Where Does the Holy Spirit Come From?

Our lives on Earth have a distinct beginning and a distinct ending. For instance, I was born on March 21, 1955, which means that I was conceived sometime in June 1954, approximately nine months prior to being born. Before that moment of conception, I did not exist. Surprise! I am not an eternal being, and neither are you! That’s not to say that we cannot live eternally into the future, but that’s a lesson for another day.

What about the Holy Spirit? Where does He come from?

The Westminster Confession of Faith, written in 1646, is a concise confession of basic Christian belief based entirely on Scripture. Here is what it says about God being eternally three in one:

“In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.”

This confession confirms that God the Holy Spirit (along with the Father and the Son) is eternal. The Bible clearly states that God is one, meaning that there is only one true and living God. I prefer the word “tri-unity” to “trinity” because it more clearly expresses the unity of the three Persons of the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

There is only one God.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” -Deuteronomy 6:4

The triune God is eternal.

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” -1 Timothy 1:17

“Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” -Psalm 90:2

And the Scripture explicitly states that the Holy Spirit is eternal.

“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” -Hebrews 9:14

Based upon Scripture then, we can confidently conclude that God the Holy Spirit is eternal and has always existed in the unity of the Godhead, without beginning and without end. So, in one sense, the Holy Spirit doesn’t come from anywhere; He has always eternally existed!

Yet there is an additional answer to the question, “Where does the Holy Spirit come from?” which addresses the Holy Spirit’s presence in this world and in our individual lives:

“‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.’” -John 15:26

Here we read that the Holy Spirit is sent from the Father by Jesus to us to help us know Jesus better!

Because the Holy Spirit is eternally God and sent by Jesus from the Father, we can pray to Jesus and ask Him to send the Holy Spirit from the Father into our lives. Such a
prayer is very much in keeping with Jesus’ promise above in John 15:26.

Do you consider the Holy Spirit to be equally and indivisibly God along with the Father and with Jesus the Son? If so, what difference does this make in your appreciation of
and interaction with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis? Have you asked Jesus to send the Holy Spirit from the Father and into your life?

Pray with me:

Dear God, please help me to remember that the Holy Spirit is eternally God, with no beginning and no end, and therefore can be with me forever, offering me the very presence of the Person of God in my life forever.