“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is fully God, distinct from God the Father and God the Son. It is inappropriate to refer to the Holy Spirit as an “it” as if he is some impersonal force. No, he is not some impersonal force, but rather a person who acts and can be grieved. Below you can find a list of some of the things the Holy Spirit does and how to respond to his work. The content below is a modified and edited version of a lesson I gave on the Holy Spirit. Prooftexts are provided for further study. This is a brief overview, not an exhaustive list.

What Does the Holy Spirit Do?

In no particular order. All Bible verses below are from the English Standard Version. ¹

1. The Holy Spirit opens the hearts of God’s elect to show them the truth of Jesus.

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

2. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin.

“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8).

3. The Holy Spirit seals all believers.

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16)

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

4. The Holy Spirit adopts God’s elect into the people of God.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”(Romans 8:14-15)

5. The Holy Spirit helps God’s people.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever” (John 14:16).

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).

6. The Holy Spirit sanctifies God’s people.

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

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