Jesus on the Holy Spirit

John 16

7Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you

When Jesus said these words, they were as confusing to the disciples as they are to us today. What could be better than having Jesus in the flesh here with us? Yet Christians today can bear witness to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, while the disciples at the time had no idea of this “Helper” or “Spirit of Truth”. Jesus goes on to discuss in brief the Spirit’s role and purpose, building a foundation of knowledge for his followers to get by with until its advent at Pentecost. Let’s look at some of the things Jesus says of the third member of the Godhead.

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment

First, how could it be advantageous for Jesus to go away and for this “new” being to arrive? As verse 8 says, he will convict the WORLD – while Jesus could only be at one place at one time in his body, the Spirit operates outside these spatial limitations and is able to work all over the world at once. Now the three items – sin, righteousness, and judgment – concern specific offices of the Holy Spirit. It has power to convict one of his or her sin, revealing its true nature as despicable before God, deserving of his full wrath. It has power to convict the world of righteousness, namely Christ’s righteousness and how a believer receives this transaction of his or her sin for the righteousness of Christ, as 2 Corinthians 5:21 states: “God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This is the very heart of the gospel – that wretched sinners can be saved through the righteousness of Christ – a truth affirmed and enacted by the Holy Spirit. Lastly, the Spirit will (and does) convict the world concerning judgment. The most enigmatic of the three items (because the final judgment has not yet occurred), at least one thing can be made certain by what Jesus says in verse 11: “…because the ruler of this world is judged.” This triumphant truth is to be the confidence of believers, displaying the mighty work of God at the Cross of Christ and His continual work in believers through his Holy Spirit. Satan has been disarmed! Sin has lost its power, which is death! The Spirit of Truth allows for us to discern and confide in these wonderful truths of Scripture

As we revel in these truths and the incredible work of the Spirit, let us conclude with 3 thoughts:

1. The Spirit gives us a clearer picture of us (concerning sin)

2. The spirit gives us a clearer picture of Christ (concerning righteousness)

3. The Spirit gives us a clearer picture of the world (concerning judgment)

What a confusing and frightening place it would be without the guidance of the Spirit – a world in which we know not the depth of our fall or the overcoming righteousness of Christ. May we keep these truths dear and be ever thankful for the coming of the promised Spirit, this seal of our salvation, the guarantee of our inheritence.