Episode 16: The Spirit's Role in the Trinity | We Believe: A Study of the Apostles Creed

Understanding the Holy Spirit in the Apostles' Creed

In this week’s deep dive into the Apostles' Creed, we’re focusing on the Holy Spirit. When we recite the Creed, we simply say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” But what does that mean? Over the next few episodes, we’ll break down the Holy Spirit’s role, looking at various aspects of His presence in our lives. Today, we’ll focus on the Holy Spirit’s role within the Trinity and what makes Him distinct.

The Holy Spirit: A Person, Not a Force

One of the common misconceptions about the Holy Spirit is that He is merely a force or a thing, like the "Force" in Star Wars. While George Lucas’s inspiration for the "Force" was rooted in spiritual concepts, the Holy Spirit is far more personal and relational than any impersonal force.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking of the Holy Spirit as a mystical "thing" that just does stuff. But as we read in Scripture, the Holy Spirit is not a “what” – He is a “Who.” The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity, and He is deeply relational. The Father and the Son are easier for us to imagine because we have images of a Father and a man walking on earth in Jesus. But when it comes to the Spirit, it can be harder for us to grasp because we don’t have a tangible image of Him. This can make it tough to understand the Holy Spirit as a person, but that’s exactly what He is—someone we can have a personal relationship with.

The Holy Spirit’s Relational Role

When we read in John 14:16-17, Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit abiding with us. He says, “He will be with you forever. The Spirit of truth... He lives with you and will be in you.” This passage shows us the relational nature of the Holy Spirit. He is not a distant force but is deeply involved in our lives. The Spirit lives in us, guiding us in times of celebration and suffering, helping us lean into a deeper understanding of who God is.

This relational aspect of the Holy Spirit is also evident in Jesus' teachings. In John 14:26, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and remind us of everything He has said. The Spirit plays an essential role in illuminating God’s Word. There are times when we read Scripture, and something that was previously overlooked suddenly grips our hearts, bringing new understanding. This is the Holy Spirit at work, teaching us and helping us see God’s truths in fresh ways.

The Holy Spirit’s Presence in Our Lives

The Holy Spirit is also actively involved in our everyday lives. Jesus says in Luke 12:11-12 that the Spirit will give us the words to speak when we face challenging situations. Have you ever been in a conversation where you didn’t know what to say, but somehow, the right words just came to you? That’s the Holy Spirit at work, guiding us and helping us navigate tough moments. There have been countless times when, in the middle of a difficult conversation, the Spirit has given us just the right words.

Another way the Spirit works is through dreams and impressions. One of our team members shared a powerful story about how the Holy Spirit used a dream to teach them something about their own heart. They woke up feeling unsettled and asked God what He wanted to show them. As they processed the dream, they realized that it was revealing something about a relationship in their life. This is just one example of how the Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways to guide us and help us grow.

The Holy Spirit's Role in Exalting Jesus

In the gospel of John, particularly in John 15:26-27, Jesus tells his disciples about the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, who will testify about Him. This is one of the Spirit's primary roles: to point us toward Jesus, constantly reminding us of His words, works, and the truth of the gospel. As we gather in worship, whether in personal study or in community, we acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is present, quietly but powerfully exalting Christ. Just as the tech team is often behind the scenes during a service, making sure everything runs smoothly, the Holy Spirit does His work in the background, ensuring that Christ is lifted up in our hearts, minds, and worship.

The Spirit's role is to remind us of the centrality of Christ. When everything is running smoothly, we often forget about the team working behind the scenes, just as the Spirit’s work goes unnoticed when we focus on Christ in our worship. But without the Spirit's role, the gospel would not be revealed to us in such a clear and compelling way. This is an essential part of understanding the Apostles' Creed: the Father sent the Son to redeem the world, and the Father and the Son together send the Spirit to continue the work of restoration and transformation in the church today.

The Spirit as the Guide to Truth

The Holy Spirit’s work is not just behind the scenes; He is actively involved in guiding us into all truth. John 16:13-14 tells us that "when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth." This is an important reminder in a world where truth has become subjective. We live in an era where "my truth" often replaces the objective truth found in God's Word. In this post-truth society, the Holy Spirit serves as the lighthouse, shedding light on what is truly real and pointing us back to the Word of God.

The Spirit’s role is not just about reminding us of abstract concepts or beliefs but about guiding us to live according to the truth of Christ’s teachings. Like a fish out of water, we are not truly free unless we are living in alignment with God's design. The Spirit helps us walk in step with God's will, just as the wind empowers a kite to soar.

Moreover, the Spirit’s guidance involves convicting us of sin and reorienting our hearts and lives to reflect the love and justice of God. In Romans 8, Paul urges believers to live by the Spirit, putting to death the misdeeds of the body. The Spirit, in partnership with the Word of God and the community of believers, continually transforms us, helping us recognize when we are walking in the flesh and encouraging us to turn back to the ways of God.

Living in the Spirit's Power

As we reflect on the Apostles' Creed and the Spirit’s work, we are reminded of the essential role the Holy Spirit plays in empowering us to live out the mission of Christ. The Spirit doesn't just remind us of Scripture; He helps us live it out in our daily lives. Just as the Spirit empowers us to testify about Jesus, He also strengthens us to bear fruit in the world—fruits of love, joy, peace, and patience.

This life empowered by the Holy Spirit is not just for personal growth but for the collective mission of the church. The Spirit enables the church to continue the work Christ began, spreading the gospel and transforming lives for God’s glory. As we lean into the Spirit’s power, we are constantly reoriented toward God, experiencing sanctification, and growing more into the image of Christ.

Our prayer should be like David’s in Psalm 51, asking God to "create in me a pure heart" and to "renew a steadfast spirit within me." May the Holy Spirit continually guide us, convict us, and empower us to live as faithful witnesses to the truth of Christ, bringing glory to God through our lives and our worship.

In conclusion, as we affirm our belief in "the Holy Spirit" in the Apostles' Creed, let’s remember that the Spirit is not just a passive presence but an active, transformative force that leads us into truth, empowers us to live out God’s calling, and glorifies Christ in all that we do.