God in Christianity

==== The Holy Spirit ====
{{Main article|Holy Spirit in Christianity}}
[[File:Holy Spirit as Dove (detail).jpg|thumb|upright|left|Church [[stained glass]] representation of the Holy Spirit as a dove, [[Bernini]] c. 1660.]]
In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit is one of the three divine persons of the Trinity who make up the single [[Ousia|substance]] of God; that is, the Spirit is considered to act in concert with and share an essential nature with [[God the Father]] and God the Son (Jesus).{{sfn|Kärkkäinen|2002|p=120-121}}<ref name=Pan332/> The New Testament has much to say about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's presence was especially felt following the ascension of Christ, although not to the exclusion of an early presence as attested by the Old Testament and throughout the New Testament.<ref name=Stagg/>{{rp|p.39}} The Christian theology of the Holy Spirit, or [[pneumatology]] (from Greek ''[[pneuma]]'' or "spirit"), was the last piece of Trinitarian theology to be fully explored and developed, and there is thus greater theological diversity among Christian understandings of the Spirit than there is among understandings of the Son and the Father.{{sfn|Kärkkäinen|2002|p=120-121}}<ref name=Pan332>''Systematic Theology Vol 1'' by Wolfhart Pannenberg (11 November 2004) {{ISBN|0567081788}} page 332</ref> Within Trinitarian theology, the Holy Spirit is usually referred to as the "Third Person" of the triune God—with the Father being the First Person and the Son the Second Person.{{sfn|Kärkkäinen|2002|p=120-121}}

Reflecting the [[Annunciation]] in [[wikisource:Bible (American Standard)/Luke#1:35|Luke 1:35]], the early [[Apostles' Creed]] states that Jesus was "conceived by the Holy Spirit".<ref>''Invitation to Theology'' by Michael Jinkins (26 January 2001) {{ISBN|0830815627}} pages 60 and 134–135</ref> The [[Nicene Creed]] refers to the Holy Spirit as "the Lord and Giver of Life" who with the Father and the Son together is "worshiped and glorified".<ref>''Invitation to Theology'' by Michael Jinkins (26 January 2001) {{ISBN|0830815627}} page 193</ref> While in the act of the [[Incarnation (Christianity)|Incarnation]], [[God the Son]] became manifest as the [[Son of God]], the same did not take place for ''God the Holy Spirit'' which remained unrevealed.<ref name=Donnell >''The mystery of the Triune God'' by John Joseph O'Donnell 1988 {{ISBN|0-7220-5760-1}} page 75</ref> Yet, as in [[wikisource:Bible (American Standard)/1 Corinthians#6:19|1 Corinthians 6:19]] God the Spirit continues to dwell in bodies of the faithful.<ref name=Donnell /><ref name=Wiersbe471 >''The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete New Testament'' by Warren W. Wiersbe 2007 {{ISBN|978-0-7814-4539-9}} page 471</ref>

In Christian theology Holy Spirit is believed to perform specific divine functions in the life of the Christian or the church. The action of the Holy Spirit is seen as an essential part of the bringing of the person to the Christian faith.<ref name=Erickson265>{{cite book| author = Millard J. Erickson| year = 1992| title = Introducing Christian Doctrine.| publisher = Baker Book House| pages = 265–270}}</ref> The new believer is "born again of the Spirit".<ref>Though the term "[[Born again (Christianity)|born again]]" is most frequently used by evangelical Christians, most denominations do consider that the new Christian is a "new creation" and "born again". See for example the Catholic Encyclopedia [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02258b.htm]</ref>

The Holy Spirit enables Christian life by dwelling in the individual believers and enables them to live a righteous and faithful life.<ref name=Erickson265/> He acts as Comforter or [[Paraclete]], one who intercedes, or supports or acts as an advocate, particularly in times of trial. He acts to convince unredeemed persons both of the sinfulness of their actions and thoughts, and of their moral standing as sinners before God.<ref>''The Holy Spirit and His Gifts''. [[J. Oswald Sanders]]. Inter-Varsity Press. chapter 5.</ref> The Holy Spirit both ''inspired'' the writing of the scriptures and now ''interprets'' them to the Christian and church.<ref>{{cite book| author = T C Hammond| editor1-last=Wright|editor1-first=David F | year = 1968| title = In Understanding be Men: A Handbook of Christian Doctrine| edition= sixth| publisher = [[Inter-Varsity Press]]| page = 134}}</ref>