Counselor in the Conflict

Introduction

There is a very simple truth that we find in scripture but it’s hard to hear and to understand. The world hated Jesus. The world will hate Christians. Jesus exposed the ugliness in people’s hearts. The people who thought they were pretty good saw their sin was exposed and they hated Jesus for it.

Let me tell you story to illustrate this:

H.A. Ironside told this story:

“Years ago, at the time of the opening up of inland Africa by missionaries, the wife of an African chief happened to visit a mission station. The missionary had a little mirror hung up on a tree outside his home, and the woman happened to glance into it. She had come straight out of her pagan environment and had never seen the hideous paintings on her face, or her hardened features. Now, gazing at her own face, she was startled. She asked the missionary, “Who is that horrible-looking person inside the tree?” “It is not the tree,” said the missionary. “The glass is reflecting your own face.” She could not believe it until she was holding the mirror in her hand. When she had understood she said to the missionary, “I must have the glass. How much will you sell it for?” The missionary did not want to sell his mirror. But she insisted so strongly that in the end he thought it would be better to sell it to her and thus avoid trouble. A price was set, and she took the glass. Fiercely she said, “I will never have it making faces at me again.” She threw it down and broke it to pieces. (Quoted in Boice, John, 1192–93)”

The world lashes out at Christians because of a guilty conscience. The presence of Christ’s followers and His righteousness reminds them of their guilt and shame. Christians don’t respond to them with anger but with forgiveness. Of course, they don’t understand that their hatred is hiding their tormented consciences.

The real question for the Christian is: How should we respond to the world’s hatred.

John 15:26–16:15 CSB

“When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. You also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or me. But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you will remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going away to him who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.

Jesus has quite a bit to say about the Holy Spirit during this discourse while also speaking to the idea of the coming persecution of His followers. First he would

I. Coming Witness (v.26-27)

A. The Holy Spirit will soon witness to the disciples about Jesus.

When Jesus leaves the Earth, the Spirit will witness concerning Him continually. The “Counselor”, which here carries a legal significance, conducts Christ’s case for Him to the world. The Spirit "

“is to bring to light the truth of the revelation of Jesus in his word and deed, and death and resurrection.” - according to Beasley-Murray

The work of the Spirit is Christocentric. He will draw attention not to himself, but to Christ. He will glorify Christ. It is the things of Christ34 that he takes and declares, that is, his ministry is built upon and is the necessary sequel to that of Christ.

Leon Morris, The Gospel according to John, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 622.

B. The disciples will witness to the world about Jesus.

II.

Will empower the disciples to witness about Jesus.

Respond by continuing to witness. Don’t stop.

There’s a temptation to downplay the difference between Christians and the world by not talking about sin. But we must be honest about sin. It is the whole reason why we need a Savior and so we must be honest about sin. And this begins with being honest about our own sins.

It’s way too easy to point out the sins of others and to keep our own hidden from view. What the world needs is a church of people who are honest about their sins and show testimony of what continual repentance looks like. We must be transparent with each other.

All Christians have a responsibility that we can not evade to bear witness to the facts of saving grace. However, the truly significant witness is that of the Holy Spirit. He alone can bring the truth and significance of Jesus finished work on the cross to their hearts. God alone saves.

In verse 1 of chapter 16, we see the purpose behind Jesus having told them these things: to keep them from stumbling. He wasn’t just teaching for teaching sake. Jesus always had purpose in what He taught. There was intentionality behind it. This looks ahead to the coming persecution. He’s preparing them for life after His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.

Moving forward, the Holy Spirit works in the church in the context of persecution. Take a look at the conflict from the world in our passage.

II. Conflict from the World (v. 1-2)

A. 3 Types of Conflict

i. Put out of the synagogue

The term indicates a loss of fellowship.

ii. They will be killed.

Let’s think about this one for a moment. Jesus is talking about a time that is coming when people’s values will be so perverted that they will actually kill Jesus’ followers adn think they are serving God in doing so.

iii. They will be looked upon as enemies of God.

The secular state is not the persecution in mind here but persecution by religious authorities. We have seen this happen in church history and it will likely continue to happen.

Leon Morris writes:

The Gospel according to John 2. A Warning of Coming Persecutions (16:1–4)

It is the tragedy of religious people that they so often regard persecution as in line with the will of God.

It’s important to know that Jesus is warning his followers of the persecution that is inevitably going to follow. They will suffer for their faith. It’s certain.

B. The Reason for the Persecution (v.3-4)

The reason for the persecution hinges on the fact that they are completely ignorant of the Father and of the Sun. They should have known the truth but in reality:

i. The persecutors do not love the Father or the Son.

From here, Jesus turns to teach the disciples about the resources that are going to be available to them. He will send them the Spirit. Their every need would be supplied by the Spirit abundantly.

III. Counselor from the Father

But first, Jesus would have to go away. He knew this and thus, He is telling/warning them.

A. Prerequisite: That Jesus Goes Away (v. 5-7)

When Jesus was with them in the flesh, He could guide them day by day but once He was gone the vitriol of His enemies would turn on them.

Many people view the trials as a difficulty to faith, however these trials would actually strengthen their faith. When these things happened, they would remember that Jesus had said they would happen and their faith would be stronger.

v.5 - “But now” - change is imminent. It is coming. Their lives were going to change. We continually see Jesus pointing toward His coming death.

v. 6 - Jesus says that because he spoke these things that sorrow had filled their heart. The sorrow that filled their hearts would give way when Easter joy replaced it. But the pain of parting with Jesus would be very real. Jesus goes on in verse 7 to assure then that it is for their good that he leaves. He understands the power of the Holy Spirit that is coming to indwell His followers. But this Counselor will not come until Jesus goes away. Once Jesus is glorified, then the Spirit would come. The cross is critical. That is the implication. The concern here is the salvation for people. That salvation can not be based on anything other than Christ’s atoning work. Therefore, only when this work was finished could people receive the Spirit.

B. Purpose of the Counselor (v.8-15)

Jesus points out the resources that are going to be available to his followers.

i. Conviction of sin

The Spirit typically is spoken of in scripture in the way in which He works in believers. Here we have the one place in the Bible where He is spoken of as doing a work in the world. This work is bringing the world under conviction of sin. He is a powerful advocate that goes before the Church to convict the world of sin.

shows the world to be guilty

brings the guilt of the world home to it

about righteousness - the righteousness established by Christ - requires the work of the Holy Spirit to be convinced about

ii. Condemnation of Satan

Judgement, condemnation and overthrow of Satan.

iii. Counsel of Saints

iv. Champion the Savior

Leon Morris wrote:

The Gospel according to John 3. The Work of the Spirit (16:5–15)

The work of the Spirit is Christocentric. He will draw attention not to himself, but to Christ. He will glorify Christ. It is the things of Christ34 that he takes and declares, that is, his ministry is built upon and is the necessary sequel to that of Christ.

Jesus said he had more to tell them but they couldn’t bear it. They likely didn’t have the ability to comprehend it until later, after the Spirit came and enabled them.

I have heard some people, in response to Biblical teaching on certain issues, claim that Jesus never spoke on whatever their pet topic is. I’ve seen it just this past week even. This idea they are championing exposes a theological misunderstanding that they are experiencing. Let me read what Morris had to say about this:

The Gospel according to John 3. The Work of the Spirit (16:5–15)

In passing we should notice that the attempt of some scholars to “go back to the original Jesus” and bypass the teaching of the apostles is shown by Jesus himself to be misguided. The same source lies behind both. The Spirit’s teaching is not from himself, but he teaches “only what he hears.” It is not said whether he hears them from the Father or the Son, but the point is probably not material. The emphasis in these verses is on the Spirit rather than on either of the other Persons. This expression will indicate his harmony with them. He is not originating something radically new, but leading people in accordance with the teaching already given from the Father and the Son.

The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are in complete agreement. There is no contradiction or disagreement. They are in perfect relationship and completely unified as one God.

Conclusion

Keep witnessing. The local church is the way Jesus is conveying his message. There is no plan B.When someone is under conviction you know God is at work in their life and you can jump in with both feet.

Don’t fall away, no matter how severe it gets. Don’t be surprised by suffering for your faith.

Live your life relying on the richness of the resources available to you because you have the Spirit of the living God dwelling in you.