The CatechismGlobal Methodist Church
Question 21 of 77 · Ecumenical Affirmations

Is the Holy Spirit God?

Yes. The Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.

Catechism for the Global Methodist Church, question 21

Session 4Who is the Holy Spirit?Opens at 3:16, where question 21 begins.
Commentary

The Holy Spirit is God. He "proceeds from the Father and the Son," he "with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified," and he "has spoken through the prophets." Article IV of the Articles of Religion says the Holy Ghost is "of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God," and Article III of the Confession of Faith calls him "one in being with the Father and the Son."

In scripture the Spirit stands where only God can stand. Jesus commands baptism "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19), one name shared by three persons. Paul writes that "the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God," and that "no one has known the things of God except the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10-11). Because the Spirit is God, the believer in whom he dwells is "God's temple" (1 Corinthians 3:16). He is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son together. In Romans 8:9 the same Spirit is called "the Spirit of God" and "the Spirit of Christ," and in Galatians 4:6 "God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'"

The Spirit who is worshiped with the Father and the Son is the Spirit who gave us the Bible. David testified, "The spirit of the LORD spoke in me, and his speech was upon my tongue" (2 Samuel 23:2). Zechariah calls the message of the prophets the words "the LORD of Hosts sent by his spirit by the hand of the earlier prophets" (Zechariah 7:12). Matthew says the virgin birth fulfilled "what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet" (Matthew 1:22), and Hebrews says that the God who "spoke to the fathers in the prophets" has now "spoken to us in a Son" (Hebrews 1:1-2). Peter writes that "men spoke from God as they were borne by the holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).

Because the Spirit is God, the church worships him. Methodists sing the Gloria Patri to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together, baptize in the threefold name, and open the Bible expecting the Spirit who inspired it to illumine it. A believer who prays to the Spirit, thanks him, and obeys him is giving to God what belongs to God, because the Spirit is the Lord who is to be adored.