When Christians begin studying the Holy Spirit, it is easy to become fascinated by questions about what He does. How does the Holy Spirit guide us? What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? Does He still perform miracles? What are spiritual gifts? How can we recognize His work in our lives?
Those are important questions, and we will examine them throughout this series. But before focusing on the individual works of the Spirit, there is a larger question we should ask: What is the Holy Spirit ultimately trying to accomplish?
Fortunately, Jesus gave us a remarkably clear answer. During His final night with the apostles, Jesus explained that the Holy Spirit would come after Him. In the middle of that discussion, Jesus made a simple statement that provides one of the most important keys to understanding the Spirit:
“He will glorify Me.” (John 16:14)
Those four words tell us something fundamental about the Holy Spirit. His work is not ultimately about drawing attention to Himself. He points us toward Jesus. He reveals Christ, testifies about Christ, helps people understand the truth about Christ, and transforms Christians increasingly into the likeness of Christ.
If we want to understand the Holy Spirit, this is one of the best places to begin.
The Holy Spirit Testifies About Jesus
Jesus repeatedly told His apostles that the Spirit’s work would be centered on Him. Earlier in the same conversation, Jesus said:
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me.” (John 15:26)
The Spirit would testify about Jesus. He would help the apostles understand who Jesus was and communicate that truth to others. This became especially important after Jesus returned to the Father. The apostles would soon be responsible for carrying the message of Christ throughout the world, and the Holy Spirit would empower and guide that mission. Jesus made this connection even clearer immediately before His ascension:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…” (Acts 1:8)
Notice the purpose of the power they would receive. The Spirit was not given simply so the apostles could have extraordinary spiritual experiences. They received power so that they could be witnesses for Jesus. That pattern is important. The Holy Spirit’s work consistently directs attention toward Christ.
The Holy Spirit Was Involved in the Life of Jesus
The relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit did not begin at Pentecost. The Spirit was involved throughout the earthly life and ministry of Christ. When the angel Gabriel explained to Mary how she would conceive Jesus, he said:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…” (Luke 1:35)
When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him:
“And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove…” (Luke 3:22)
Jesus then began His public ministry “full of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1). He performed mighty works through the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28). Hebrews tells us that Christ offered Himself through the eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14), and Paul connects the Spirit with the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11).
From His conception to His ministry, His sacrifice, and His resurrection, the Holy Spirit was intimately involved in the work of Christ.
The Holy Spirit Reveals the Truth About Jesus
Jesus also promised that the Spirit would guide His apostles into truth. He told them:
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” (John 16:13)
Jesus then immediately connects that work with Himself:
“He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” (John 16:14)
This helps us understand an important part of the Holy Spirit’s role in giving us Scripture. The apostles were entrusted with proclaiming the message of Jesus to the world. The Spirit guided them and brought Jesus’ teaching to their remembrance (John 14:26). The Spirit also worked through the prophets and other inspired writers who gave us the Scriptures.
Peter explains:
“For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1:21)
One of the greatest works of the Holy Spirit, therefore, is something Christians can hold in their hands today. Through inspired Scripture, the Spirit has given us the truth about God, salvation, and Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit Leads People to Confess Jesus as Lord
Paul gives us another important statement about the Spirit’s purpose:
“No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)
Paul is not saying that a person is physically incapable of speaking those three words without supernatural assistance. He is talking about genuinely recognizing and confessing the lordship of Christ.
The Spirit’s work leads people toward Jesus. He does not compete with Christ for our devotion. He does not establish a separate spiritual path alongside Christ. His work helps people see the truth of who Jesus is.
This gives us an important principle for evaluating claims about the Holy Spirit. Genuine work of the Spirit will be consistent with the truth about Jesus revealed in Scripture and will ultimately honor Christ as Lord.
The Holy Spirit Transforms Us Into the Image of Christ
The Spirit does not simply help us learn facts about Jesus. His work reaches much deeper. He changes us.
Paul describes this transformation in 2 Corinthians:
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
The goal is not merely that Christians know more about Christ. The goal is that we increasingly become like Him.
This helps us understand why the fruit of the Spirit is so important. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are not random spiritual qualities. They reflect the character God desires to produce within His people. As the Spirit works within us, our lives should increasingly resemble the character of Christ.
The same principle applies to holiness, service, unity, prayer, and spiritual gifts. The Spirit’s work is not primarily about making Christians appear more spiritual. His work transforms us so that Christ becomes increasingly visible in the way we live.
Spiritual Gifts Are Meant to Serve Christ’s Purposes
This principle becomes especially important when we talk about spiritual gifts. Gifts can easily become a source of fascination. People may wonder which gift they possess, whether certain miraculous gifts still exist, or whether one gift is more important than another. We’ll get more into spiritual gifts further in this series, but for now, consider their purpose.
But Paul repeatedly brings the discussion back to purpose. Spiritual gifts are given “for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). They are not badges of spiritual importance. They are abilities God gives His people so they can serve one another and build up the body of Christ. Peter makes the same point:
“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)
And what is the ultimate result?
“So that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 4:11)
Even spiritual gifts lead us back to the same destination: serving others and bringing glory to God through Jesus Christ.
The Spirit Does Not Seek the Spotlight
There is something remarkable about the Holy Spirit’s ministry. Although He is fully divine, His work consistently directs our attention toward the Father and the Son.
Jesus says, “He will glorify Me.” The Spirit testifies about Jesus. He inspired the Scriptures that reveal Jesus. He empowered the apostles to witness about Jesus. He leads people to confess Jesus as Lord. He transforms believers into the likeness of Jesus. He gives gifts that build up the body of Christ.
This gives us a valuable safeguard when evaluating teachings or experiences that are attributed to the Holy Spirit. The question should never simply be, “Did something supernatural happen?” or “Did this experience feel powerful?” A better question is whether it is consistent with Scripture and whether it ultimately points people toward Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit never needs to contradict the Word He inspired in order to accomplish the work God has given Him to do.
A Christ-Centered Understanding of the Holy Spirit
Sometimes Christians unintentionally separate the study of the Holy Spirit from the study of Jesus. One group may emphasize Christ while saying relatively little about the Spirit. Another may emphasize the Spirit so strongly that Jesus seems to move into the background.
Scripture gives us no reason to make that choice. The ministries of Jesus and the Holy Spirit are deeply connected. The more accurately we understand the Holy Spirit, the more clearly we should see Christ.
This is why Jesus’ statement is such a useful guide:
“He will glorify Me.” (John 16:14)
Those four words can help us navigate many of the questions we will encounter throughout this series. When we discuss receiving the Spirit, His indwelling presence, His guidance, the fruit of the Spirit, being filled with the Spirit, or spiritual gifts, we should never lose sight of the larger purpose.
The Holy Spirit came to accomplish the purposes of God and to glorify Jesus Christ.
Where Do We Go From Here?
With these first five articles, we have established an important foundation. The Holy Spirit is a Person. He is divine. He exists in relationship with the Father and the Son within the one God. And His work consistently points us toward Jesus.
Now we are ready to move from the question of who the Holy Spirit is to the story of what He has done. Scripture speaks of a time when God would pour out His Spirit in a new and extraordinary way. Jesus promised it. The prophets anticipated it. And in Acts 2, something happened that changed the course of God’s relationship with His people.
That is where we turn next: What Does It Mean That the Holy Spirit Was “Poured Out”?
Want to Go Deeper?
This article is adapted from my book, Understanding the Holy Spirit: A Scriptural Study Guide. If you’d like to explore the Holy Spirit in greater depth, including His indwelling presence, His work in our lives, the fruit of the Spirit, being filled with the Spirit, spiritual gifts, and much more, the complete study is available on Amazon.