THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

While there is but one God, the one God is a Trinity.  At Creation, the Word says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen. 1:1).  "God" ('elohiym) is plural.  When the Triune God was ready to create mankind, He said, "...Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." (Gen. 1:26).  The Scripture uses plural pronouns, because the Father commanded (Gen. 1:3, 26; Jn. 12:50; etc.), the Son created (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-2; etc.), and the Spirit breathed into man life (Gen. 2:7; Job 27:3; 34:14; Isa. 42:5; etc.).

To the Jews, the concept of a Triune God is heresy.  They were, and still are, quick to point to Deuteronomy 6:4, which says, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD."  However, the Hebrew for this verse says:   shama` (hear), Yisra'el  (Israel): Yĕhovah (LORD) 'elohiym (God) 'echad  (one) Yĕhovah (LORD).  Notice, as I said before, that the word 'elohiym is plural; Yĕhovah is singular. 

There is irony in the fact that the Jews bristle at the suggestion of a Trinity, since the Old Testament speaks of God as having a Son (Ps. 110:1; Prov. 30:4; compare Mt. 22:44; Acts 7:49; 1 Cor. 15:25; Heb. 1:13; 10:12-13; etc.)!  And, it was clear to Jesus' enemies that He was claiming to be "the Son of God" (Mt. 26:63-66; Lk. 22:67-71; Jn. 5:18; etc.).

There is little in the Word of God that addresses the Holy Spirit as God, although it is clearly stated in Acts 5:3-4!  Perhaps that is due to His mission.  Jesus said when He would come, He would be totally focused upon convincing the lost that Jesus was Israel's Christ, and the Savior of all who would acknowledge Him as Lord (Jn. 16:7-11; Acts 2:1-44; Rom. 10:9-17; etc.).  He said, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me" (Jn. 15:26).  And again in John 16:13-14, His mission is clear:  "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." 

If you are filled with the Spirit, your focus will be on Jesus!