What does the Bible say about spirit?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that God is Spirit, and that the Holy Spirit gives life, reveals Christ, dwells in believers, and strengthens them to walk in holiness. John 4:24 calls us to worship God in spirit and truth, while John 6:63 declares that the Spirit gives life. Jesus promised in John 14:26 and John 16:13 that the Spirit would teach and guide His people into truth. The Spirit helps believers in weakness and intercedes according to God’s will (Romans 8:26-27), producing a new pattern of life opposed to the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Therefore Christians are to test spirits by God’s truth (1 John 4:1) and rest in the Spirit’s witness that they belong to Christ (1 John 4:13).

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • John 4:24

    God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

  • John 16:13

    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.

  • John 6:63

    It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

  • Galatians 5:16

    But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.

  • 1 John 4:1

    Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

  • 1 John 4:13

    By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

  • Romans 8:26-27

    [26] In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can't be uttered. [27] He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit's mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.

  • John 14:26

    But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

  • Romans 7:15-24

    [15] For I don't know what I am doing. For I don't practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do. [16] But if what I don't desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good. [17] So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. [18] For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good. [19] For the good which I desire, I don't do; but the evil which I don't desire, that I practice. [20] But if what I don't desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. [21] I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present. [22] For I delight in God's law after the inward man, [23] but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. [24] What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?

  • Hebrews 4:12

    For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

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