PERSONALITY OF GOD - 4

FUNCTIONS OF PERSONALITY

 

 

The actual function of spirit may be equated with the action of per­sonality. The examination of a number of texts makes this very evident.

1.       In the area of origination it appears that the spirit is the ground and principle which explains creation. "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Psa. 33:6). The word breath is a rendering of the Hebrew word for spirit, which means that the going forth of divine energy in creation was the spirit. "So that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Heb. 11:3). Since God is referred to as the "Father of spirits" (Heb. 12:9), or as carried in the margin, the "Father of our spirits" (ASV; NASB), therefore the divine spirit is the seat or ground of personal life (James 2:26).

2.       In the intellectual sphere it is affirmed that the Holy Spirit knows the mind of God (1 Cor. 2:11) and He searches all things, even the deep things of God (1 Cor. 2:10). The Father of Spirits who searches the hearts of men also knows the mind of the Spirit (Rom. 8:27). As a result of the Spirit's interaction with people, the individual perceives in his spirit (Mark 2:8), he purposes in his spirit (Acts 19:21), he speaks in the Spirit (Matt. 10:20).

3.       In the area of devotion and worship which involves a combination of emotion and mental comprehension, Mary declares, "my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior" (Luke 1:47). Paul points to "the love of the Spirit" (Rom. 15:30). And he insists that "the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning’s which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26). And if anyone is to be a true worshipper of God, then he must worship in spirit (John 4:24). All these things grow out of a common sharing in the Spirit (Phil. 2:1).

All this finally must be reduced to one conclusion concerning the function of divine spirit, that God's spirit is essential life, essential energy, essential love, essential thought, or to put the matter in terms of the subject at hand, essential person (John 4:24; 1 John 1:5; 4:8).