There is a doctrine stating that the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is the third person of a trinity godhead; whatever a trinity godhead is. The idea of the Holy Spirit as the third person of God was not conceived until about a hundred and fifty years after the death of Christ , It was not until the Synod of Alexandria in 362 A. D. that this hypothesis became doctrine. The following is from the church that gave us the trinity doctrine .

Catholic Encyclopedia

Trinity: The Dogma of the Trinity:
The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion-the truth that in the unity of the Godhead there are THREE PERSONS, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these THREE PERSONS being truly distinct one from another. The Persons are CO-ETERNAL and CO-EQUAL: all alike are uncreated and omnipotent. In Scripture there is as yet no single term by which the Divine Persons are denoted together. The word TPIAS (of which the Latin TRINITAS is a translation) is first found in Theophilus of Antioch about A.D. 180. He speaks of “the TRINITY of God [the Father], His WORD and His WISDOM” (“AD. AUTO1”., II, 15, P.G., VI, 1078). The term may, of course have been in use before his time. Shortly afterwards it appears in its Latin form of TRINITAS in Tertullian (“De pud”, c. xxi, P.G., II 1026). In the next century the word is in general use. It is found in many passages of origin. The writers of this school contend that The doctrine of the Trinity, as professed by the Church, is not contained in the New Testament, but it was first formulated in the second century and recieved final aprobation in the fourth century, as the result of the Arian and Macedonian controversies.

The New Catholic Encyclopedia

The formulation “one God in three Persons" was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the fourth century. But it is precisely this formulation that first claimed to title “The Trinitarian Dogma.” Among the apostlic fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.
The New Catholic Encyclopedia - 1967, VOL. XIV, PAGE 299:

There is not a specific scripture in the Bible that says, “the Holy Spirit is” and proceeds to define it for us. However, we can determine the nature of the spirit through comparative study.

There are more than a half dozen Hebrew and Greek words in the Old and New Testaments translated as spirit, ghost, or soul. All of them have to do with the blowing of the wind or the breath of a living creature. In Genesis, one of these words, neshamah, was translated breath. Nephesh, became soul, meaning a breathing creature.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [spirit], and man became a living soul [a living, breathing creature].
- Genesis 2:7

In this instance, spirit and soul is simply the essence of being alive. Jesus compared the Spirit to wind in John.

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother?s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit . Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit .
- John 3:1-8

Although it was not a mystery to Jesus, the wind was a mystery to people in those days. Today we understand the causes of the wind, “whence it cometh, and whither it goeth.? The spirit, however, is still a mystery.

Concerning being “born again,? Jesus said, “that which is born of the flesh is flesh ; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit .? Except for God and Jesus, we do not know anyone who is spirit . Everyone we know is flesh . In this sense, no one is yet born again. The resurrection is when we will be born again . I Corinthians 15:42-45 says,

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown m dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body ; it is raised a spiritual body . There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul ; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit .

The last Adam was Jesus! “To quicken? means to keep alive or make alive. So spirit, in general, is the power from God that gives and sustains life (the breath of life). The Holy Spirit is the power from God that leads to eternal life. Jesus compared the Holy Spirit to water in the Gospel of John. He was speaking to a Samaritan woman of whom He asked a drink.

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life .
- John 4:13-14

The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit in many ways. Study these various characterizations of the Spirit. They will help you understand the nature of the Holy Spirit.

Here is a list of references to the Spirit: Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, the Spirit, Spirit of God , Spirit of Jesus Christ , Spirit of the Lord , Spirit of Christ , Spirit of the living God , Spirit of our God , Spirit of your Father , holy Spirit of God , Spirit which is of God , Spirit of His Son , his Holy Spirit, My Spirit, His Spirit, the Lord is that Spirit , Spirit of grace , holy Spirit of promise , Spirit of adoption , Spirit of life in Christ , Spirit of life from God , the Spirit itself .

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and Jesus. It is through the Spirit that God is omnipresent. This is how the church, although many individuals, is one body. Christ is the head of that body. Their Spirit is our connection to Them and to other Christians. The apostle Paul gives the best explanation of this connection to God.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
- I Corinthians 12:12-13

For through him we both [Jews and Gentiles] have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit .
- Ephesians 2:18-22

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God . Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us , Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end . Amen.
- Ephesians 3:16-21

There is one body, and one Spirit , even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all .
- Ephesians 4:4-6

Now the Lord is that Spirit : and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all , with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord .
- II Corinthians 3:17-18

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you . Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ , he is none of his. And if Christ be in you , the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you .
- Romans 8:9-11

Jesus’ own words betray the essence of the Holy Spirit.

And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
- Luke 11:5-13

God will give to each of us a portion of His Spirit if we ask with Importunity. “Ask, and it shall be given you .? The gift of the Holy Spirit to us is an “earnest? or down payment on eternal life. II Corinthians 1:21-22 says,

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Speaking of the promise of eternal life, II Corinthians 5:5 says,

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit .

Concerning Christ, the spiritual blessing that He bestowed upon us, and being predestined to become children of God, Ephesians 1:11-14 states,

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth , the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

We are “the purchased possession? “sealed with the Holy Spirit promise.? We will be redeemed in the resurrection. Payment in full!

The Bible also speaks of the Spirit as if it were a commodity distributed to believers, as in Philippians 1:19 ,

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Jesus, Himself, was conceived of the Holy Ghost. He came to physical life by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Luke we are told,

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel. How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God .
- Luke 1:30-35

The Holy Ghost is the power of the Highest!

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
- John 1:32-34

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all use Spirit, Holy Ghost, and Spirit of God in the same context. The words “Christ? and “Messiah? mean anointed. Here we see the anointing of Jesus.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
- Matthew 1:10-11

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased…
- Mark 1:10-11

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
- Luke 3:21-22

Jesus did not receive the Holy Spirit in part as we do, but had a full measure of the Spirit. John 3:34 says,

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

Piety, rituals, or pretentious prayers will not fool God. You must worship God by giving Him your life, not by displaying symbolic actions. Again talking with the Samaritan woman at Jacob?s well, John 4:19-24 tells us,

The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth : for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit : and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth .

The Bible does use the pronouns “he? and “him? when referring to the Spirit, but it also uses “it.? Calling the Spirit “he? or “him,? does not mean it is a person. Consider the way we refer to a ship or a hurricane.
You may be wondering to yourself whether this is blasphemy. The book of Matthew says,

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad . Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost , it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come .
- Matthew 12:30-32

Luke 12:8-12 states,

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God . And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say .

You must witness to others what you learn from the Holy Spirit. If you are ashamed to confess your faith in Christ, you will not be forgiven. If you fear being ostracized for being different, you will not receive forgiveness. If you deny Christ as Peter denied Christ, you will not be forgiven.
In order to have committed this sin, you must first have received the Holy Spirit . Hebrews says,

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost , And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance ; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end as to be burned .
- Hebrews 6:4-8

Falling away or being an unprofitable Christian after you receive the Holy Spirit is the “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? (the unforgiven sin). Peter had not yet received the Holy Spirit at the time he denied knowing Christ ( John 7:39 ). Peter denied Christ three times. Christ allowed him to take it back three times.

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
- John 21:15-17

In parable, Jesus gave us an example of the unprofitable Christian comparing the gift of the Holy Spirit to money.

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods [the Holy Spirit]. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord?s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them [resurrection]. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed : And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed : Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Matthew 25:14-30

…he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad…
- Matthew 12:30

Serve God according to your “several ability.? Do not just hide it away in your heart. Matthew 5:13-16 ,

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The final two chapters of the Bible describe the kingdom of God and the holy city New Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit seems conspicuously missing from this picture, or is it?

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb . In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it ; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
- Revelation 22:1-5

If the Holy Spirit is a third person of God, wouldn’t he also have a throne in the holy city? Instead, we see a river flowing out of the throne.

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it . And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it , and the Lamb is the light thereof.
- Revelation 21:22-23

Here again the Holy Spirit is conspicuous by it’s absence, and unless it is the glory of God, is not even mentioned. If the Holy Spirit is a person, shouldn’t he take his place in the culmination of God’s creation? The trinity doctrine was adapted from the triune gods of various pagan religions in existence at the time. It crept into the church in the third century as an early form of ecumenism . Satan is the master of deception.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me . Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit . Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
- Psalms 51:1-15

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