I Believe in God: The Holy Spirit (John 16:4-15)
Rev. William L. Barron, April 21, 2024Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
We have come to consider doctrine of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, as presented in the Apostles' Creed. In John 14, Jesus tells the disciples that he is leaving them and will be sending another helper. The role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian's life today is the same as in the Old Testament, but in different ways. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirt was involved with specific empowerment. For example, the breath and the spirit causes the grasses to both grow and to wither (Isiah 40). The spirit is also the Word of God. In the upper room Jesus told the disciples that He was getting ready to go, but would come back again. "It is better that I leave," He said. The high priest Caiaphas said that it was better to get rid of one man so that the Jewish nation would not die. He was right, but the death of Jesus was for a different purpose. The Father and the Son send the Holy Spirit. He takes up residence within us. He is our guide, helper, God's presence with us and our convictor. As the Spirit of truth, He is how we get right with God. He convicts us of sin, cleanses us and welcomes us back into His presence. He convicts us of righteousness; we know that self-righteousness is deadly. By the Holy Spirit, the righteousness of Christ is attributed to us. The world is content to deal with fake values, and none of this brings salvation. The Holy Spirit will bring all nations before Christ in judgment. All worldly value will come to the end. Although a house built on sand cannot stand, God builds us into an everlasting house founded on the rock of Christ. The Holy Spirit teaches through the apostles; through divine revelation, the World of God. The Holy Spirit illumines the truth to us. He guides us how we put the truth together in our lives and how we live out our salvation in sanctification. The Holy Spirit always points to Christ, not to Himself. What is a "spiritual person"? An inspired person? A truly spiritual person is one who is focused on Christ.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Come to Judge the Living and the Dead | None | I Believe In The Resurrection Of The Body For The Purpose Of Life » |
John 16:4–15 (Listen)
4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, 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. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
(ESV)