62-28 God’s Gift to Believers

1 John 4:13

This morning I want us to begin a study on a critical subject that has vital importance to us as believers living in the midst of a world that is set against us.  If you are keeping track of our studies in 1 John, you’ll be pleased to know that this mini-series fits directly into our present verses in ch 4.  The past 2 weeks we discovered 3 reasons we are called to love each other based on the source of love, significance of love and supreme manifestation of love.  These truth motivate us to love each b/c God’s love is brought to its intended goal when we love each other as God loves us (vv 7-12). 

In vv 13-16 John sets forth the basis for Xian Assurance—the assurance that God’s people have come to know God’s love.  Now John has written that the strongest argument for Xian assurance is living obedience to the commandment of Christ (2:3).  Here he presents additional means of assurance that God is in us and that we have come to know God’s love and the basis of that assurance is 3-fold (Gift of God, Testimony of Apostles, Faith in God). 

The subject I want us to consider concerns the Gift of God.

1 John 4:13

John emphasizes the concern he has for believers to know that God abides in them.  That term “abide” is one of John’s favorite expressions that is synonymous with “knowing God” and being “born of God” or saying the same thing as being saved.

God only abides in those whose sin has been pardoned b/c of their faith in the atoning work of the LJC.  And God always abides in those whose sin has been pardoned b/c of their faith.

Vs 13 John is saying that we know—by virtue of our experience that God is abiding in us b/c of His gift to believers—that is the HS.

This is the study I want us to launch into over the next few weeks.  Again—vital study of great importance.  Next to salvation, the HS is the greatest gift God gives to believers. 

Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 5:5 (guarantee); Gal 3:5; Eph 1:14;

HS is most neglected member of the Godhead—Trinity.  He is least focused on and least understood.  When was last time you heard a message, read a book or an article focusing on HS?  This neglect has led to error concerning who the HS is, His ministry and operation within the church/world today.  Neglect also leads to confusion and theological chaos concerning His ministry in our lives.

There are few hymns that speak of the HS and many of those contain theologically abstract and confusing language.

Studying the HS can be one of the most rewarding and valuable studies of all Scripture for several reasons:

1)  It is the study of God.

Acts 5:3-4

Ananias & Sapphira sold a piece of property and made a contribution to meet the need of the church.  This is the congregation was doing early on to support members’ needs.  They laid a portion of the money at the apostles’ feet and claimed this was the full price.  Peter said vs 3-4

2)  It is the study of the One who indwells believers

Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 3:16-17; 6:19

Studying the character, nature, ministry of the One who is within us proves to be enriching and edifying.

3)  It is the stud of the One who empowers us for life and ministry ---Acts 1:8

Privilege to study/know HS thru God’s Word and to experience the ministry of HS if you are a child of God.

John 14-16 is the most comprehensive passage in Scripture regarding the character and ministry of the HS.  These are not the only verses that teach us about the HS but appropriate starting point for our study.

1)  The Character of the HS

Jn 14:16-17  Similar themes found in 1 John: 

3 Characteristics of the HS:

We refer to HS as a person—not a force, not a powerful influence, not a mode of God—not “it” but “He”

A.  He Is Like Jesus

“another Helper” Jesus just made an incredible statement that shocked His disciples in 14:1-4 basically telling them He wasn’t going to be with them forever.  In light of His soon to be departure, He made wonderfully comforting revelations

Revealed that He was God

Revealed that they would not be powerless

Revealed He would still supply their needs

Then He promises that the Father would send another Helper. 

This is difficult to understand just how assuring this promise would have been to the disciples who were on the brink of disaster.  3 years Jesus had equipped His disciples to carry on the ministry in His absence and that time was coming soon.  They would stand on the Mt of Olives watching the Lord ascend into heaven and would leave with a great deal of sorrow.  But the next day—this Helper was given with remarkable evidence in Acts 2.

The Greeks had 2 ways of saying “another” precision of lang:

Heteros—another of a similar kind.  It could refer to anything—Illus: If I asked you to give me a heteros Bible, you could give me another Bible but could have a red cover, KJV/NIV, red letters where Jesus spoke, wide margins or narrow.  It doesn’t matter b/c it means another of anykind.

Allos—another of the same kind.  Allos Bible would have the same black cover, the same margins, the same translation, the same markings, the same everything b/c its an exact representation with exactly the same details.

Now Jesus knew the traumatic impact His leaving would have on His beloved disciples and He promises that Father would send not just any old helper—but exactly the same kind as He is.  Jesus was the first helper (called alongside—we’ll look at this in a moment)—comforting His disciples in Ch 14.  HS is the helper of the same kind—with the same nature of JC who would act as the perfect substitute for the disciples and He would be with them “forever.”

HS has the very same essence of JC—He is deity, perfectly one with Jesus as Jesus is one with the Father.

B.  He is Spirit/spiritual

Vs 17—“Spirit of truth”

Gk pneuma—English “pneumatic—air driven”  pneuma is often translated wind, breath or spirit.

John 3:8

HS is not flesh and blood.  He cannot be seen with physical eyes, but the effects of the HS are unmistakable.  B/c He is spirit when He acts and moves, He does so on the minds and hearts of men.  His ministry is not a physical ministry but a spiritual ministry.

C.  He is the source of Truth

The HS is the source of truth and communicates the truth to His own.  Since HS is God He cannot lie and He cannot speak anything but that which is truth.  The Bible is the fruit of the HS’s ministry of revelation.  He superintended the writing process of Scripture by inspiring human authors, using their own vocabulary, thoughts, and words so that what 40 human writers wrote over a period of 1500 years would culminate God’s self-disclosure of Himself to mankind.

The Bible is truth—the only source of truth--Jn 17:17.

The HS is the source of this truth and apart from Him the natural man is unable to know/understand the truth.

1 Cor 2:12-16  It was necessary that when Jesus (way truth life) left earth, that He would send the same source of truth to be the helper who would guide into all truth.

D.  He is Holy

93x the Spirit is called holy in Scripture.  Being holy (very essence of God), means that He is completely set apart from sin, unrighteousness, evil, wickedness of any kind.

Because of His holiness, HS is concerned with sin in and among God’s creation.

Gen 6:3 “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.”  HS was patient for a time a gave mankind 120 years to turn in repentance and embrace righteousness while Noah was constructing the ark.

Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit

Despite God’s lovingkindness Israel continually rejected Him by turning to sin.

John 16:8-11

2)  The Ministry of the HS

John 14-16 clearly speaks of the ministry of the HS.  We can identify at least 5 aspects of His ministry:

A.  HS is our Helper

Jn 14:16—Gk parakletos lit “called alongside to help.”  When Jesus said He would send another—it meant that the disciples already had a paraclete.  Jesus is a paraclete.  He was the helper while He ministered among the disciples.  1 Jn 2:1—advocate=parakletos

In the ancient world a paraclete was one who would be called alongside someone else.  A person might be called alongside to give witness in a court of law in someone’s favor.  Someone might be called alongside to plead the case of someone under a specific charge or an expert called to give advice.  A paraclete sometimes would be called alongside depressed and despondent soldiers to give new courage to their minds and hearts.

A paraclete was always called alongside for the purpose of helping someone in need, or to shoulder a heavy burden.  When Jesus prayed that the Father would send another paraclete, He did not give up His role as such.  He is still the paraclete in heaven today.  He makes intercession on our behalf in heaven but the HS is our helper here on earth b/c He abides in us.

What encouragement to know that when we are faced with troubles that are difficult to bear and beyond our ability to cope with, the HS is an ever present—eternal helper whose guidance, support, encouragement, and counsel we can rely upon.

B.  HS is our Teacher

John 14:25-26

It is apparent that while Jesus was ministering to His disciples, they failed to understand everything He spoke about.

Mark 9:31-32

So in the providential plan of God, He would send the HS (at the request of Jesus) to be their teacher.  The HS energized and empowered the disciples to remember the things Jesus taught them as well as lead them to a correct understanding of those truths.

This ministry is not limited to the Apostles.  It was their special benefit as the writers of Scripture to recall those things that were to be included in the Word of God.  B/c of HS ministry they accurately recorded everything contained in the gospels and NT.  This ministry was not limited to them.

If you have learned anything, understand anything about God, JS, HS, man, sin, salvation, eternity—it is b/c the HS has been your teacher.  Apart from Him, you would learn nothing about the truth and could not comprehend what you read b/c only the HS can teach you God’s truth b/c He is the source of it.

Sort of like Philip and Ethiopian “do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:30).

C.  HS is our Witness of JC & Salvation

John 15:26

JC was a witness while He was on earth.  A witness was simply one who testifies or speaks about what they know.

Jn 1:14, 18

The HS took up this ministry as witness to the truth, specifically regarding the nature of JC.  HS speaks the truth about His life, ministry, death & resurrection.  He also bears witness to our salvation:

Rom 8:16-17

If a true believer ever begins to question the nature of JC, salvation or even God’s Word, you can appeal to the HS to settle the question in your heart.  Providing assurance of spiritual life is one of the most precious ministries He has toward us.

D.  HS is the Convicting God

John 16:5-11

Gk word “convict” carries 2 different meanings:

Judicial act (with a view toward sentencing)

Idea of convincing—that seems to be the appropriate meaning here.  This ministry is directed at the unbelieving world.

Convict of 3 things:

Sin:  a specific sin is in view here (vs 9) failure to believe in Jesus.  If there is but one sin that keeps a person from knowing the joy of eternal life it is this one.  All men are depraved from birth, under the curse and dominion of sin, but 1 sin keeps a person from eternity with God—disbelief.  Jn 8:24

Righteousness:  (in regards to righteousness)

JC is called the holy and righteous one (Acts 3:14).  He is the one who embodies the perfect standard of what is right.  The ascension of JC into heaven is the ultimate proof that He is the perfect patter of the righteousness that God accepts.  HS will convict men of their failure to live up to that standard.

Judgment:  HS also convinces mankind of his liability in the coming judgment.  Vs 11  ruler—designation for Satan—his defeat was proclaimed at the cross.

If Satan, former angel, powerful spirit being, could not escape God’s judgment, how can mere mortal man escape judgment for rebellion and rejection of God’s grace?  There is no possibility of escape.  HS convicts of this truth.  So why do not many turn to God?

Jn 3:19  Not everyone is saved b/c not everyone wants to forsake their wickedness and accept the absolute standard of righteousness that God demands.

E.  HS Is Revealer of Truth

Jn 16:13-15

HS speaks & reveals truth—2 Pt 1:21

Heb 1:1-2 indicates God finished revealing new truth b/c His truth is spoken absolutely in His Son JC.

In our lives today, the HS take the truth that has been declared in God’s Word, and guides believers into a correct understanding of that truth.  He does this by disclosing—telling, announcing, making known” what is to come—that is the prophetic program of God.

This has been only a small portion of His entire ministry toward believers.  Much more to discover as we continue to study this great gift to believers enabling us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.