Scriptures in terms of narrative speaks of three major characters who all claim to be God. We have Jehovah, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Now scripture also tells us there is but one true God. So we sit with a dilema in that either scripture is contradictory, which would make Christianity a lie, or the three characters mentioned in scripture are in fact in one the same, hence we get the doctrine of the Trinity.
God referred to Himself as "I AM" but so did Jesus. The Old Testament declared that the Messiah would also be God.
The Holy Spirit in the OT is called "ruach" who in numerous occasions "filled" God's chosen people to do His will. The Holy Spirit in the NT is called "pneuma" which essentially is the Greek version of "ruach". He is often referred to as the Spirit of truth or the Spirit of God. Interestingly enough the only unpardonable sin is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and attribute His work to demons. Scripture clearly states that we can blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, which effectively would then give the Holy Spirit God status. The same goes for the fact that Jesus accepted worship. Scriptures say that we should only worship God. If Jesus accepted worship then either He was delusional, a lier or in fact God.
So we have three characters who make up the one true God. We have God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
In terms of people who are demon influenced / possessed (which ever way we want to state it) it comes down to who does that person declare is Lord over their lives. Scriptures state that only people with the Holy Spirit can claim that Jesus is God and Lord over their lives. This will not only be evident in what they verbally declare but also in the way they serve Christ in their lives. I have met many people who know scripture quite well, but only from a knowledge perspective and they treat Christianity as a philosophy, to be studied alongside all the other philosophies of the world. Many universities teach theology, but they do it from an acedemic secular perspective and not from a Holy Spirit perspective. These people may have the word of God on their lips but their hearts are far from Him. Knowledge of God does not save, belief in Him and submitting our lives to Him is what saves. So it is often quite easy to see the difference between a person who knows scripture and a person who lives scripture.
When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he used scripture to try and decieve Jesus. Satan had a theological knowledge of who the Messiah would be but he did not know the life giving Spirit behind scripture. Jesus immediately knew the truth and used the correct life giving application of scripture and defeated Satan by not yielding to the temptation.
God referred to Himself as "I AM" but so did Jesus. The Old Testament declared that the Messiah would also be God.
The Holy Spirit in the OT is called "ruach" who in numerous occasions "filled" God's chosen people to do His will. The Holy Spirit in the NT is called "pneuma" which essentially is the Greek version of "ruach". He is often referred to as the Spirit of truth or the Spirit of God. Interestingly enough the only unpardonable sin is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and attribute His work to demons. Scripture clearly states that we can blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, which effectively would then give the Holy Spirit God status. The same goes for the fact that Jesus accepted worship. Scriptures say that we should only worship God. If Jesus accepted worship then either He was delusional, a lier or in fact God.
So we have three characters who make up the one true God. We have God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
In terms of people who are demon influenced / possessed (which ever way we want to state it) it comes down to who does that person declare is Lord over their lives. Scriptures state that only people with the Holy Spirit can claim that Jesus is God and Lord over their lives. This will not only be evident in what they verbally declare but also in the way they serve Christ in their lives. I have met many people who know scripture quite well, but only from a knowledge perspective and they treat Christianity as a philosophy, to be studied alongside all the other philosophies of the world. Many universities teach theology, but they do it from an acedemic secular perspective and not from a Holy Spirit perspective. These people may have the word of God on their lips but their hearts are far from Him. Knowledge of God does not save, belief in Him and submitting our lives to Him is what saves. So it is often quite easy to see the difference between a person who knows scripture and a person who lives scripture.
When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he used scripture to try and decieve Jesus. Satan had a theological knowledge of who the Messiah would be but he did not know the life giving Spirit behind scripture. Jesus immediately knew the truth and used the correct life giving application of scripture and defeated Satan by not yielding to the temptation.