“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” — Acts 1:8 (BSB)
“And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who dwells within you.” — Romans 8:11 (BSB)
“But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God… that we may understand what God has freely given us.” — 1 Corinthians 2:10,12 (BSB)
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” — 2 Corinthians 3:17 (BSB)
The Holy Spirit applies to us all that Christ accomplished. He convicts us of sin, regenerates our hearts, unites us to Christ, and assures us of our salvation. He gives spiritual gifts, produces spiritual fruit, and empowers us for mission and witness (Acts 1:8). Bishop Stephen Neill noted, “The Holy Spirit is the Christian’s inward teacher, power-giver, and comforter—without Him there is no Church, no holiness, no mission.” Believing in the Spirit is to live in dependence on God’s continual presence.
Anglican doctrine strongly affirms the Holy Spirit. Article V of the Thirty-Nine Articles states: “The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.” In Anglican liturgy, the Spirit is constantly invoked—to open our hearts, sanctify the sacraments, inspire the reading of Scripture, and empower the Church. The Book of Common Prayer reminds us: “Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit.”
Bishop J.C. Ryle wrote, “We must not only believe in the work which Christ did for us on the Cross, but also in the work which the Spirit does in us now. He is the giver of life, holiness, strength, and peace.” Similarly, Michael Green, an Anglican evangelist and theologian, emphasized: “The Holy Spirit is the presence of Jesus with His people, the agent of new birth, and the flame of holy boldness in the Church.” Believing in the Spirit is essential to experiencing the fullness of Christian life.
Therefore, to declare “I believe in the Holy Spirit” is to embrace the living presence of God in us and among us. It is to affirm that we are not left as orphans, but indwelt, empowered, and led by the Spirit. He is the source of holiness, the bond of unity, the breath of the Church, and the guarantee of our inheritance. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty—and life.
Irenaeus taught the Trinitarian work of salvation, highlighting the Spirit’s sanctifying role.
Tertullian (c. 155–220 AD) declared: “The Spirit, who proceeds from the Father through the Son, is no other than God Himself—equal in substance, distinct in person, and active in the Church.” — Against Praxeas, 4
Tertullian helped define early Trinitarian doctrine, affirming the full divinity of the Spirit.
St. Athanasius (c. 296–373 AD) taught: “The Spirit is not a creature but shares in the Godhead. He is one with the Son and the Father, and gives life to all things.” — Letters to Serapion, 1.20
Athanasius defended the Spirit’s deity against heresy, emphasizing His unity with the Trinity.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD) stated: “The Holy Spirit is the living water of eternal life, flowing from the Father through the Son, and given to those who believe.” — Catechetical Lectures, 16.3
Cyril spoke of the Spirit’s indwelling power and role in the new birth of believers.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) wrote: “The Spirit is the bond of love between Father and Son… and the gift of God poured into our hearts, enabling us to love Him in return.” — On the Trinity, 15.27
Augustine emphasized the Spirit as the divine Love who indwells and transforms believers.
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
St. Thomas Church
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
