What the Bible says about Spirit, Invisibility of
(From Forerunner Commentary)
When "spirit" is used in this sense, "air" is the closest physical thing Jesus could use to illustrate His instruction. Air is material, but it is invisible to our eyes, and its invisibility is what He wants us to focus on. Spirit is invisible—but immaterial—and in this specific sense, it has no form or substance. It is non-physical, but it can affect the around and the about, the environment, including a person begotten by means of it.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part One)Related Topics: Begettal of Holy Spirit | Begettal of the Holy Spirit | Holy Spirit | Holy Spirit, Begettal of | Invisibility of Spirit | Spirit | Spirit, Invisibility of
Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:16-20 to look for fruit as a way of testing what kind of a spirit would emanate from a beast like this. Biblically, spirit is used to indicate "that which motivates." Spirit is invisible. It is immaterial, but what it produces is not, because it shows up on the outside of the person in behavior and sometimes in the spirit that radiates out from them.
In a spiritual sense, "the mark of the beast" is Satan's attitude. He is the great red Dragon, who gives power to the beast, and a great deal of power over mankind resides in the spirit that radiates from him.
It was Satan who created the original bad attitude, and he sustains it in humans when we permit these things to enter into our conduct and manipulate others to gain advantage and to achieve our self-centered objectives. Spirit is something that inclines the mind and, in this case, in a hostile anti-God, anti-law direction.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Spiritual Mark of the BeastRelated Topics: Antinomian | Antinomian | Beast, The | Dragon | Dragon as Symbol | Dragon, Relationship with Beast | Satan | Satan | Satan's Attitudes | Satan's Broadcast | Spirit | Spirit | Spirit, Invisibility of