Hubert T. Spence (1898-?) served the IPHC as an evangelist, pastor, Bishop, General Secretary and Editor of The Advocate. THE PERSON, WORK AND WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THE HOLY SPIRIT A PERSON LESSON NO. 1 Introduction   The Holy Spirit should never be spoken of or referred to in the neuter gender. Never speak of Him as "it," but rather always as a personality and in the masculine gender. A personality denotes more than a mere physical form. It is true that a visible form is necessary as a channel of expression, but it is not our literal physical being that is alive, actually. James tells us that "the body without the spirit is dead." Jas. 2:26. It is the invisible spiritual personality of man, that which dwells within the human body that actually lives.. When this spiritual personality leaves the physical. structure there is no life, no feeling nor action in. the body. The body apart and alone, is dead. This, thought when adopted in the spiritual realm, and applied to the Holy Spirit, helps us to understand something about the invisible personality of the Holy Ghost. For the Holy Spirit is a person, yea the third person in the adorable Trinity. It is true that our bodies are, according to God's Word, temples of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 6:19 and 2 Cor. 6:16. And it is through these human forms that the Holy Spirit desires to express Himself, and through us He desires to work the works of God. Scriptural Proof that the Holy Spirit is a Person First Proof: Name given by Christ is the same as that used with reference to Christ Himself. "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever." John 14:16. "Comforter" is the same as "Advocate" and comes from the Greek word "paraclete" which means "One called along side to help." This same word is used with reference to Christ in 1 John 2:1.   Second Proof: The Holy Spirit is appointed by Christ as His Successor. John 14:16 and 26 declare that the Holy Ghost is the appointed and approved successor to Christ after He ascended to the Father, and none but a person can take the place of a person.   Third Proof: Personal pronouns used with reference to the Holy Spirit. The masculine personal pronoun, the strongest description of personality in the English language, is used by Christ no less than ten times in the following passage. "Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you."' John 16:13, 14, 15. Is it possible for us to read these plain statements of Christ, and still argue that the Holy Spirit is a mere abstract attribute, quality, energy or influence? If these Scriptures do not teach that the Holy Spirit is a Person, yea an intelligent being, then we know of no language that could teach the idea. Fourth Proof: Seventeen personal acts of the Holy Ghost, such as can only pertain to a personality, yea a person with real spiritual intelligence. 1. To be sent, John 16:7. 2. To come, verse 8. 3. To reprove, verse 8. 4. To guide, verse 13, 5. To speak, verse 13. 6. To hear, verse 13. 7. To show, verse 13. 8. To glorify, verse 14. 9. To receive, verse 14. 10. To take, verse 15. 11. To teach, Jno. 14:26, 12. To testify, Jno. 15:26. 13. He commands, Acts 13:2-4. 14. He forbids, Acts 16:6. 15. He intercedes, Rom. 8:26. 16. He searcheth, 1 Cor. 2:10. 17. He Strengthens, Eph. 3:16. Fifth Proof: Reactions of the Holy Ghost. 1. He may be grieved. Eph. 4:30. 2. He may be lied to. Acts 5:3. 3. He may be blasphemed and sinned against. Matt 12:31, 32. Could such expressions be made of a mere abstract influence or attribute? We cannot so admit. Sixth Proof: By honours ascribed to the Holy Ghost. In 1 Jno. 5:7, the Holy Spirit is set forth as one of the three heavenly Witnesses; "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost." Then again if the Holy Spirit is not a Person how is it that Jesus authorized water baptism in the name of the Holy Ghost? "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matt. 28:19. How utterly absurd to think that Christ would authorize this solemn dedication to the Person of the Father, to the Person of the Son, and then to a mere attribute, energy, something having no personal existence! No, such could not be attributed to Jesus Christ. This command of Christ alone is full and sufficient proof that the Holy Spirit is the third Person in the eternal God-head. Seventh Proof: By virtue of the work assigned to Him in the Church of Christ. Before Jesus ascended to the Father He not only appointed the Holy Ghost as His only Successor, He also made specific assignment as to His work. 1. He is to convict and reprove sin. Jno. 16:8. 2. He is the Revealer of all truth. Jno. 16:13, 14, 15. 3. He gives spiritual birth to the soul. John 3:3, 6, 8. 4. He is our personal Comforter. John 14:16, 18, 26. 5. He endues with power. Acts 1:8. 6. He is the dispenser of all spiritual gifts. 1 Cor. 12:7-11.