A selection of Bible Verses in which Jesus speaks about the Holy Spirit
1. The Spirit in relation to Christ's Work:
In these verses Jesus declares the work of the Spirit in relation to his own ministry. The Spirit filled and empowered Jesus to preach the good news and declare salvation and cast out demons. Jesus came and died and ascended so that the Spirit could come into the world - "I came to throw fire (the Spirit) on the earth".
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal
the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
Luke 4:18,19
But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God's Kingdom has come upon you.
Matthew 12:28
"I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptised with,
and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!"
Luke 12:49,50
2. The Spirit in relation to Salvation:
In these verses we see how essential it is that the Spirit is at work in the individual to bring new life and how that new Spirit filled life becomes a deep well of eternal life giving water.
Jesus then describes a sin which cannot be forgiven - blasphemy against the Spirit. This is indeed a solemn warning and it means a final rejection of the Spirit's witness that Christ is the Saviour. In other words refusing the ministry of the Spirit and refusing Christ. The words were spoken to the Pharisees who were very near to committing this sin when they tried to account for the actions of Jesus as being under the influence of demons.
Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into God's Kingdom. That which is
born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.' The
wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone
who is born of the Spirit."
John 3:5-8
"Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become
in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
John 4:14
Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and
drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." But he said this
about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus
wasn't yet glorified.
John 7:37-39
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven
men. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will
not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.
Matthew 12:31,32
"Whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation."
Mark 3:29
Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven. When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don't be anxious
how or what you will answer, or what you will say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour
what you must say.
Luke 12:10-12
3. The Spirit in relation to the Disciples Work:
On more than one occasion Jesus told his disciples that when they faced persecution they would be given the words to say.
When they lead you away and deliver you up, don't be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be
given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:11
But when they deliver you up, don't be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.
For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Matthew 10:19,20
4. The Spirit in regards to Christ's commission:
The baptism referred to in these verses is baptism of the Holy Spirit, in other words, new birth, new eternal spiritual life which can only be given by the Spirit after believing in Jesus and accepting him as Lord and Saviour. Without belief and this new birth there is condemnation.
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, ...
Matthew 28:19
He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.
Mark 16:16
For John indeed baptised in water, but you will be baptised in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
Acts 1:5
5. The Spirit in relation to Pentecost:
Jesus will leave the earth but send another, the Holy Spirit to be a Comforter, a Spirit of Truth, a Counsellor, a witness to Him, to live with Christ's followers and even in them and remind them of everything Jesus said. He will convict the world of sin and glorify Jesus.
The disciples were to wait in Jerusalem until the Spirit was sent. When the Spirit came the disciples would have the power and authority to pronounce forgiveness in Jesus name. And to declare there is no forgiveness other than through the name of Jesus.
I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor, that he may be with you forever: the Spirit of truth,
whom the world can't receive; for it doesn't see him and doesn't know him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be
in you. I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you
will see me. Because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
John 14:16-20
I have said these things to you while still living with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.
John 14:25,26
When the Counsellor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will
testify about me. You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
John 15:26,27
Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counsellor won't come to
you. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about
judgement; about sin, because they don't believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won't see
me any more; about judgement, because the prince of this world has been judged. "I still have many things to tell you, but you
can't bear them now. However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak
from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. He will glorify me, for he
will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you. All things that the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes
of mine and will declare it to you. A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me."
John 16:7-16
"Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with
power from on high."
Luke 24:49
Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." When he had said this,
he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit! If you forgive anyone's sins, they have been forgiven
them. If you retain anyone's sins, they have been retained."
John 20:21-23
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Acts 1:8