18
Originally posted by @sonshipSo he speaks to Eladar and to divegeester and Rajk999 too right, not just you?
My experience is that when God speaks to me it is ALWAYS based upon what He has said in the Bible.
If I come to you saying God spoke this or that to sonship and it flatly contradicts the word of God in the Bible, don't believe me.
God certainly speaks to the believer in Jesus Christ.
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29 Jan 18
Originally posted by @fmfAs usual you try to push the matter to some skeptical advantage.
So he speaks to Eladar and to divegeester and Rajk999 too right, not just you?
God speaks to the believer if all is normal.
When there is a cessation of His speaking, the believer should seek out why. For God wants you to hear what the Spirit SAYS.
No FMF, I am not attaching to this post the definitive list of people here who have or have not had God's speaking.
That is not my point.