Admittedly there is a great deal of complexity that comes when dealing with the idea of the trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There would be some that would try to make you convinced that the trinity is not something that is seen until as late as the day of Pentecost. However, a more careful examination of God’s Word will definitively tell you otherwise. In fact, we can see evidence of a triune God as early as Genesis 1 . Furthermore, that theme continues through all of the Old Testament right on into the New Testament. Your Trinitarian view will play a major role in your pneumatological understanding. John 14:25-27 says, “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Even prior to Jesus’ death, He begins to prepare his followers concerning the soon accentuated role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was conveying to his disciples that their time together was coming to an end. He was going to be taken away, crucified, buried, and raised again, and then, He was going to be with his Father. The disciples were confused, frightened, and destrot over the news that there friend, teacher, Lord, and Savior was leaving them. This separation was difficult for them to handle. Jesus however, shared with them that His Father was going to send His Holy Spirit to come and serve as their peace and their comforter.
Later the promise of Jesus was fulfilled. Acts 2:1-4 says, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
So where does this leave us. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives today. One has suggested, “the Spirit is indispensable for preparation for Faith. I believe that I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him, of my own reason or power, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and upheld me in true faith.”[1] That being said, let’s look at a little bit more into the specific workings of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Millard Erickson suggests:
1. The Holy Spirit has the role of empowering the believer. Both John 14 and Acts 2 remind us that the Spirit would give them power to fulfill particular tasks.
2. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer. Jesus’ work was very much external, but to a large degree, the efficacy of the Holy Spirit’s work is a result of its internality.
3. The Holy Spirit has a very distinctive teaching role in our life. God’s Word, will and ways are illuminated in our lives by the working of the Holy Spirit.
4. The Holy Spirit has an intercessory element. Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
5. The Holy Spirit works sanctification in the life of the believer. Sanctification is the continual transformation of our moral and spiritual character until we mirror the life of Christ.
6. The spirit bestows special gifts in the life of every believer. You can reference these gifts in Romans 12:6-8 , 1Ephesians 4:11 , and 1 Peter 4:11 [2]
The life of Christ is so intrinsically tied into the role of the Holy Spirit, one cannot deny. We see the Spirit working in the life of Christ. Christ talks about the Spirit, predicts the Spirit’s coming, reminds his disciples of the Spirit’s power. We see the Spirit move in incredible ways. The question for us: Are we allowing the Spirit to work in us? When you think about the love of God in sending his Son and the love of Christ in giving His life, let us not forget the third party involved: The Holy Spirit. 
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