Who Is the Holy Spirit?

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:13-14 ESV)

I grew up in the age of Sunday school flannel graphs. On Sunday mornings, my teacher would press colorful cutouts of Bible story characters on a felt-covered board. She could find corresponding pictures to help young learners visualize any story she wanted to tell. She had cutouts of Adam and Eve, King David, Queen Esther, Joseph, Jesus, and his disciples—everyone but the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit remains one of the most mysterious persons mentioned in the Bible.

Who is the Holy Spirit? In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul gives readers a one-line bio of the mysterious member of the Trinity. Although short in length, Paul’s description of the Holy Spirit helps us understand his role in the life of the believer.

 The Holy Spirit fulfills a promise.

Since the time of the prophets, God promised to send his very presence to dwell with us. Ezekiel 36:27 promises, “And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” John the Baptist promised baptism with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). During Jesus’ final days in Jerusalem, he promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come soon after he left (Acts 1:4-5). The promise of the Holy Spirit’s presence with all who believe still stands today.

The Holy Spirit seals our salvation.

In Paul’s day, a personal stamp was pressed in wax to seal an important document or package. The seal communicated authenticity and ownership. An unbroken seal meant no one had opened the package. The seal itself served to identify the owner or witness. We belong to God. The Holy Spirit acts as a seal that says, “This one is mine. Don’t mess with her.”

The Holy Spirit guarantees our inheritance.

Major purchases such as a house require a down payment with a promise to complete the transaction later. The Holy Spirit is God’s down payment, or guarantee, on all of his promises. Through the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, we get a taste of the eternal blessings waiting for us in God’s kingdom. You could call the Holy Spirit our taste of heaven on earth.

What exactly is our inheritance?

In the Old Testament, God promised Israel a great inheritance: the promised land. Psalm 105 retells the story of God’s covenantal promise with Israel.

The covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac,
which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as your portion for an inheritance.’” (Ps. 105:9-11 ESV)

This covenantal promise to Abraham and his descendants points to the new covenant through Jesus Christ. Instead of an inheritance of land and power, the new inheritance is heavenly and eternal. Peter describes it as, “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4 ESV). It is the presence and glory of God enjoyed in heaven for eternity. While we did nothing to earn this inheritance, those who believe in Jesus are guaranteed to receive it.

The Holy Spirit is with us until we reach God’s presence.

The Holy Spirit acts as a stand-in for God’s presence until we can stand in God’s presence. We do not have to wait until Christ’s return to be near God and experience his glory. Through the Holy Spirit, God is with us every day, everywhere we go, providing power, comfort, wisdom, and peace.

We may struggle to visualize the Holy Spirit, but with Paul’s help, we can better understand the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. When we put our hope in Christ, God fulfills his promise by sending his Spirit to seal us and stay with us until we stand in his presence.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of your Holy Spirit. Your presence with us is an undeserved gift. Please help us feel and acknowledge your presence throughout the day. Give us wisdom and guidance through your Spirit, and help us follow as you lead. Holy Spirit, fill us with your power, so that we may glorify your name here on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kelly Smith is a small town girl who married a small town man. They have three children. In the quiet minutes of her day, you will find her at the keyboard or curled up with a book–always with coffee. Kelly believes we are created for community and loves to find ways to connect with other women who are walking in the shadow of the cross. She blogs at mrsdisciple.com.

Photograph © 卡晨, used with permission