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The God Who Is
The Use Of Personal Pronouns
There are a great many instances in the Bible where God uses personal pronouns, and a great many where men use personal pronouns when speaking of God. Consider only a few.
"I Am"
In the passage just mentioned (Exodus 3:14), God told Moses "I AM THAT I AM." Here God the Father addresses His personhood with the pronoun "I." His use of the verb "to be" expresses His command of eternity as well as of time: past, present, and future.
In the New Testament, Jesus prayed to God the Father in His high priestly prayer found in the Gospel of John, chapter 17. In verse 3, Jesus prayed, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Note the two uses of the second person singular by which Jesus addressed "the only true God."
In John chapter 18, beginning in verse 1, note the number of pronouns used in referring to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
"Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, `Whom seek ye?'
"They answered him, `Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus said unto them, `I am he.' And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, `I am he,' they went backward, and fell to the ground."
This is one of the most exciting portions in the New Testament, but one of the least known. Reader, permit a brief "rabbit trail." These men which were numbered half a "kiliarkos," or 500 men, were trained military men armed for night battle "with lanterns, and torches, and weapons." They came with the temple guard whose duty it was to keep the peace.
Contrary to Roman Law, these soldiers entered the garden, a private garden of which Jesus had the use. Jesus went forth to meet them, and asked "Whom seek ye?" They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." And Jesus said, "I am he." As soon as Jesus identified Himself, Judas, who had been given 30 pieces of silver to point out Jesus, now found it necessary to kiss Him if he was to warrant the money. The kiss was a sign of respect by which a student showed loyalty to his teacher. Solomon wrote, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:6).
Note, first, that when Jesus said, "I am he," He said, "ego eimi," which is translated, "I, I Am"; the "he" being understood. It is the same as the name "Jehovah" (Exodus 3:14). "As soon then as he had said unto them, `I am he,' they went backward, and fell to the ground.'" These men did not "go backward and fall to the ground" bowing in adoration before Him; but they went backward, resisting Him to the uttermost.
Matthew Henry declared, "He struck them down, but He could have struck them dead; when He spoke them to the ground, He could have spoken them to Hell." We read that when Jesus returns to earth, He is going to destroy His enemies with a sword "that proceeds out of His mouth"— undoubtedly the Word of God. At that time, He will speak His enemies dead; but these by divine permission were allowed to rise.
In verse 7 of John chapter 18, we read, "Then asked he them again, `Whom seek ye?' And they said, `Jesus of Nazareth.'" They were like the Sodomites, who, although blinded by the angels, continued to grope for Lot's door. So these men are not dissuaded from their purpose, even after our Lord struck 500 men to the ground using only His tongue.
Note, second, that although there was a full paschal moon, and although these men were equipped with lanterns and torches, no man was able to answer, "We have come to arrest you!" It certainly was not because they did not know Him, for He taught in their midst. Matthew Henry comments, "He could make them not to know Him when they actually saw Him."
Note, third, that when they called Him "Jesus of Nazareth," He might have said, "I am not He" because He was "Jesus of Bethlehem." The religious leaders called Him "Jesus of Nazareth" in order to eliminate any possibility that He might be the Messiah, the Christ.
"Jesus answered, `I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way.'" What if this Devil-inspired plan had succeeded in arresting all the disciples? But "Fie" on them who think God's plans can be frustrated by men, or who think evil can come up on God's blind side and take Him by surprise!
Jesus protected His disciples, "that the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, `Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none'" (John 18:1-9).
Note, again, that the Son of God identifies Himself as "I AM" and thereby makes Himself equal with God.
Again, in Revelation chapter 1, in verse 8, Jesus said, "`I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,' saith the Lord, `which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.'"
The Holy Spirit
In our day, the Holy Spirit has been denigrated to the position of being only an influence. The Bible is very precise, and teaches that the Holy Spirit is a person. Although the word "spirit" is in the neuter gender in the Greek language, and is the same as the word "wind," yet the Bible teaches us that He is a person.
In John chapter 15, in verse 26, we read, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."
The use of personal pronouns indicates the Holy Spirit is a person.