Worshiped and glorified

The Holy Spirit is God (Heb 2:4, 9:14; Eph 4:30; Gen 1:2; Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14). The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the same essence as the Father and the Son because of his procession. The Holy Spirit, therefore, is to be worshiped and glorified. As we mentioned when we began the section on the Holy Spirit, the major reason for expanding this section in 381 AD was that the Macedonians denied the deity of the Holy Spirit, teaching that the Holy Spirit is only divine energy or impersonal force. Worship and glory are reserved for God alone. There is only one living and true God who exists in three persons, and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory (Cf. WSC 5-6). The first commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex 20:3). The Westminster Shorter Catechism (WSC 46) explains what is required in the first commandment, “The first commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the holy true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly.” Worship and glory are given to the Triune God alone. The Holy Spirit is God, therefore, is to be worshiped and glorified accordingly.

The Westminster Divines explain in the following question and answer of the Catechism (WSC 47). “The first commandment forbids the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God, and our God; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone.” To withhold or to deny worship and glory from the Holy Spirit is sinful. To give it to another is also sinful. We are to worship the one true living Triune God. As we sing every week in the doxology:

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost