The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and plays a vital role in the life of every Christian. Here is an overview of the main functions and activities of the Holy Spirit according to the Bible:
1. Convicts people of sin
One of the primary works of the Holy Spirit is to convict people of sin and their need for a Savior. Jesus said that when He left, the Holy Spirit would come to “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit speaks to people’s hearts and shows them their sinfulness before a holy God, their need for forgiveness, and that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.
2. Brings people to faith in Christ
Along with convicting people of sin, the Holy Spirit draws them to trust in Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus said that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them (John 6:44), and this drawing work is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. He opens spiritually blind eyes, softens hard hearts, and gives people the gift of faith. Faith itself is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9), made possible by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
3. Indwells believers
The Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in the hearts of believers at the moment of salvation. Jesus promised His disciples that after He left, the Holy Spirit would come to dwell in them forever (John 14:16-17). The indwelling Spirit serves as a seal and guarantee of salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14). He reminds believers of Christ and His truth, assures them of divine adoption, and functions as an ongoing presence of God in their lives.
4. Sanctifies believers
The indwelling Holy Spirit works to make believers more holy over time, conforming them more and more to the image of Christ. This lifelong process of becoming holy is called sanctification. Through the Spirit, Christians put sinful deeds to death (Romans 8:13) and grow in areas like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
5. Gives spiritual gifts
The Holy Spirit imparts spiritual gifts to all believers for the building up of the church and the advancement of God’s kingdom. These gifts – like teaching, prophecy, healing, tongues, etc. – are distributed “as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) and must be used for God’s glory, not self-promotion (1 Peter 4:10-11). Using Spirit-empowered gifts is an important way believers carry out the work of ministry.
6. Teaches and illumines God’s truth
Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of Truth” (John 14:17) and promised He would guide believers into all truth. The Spirit teaches and illuminates the meaning of God’s Word, helping believers apply biblical truth to their lives (John 14:26, 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:14). He confirms the truth of the gospel and allows believers to “rightly handle the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
7. Produces spiritual fruit in believers
As believers walk in step with the Spirit, He produces His fruit in their lives – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This spiritual fruit sanctifies believers and makes Christ’s character manifest in them. The Spirit’s work results in a harvest of righteousness and peace in believers’ lives (James 3:18).
8. Empowers and equips for ministry
The Holy Spirit empowers believers for ministry and service. Just as the Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism to empower Him for ministry (Luke 3:21-22), so He empowers believers. His power assists believers in witnessing (Acts 1:8), praying (Romans 8:26-27), enduring trials (Acts 5:41-42), serving (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), and more. The Spirit generously supplies what is needed to fulfill God’s purposes (1 Corinthians 12:11).
9. Unifies the church
The Holy Spirit provides an invisible bond of unity that knits believers together as one body in Christ (Ephesians 4:3-6). There is “one Spirit” just as there is one Lord, one faith and one baptism (Ephesians 4:4-5). The Spirit reminds believers of their shared identity in Christ and enables them to love one another across barriers and differences. This unity is vitally important for the church’s witness to the world.
10. Helps believers in prayer
The Holy Spirit assists believers in prayer, since human weaknesses and limitations often hinder prayer. When believers do not know how to pray properly, the Spirit intercedes on their behalf according to God’s will (Romans 8:26-27). Through the Spirit, prayer is enriched and empowered as a vital lifeline for believers.
In summary, the Holy Spirit carries out a diverse range of activities in the lives of believers. He convicts, regenerates, indwells, sanctifies, comforts, guides, gifts, teaches, testifies to salvation, produces fruit, empowers, unifies, and aids prayer. The Holy Spirit is Christ’s abiding presence that equips believers for godly living and service until He returns.