In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. Last week I began looking at where the Bible teaches that God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are equal with God the Father. So we saw that they are God because they are called ‘God’. This week I want to show that they are God because they share some of the Father’s attributes.
One of the attributes of God is his omniscience – his ability to know all things. And in the Scriptures we see that Jesus and the Holy Spirit share this attribute with God. For example, Jesus knows all about humans: ‘But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man’ (John 2:24-25). But his disciples make an even greater claim about Jesus’ knowledge: ‘Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions’ (John 16:30). Meanwhile the Holy Spirit demonstrates his omniscience in knowing the mind of God: ‘The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God’ (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
Another attribute that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are said to share with the Father is omnipresence – the ability to be everywhere. Jesus says to his disciples: ‘For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them’ (Matthew 18:20). Also: ‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20). When it comes to the Holy Spirit’s omnipresence, we read: ‘Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast’ (Psalm 139:7-10).
Thus it is clear even from just a few examples that the Bible teaches that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are God not only in name, but also in their attributes. No human can ever claim to know all things and to be everywhere.
So do you believe that Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God? Or do you deny the Bible’s teachings and make your own God?
Joel Radford.
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