Episode 103 - The Holy Spirit

In this Pentecost-themed episode of For Your Journey, retired Apostle, Earl Buehner, joins the discussion to explore the distinction between the “gift of the Holy Spirit” and the “Holy Spirit as a person of the Trinity.” He explains that the gift of the Holy Spirit is received during the sacrament of Holy Sealing, where God imparts a portion of His nature to the believer. This gift grants the capacity to love as God loves and prepares the believer to be a “firstfruit” at Christ’s return and to work alongside Him in the future kingdom of peace.

In contrast, the Holy Spirit as a person is the third entity of the triune Godhead, the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is distinct from the Father and the Son, yet fully divine and unified with them. When discussing the Holy Spirit as a person, the pronoun “He” is used, following Jesus’ own usage in Scripture (John 16), whereas the gift is often referred to as “it.”

Pentecost marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of a new era in God’s plan of salvation, where the Spirit now actively works through the Church to prepare souls for Christ’s return. Apostle Buehner emphasizes that the Spirit guides, admonishes, and sharpens believers' consciences, helping them grow into Christ's nature.

He notes that the gift must be actively used, it won’t force itself upon anyone. Through spiritual growth and daily application, believers can reflect Christ more fully. This process of transformation allows God’s love and compassion to be evident both within the congregation and in daily life. Ultimately, the Spirit reveals what is necessary for salvation and enables believers to become who God created them to be.