There is much confusion concerning the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not responsible for this confusion, “For God is not the author of confusion. . .” (1 Cor. 14:33). Why all the confusion concerning the Holy Spirit?

Not Knowing the Scriptures. A failure to know the Scriptures is the basic cause of religious error and confusion. It is as Jesus said to the Sadducees, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:29). If men would but search the Scriptures (Acts 17:11) and accept what the Holy Spirit has revealed about Himself, instead of listening to the personal testimony of misguided men, there would not be so much confusion concerning the Holy Spirit. Paul penned, “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:5).

Not Observing How the Word “Spirit” Is Used in the Bible. About every time some see the word “spirit” in the Bible, they think they have found the Holy Spirit. And some assume it is some miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Yet, the word “spirit” is used different ways in the Scriptures. Sometimes the word refers to one’s attitude or disposition – “the spirit of meekness” (Gal. 6:1). There are instances where the word represents the human spirit – “For as the body without the spirit is dead. . .” (James 2:26). And there are passages where the word obviously stands for the Holy Spirit – “But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39). When we allow the context to determine the meaning of the word “spirit,” and respect the context of the passage, we will not be so confused about the Holy Spirit.

Losing Sight of the Fact that the Holy Spirit Is a Person. Confusion concerning the Holy Spirit comes when men lose sight of the fact that the Holy Spirit is a person. The personal pronouns “he” and “himself” show the Holy Spirit is a person – “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” (John 16:13). When men teach that the Holy Spirit literally and actually dwells in one’s bodily person, they have lost sight of the fact that the Holy Spirit is a person, and this causes confusion.

Not Realizing the Holy Spirit Works through the Medium of the Word of God. Every influence the Holy Spirit exerts upon the heart of man He does so through the word of God, and the word of God alone. There are no exceptions to this rule. Name one action the Holy Spirit performs on the mind of man that is not affirmed of the word of God in the Bible. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). Confusion comes when men claim direct influence of the Holy Spirit, apart from the word of God.

Diversity among Those Claiming Direct Influence of the Holy Spirit. The fact that folks are members of different religious bodies, and teach doctrines diverse one from the other, while at the same time claiming direct influence of the Holy Spirit, has been the cause of mass confusion. There is “one Spirit” (Eph. 4:4), “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17), and “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13). The Bible speaks of “the unity of the Spirit” (Eph. 4:3-6). Since these folks who claim direct operations of the Holy Spirit are not members of “the same body” (Eph. 3:6) and do not “speak the same thing” (1 Cor. 1:10), someone must not have the Holy Spirit as claimed. Let them tell us who has the Holy Spirit and who doesn’t. Why should we believe one above another, seeing they make the same claim and offer the same evidence to substantiate their claim?

Not Understanding the Difference between Baptism, Gift, Gifts, and Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. A failure to recognize the distinction in the four columns below has created much confusion concerning the Holy Spirit. To confuse these columns is to misunderstand the Holy Spirit.

There is no need for confusion concerning the Holy Spirit as the Bible is clear in its teaching on the subject.