Note 16 at 2 Cor. 3:17: God is not a man, He is Spirit (see note 5 at Jn. 4:24, p. 104). Spirit is not material substance, as creation, but rather is defined by words such as "breath, air, breeze, and wind" (this can be verified by looking up the Gk. and Heb. definitions for "spirit" ["pneuma"]). These words describe that which is invisible but none the less is very real (Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 11:27). Spirit is not limited as we are (Ps. 139:7). Spirit can penetrate the human body and live within the human heart without displacing anything human (1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 3:17).

Although God is Spirit, He is still a person possessing a full and distinct personality. He speaks (Acts 8:29); has a will (1 Cor. 12:11); has knowledge (1 Cor. 2:11); appoints (Acts 20:28); commands (Acts 13:2); teaches (1 Jn. 2:27); testifies (Jn.15:26); intercedes (Rom. 8:26); loves (Rom. 15:30); communes (2 Cor. 13:14); works miracles (1 Cor. 12:10-11); can be grieved, rebelled against, and lied to (Acts 5:3; 7:51; Eph. 4:30). He is eternal (Heb. 9:14); omniscient, i.e. all-knowing (Ps. 139:12); omnipotent, i.e. all-powerful (Mt. 19:26); and omnipresent, i.e. present everywhere (1 Ki. 8:27).

God is identified as a Spirit in scripture in some of the following ways: The Spirit (Acts 16:7); the Spirit of God (Gen. 1:2; 41:38; Ex. 31:3; Num. 24:2; 2 Chr. 15:1; Mt. 3:16; Rom. 15:19); the Spirit of the LORD, i.e. Jehovah (Jud. 15:14; 1 Sam. 10:6; Isa. 11:2; 40:13; 59:19; Mic. 3:8); Spirit of the living God (2 Cor. 3:3); the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9; 1 Pet. 1:11); the Father of spirits (Heb. 12:9); the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:19); the Holy Spirit (Ps. 51:11; Isa. 63:10-11; Lk. 11:13; Eph. 1:13; 1 Th. 4:8); the Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4); the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, and knowledge (Isa. 11:2); the Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29); the Spirit of your Father (Mt. 10:20); the Spirit of truth (Jn. 14:17; 15:26; 16:13); the Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2); the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15); the Spirit of his Son (Gal. 4:6); the holy Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13); the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7); and the Spirit of glory (1 Pet. 4:14).

Note 17 at 2 Cor. 3:17: This title "Spirit of the Lord" is found a total of 31 times in the scriptures (Jud. 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14; 1 Sam. 10:6; 16:13-14; 2 Sam. 23:2; 1 Ki. 18:12; 22:24; 2 Ki. 2:16; 2 Chr. 18:23; 20:14; Isa. 11:2; 40:7, 13; 59:19; 61:1; 63:14; Ezek. 11:5; 37:1; Mic. 2:7; 3:8; Lk. 4:18; Acts 5:9; 8:39; 2 Cor. 3:17-18).

Note 18 at 2 Cor. 3:17: The word "liberty" occurs 27 times in 25 verses in scripture (Lev. 25:10; Ps. 119:45; Isa. 61:1; Jer. 34:8, 15-17; Ezek. 46:17; Lk. 4:18; Acts 24:23; 26:32; 27:3; Rom. 8:21; 1 Cor. 7:39; 8:9; 10:29; 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 2:4; 5:1, 13; Heb. 13:23; Jas. 1:25; 2:12; 1 Pet. 2:16; 2 Pet. 2:19). The Greek noun "eleutheria" used here is found 11 times in the New Testament (Rom. 8:21; 1 Cor. 10:29; 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 2:4; 5:1, 13; Jas. 1:25; 2:12; 1 Pet. 2:16; 2 Pet. 2:19). Paul states, "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." This liberty is spiritual freedom from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2), the devil (1 Jn. 3:8), and religious of any form that would try to bind the believer (Gal. 1:4; 5:1).

The Spirit of the Lord brings freedom (Gal. 5:1; Rom. 8:2), exemption from and care (Rom. 8:15), and the spontaneous outflow of life and peace (Rom. 8:6). In contrast, evil spirits bring slavery (2 Tim. 2:26), torment (1 Jn. 4:18), fear (2 Tim. 1:7), and oppression of every kind (Acts 10:38).

The New Covenant is a ministration of life and Spirit (Rom. 7:6), thus bringing the life of Jesus to defeat our foe. We are no match in ourselves for the devil, sin, or the flesh, but the devil, sin and the flesh are no match for the Spirit of the Lord who indwells us (1 Cor. 6:19). Paul's exhortation to thebeliever is to "Stand fast...in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" (Gal. 5:1).