Upper Room Discourse

What is Truth “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:17–21, AV) Intro. Last week we consider the two fold ministry of the Holy Spirit to the believer. He brings all things to our mind and he teaches us. This is the what of His work. This week I want to focus our attention on the how of his work. “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.” (John 18:36–38, AV) 1. The fact that a well educated, well connected, man does not know what truth is should not surprise us. 2. Men enter this world speaking lies, and are deceived while they are being deceived. The entire world system is built upon lies and will crumble in the face of Him who is the truth. 3. Satan is a liar and the father of lies, and the whole world lies in the evil one. 4. So the fact that Pilate has no idea what is true should not surprise us. 5. He has lived his entire life in the darkness and is not able to see the light. 6. More than that he doubts that there really is anything that is truth, 7. In his mind everything is relative, political, and brute power. He believes that might makes right. 8. Sounds like our world doesn't it? 9. Every religion, philosophy, and theory is equal. The only truth, that is the truth, is the truth that you can create through manipulation, trickery, deceit, and power. 10. “None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.” (Isaiah 59:4, AV) 11. The truth is in short supply and men are walking in darkness, all the while arguing over which lie should be supported. 12. So what is truth? According to the 18th edition of the Marrian Webster Dictionary, truth is..... b: sincerity in action, character, and utterance 2 a (1): the state of being the case: fact (2): the body of real things, events, and facts: actuality CONSTANCY (3) often capitalized: a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality b: a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true 〈truths of thermodynamics〉 c: the body of true statements and propositions 3 a: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality c: fidelity to an original or to a standard1 Biblically, Lets let Christ define truth. The Place of Truth - “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) The Person of Truth - “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6, AV) The Plan of Truth - “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6, AV) “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” (John 17:8, AV) “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5, AV) “The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” (Proverbs 12:19, AV) “That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” (Proverbs 22:21, AV) 14:16–17. This is the first of several passages on the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room Discourse. Up to this point in John’s Gospel, little has been said about the Holy Spirit. The words to Nicodemus (3:5–8) were private and 7:39 pointed ahead to Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is to be the Counselor (paraklētos; also used in 14:26; 15:26; 16:7; for its meaning see comments on 16:7). In a sense He has now replaced Jesus’ physical presence; and He mediates God to believers. The Spirit is in a believer forever (cf. Rom. 8:9). He is also the Spirit of Truth (lit., “Spirit of the truth”; cf. John 15:26; 16:13) and thus would guide the apostles. He is invisible (the world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him), yet He is real and active. Without a radio, radio waves go unnoticed. The Holy Spirit is unnoticed by the unsaved who have no spiritual life. The disciples had some experience with the Spirit (doubtless in preaching and miracle-working) but now His working would be much more intimate. Why did Jesus say that the Holy Spirit will be (fut. tense) in them? Because in Old Testament times the Spirit came on some believers for special enablement, but after Pentecost He indwells every believer permanently (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13). 14:18–19. What did Jesus mean when He said, I will come to you? Was He referring to (1) His resurrection, (2) the Rapture, (3) the death of a believer, (4) a mystical experience, or (5) the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost? Views 1 and 5 seem best. Verse 19 favors view 1 since the disciples did see Him after His resurrection. His resurrection is also the pledge of their resurrection V 2, p 324 (Because I live, you also will live; cf. 1 Cor. 15:20–21) and the foundation of a new life. 14:20–21. On that day refers to the day of Pentecost when the outpoured Spirit gave evidence of Jesus’ Ascension to the Father. (Some, however, take the “day” to refer to Jesus’ resurrection, the basis for believers’ assurance.) The Spirit would come into believers (v. 17), and would teach them of their union with Jesus (you are in Me, and I am in you) while He manifested Christ in them. Christian love is manifested as a believer obeys the Lord’s words (cf. vv. 15, 23). The rewards of loving Him are great: (a) the Father will show His love to him (cf. v. 23), and (b) the Son will love him and show Himself to him. This passage does not teach a “works” religion, but rather that one who believes and obeys Christ’s Word is loved by the Lord. Saving faith results in obedience (cf. “the obedience that comes from faith,” Rom. 1:5).2 14:16–17. This is the first of several passages on the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room Discourse. Up to this point in John’s Gospel, little has been said about the Holy Spirit. The words to Nicodemus (3:5–8) were private and 7:39 pointed ahead to Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is to be the Counselor (paraklētos; also used in 14:26; 15:26; 16:7; for its meaning see comments on 16:7). In a sense He has now replaced Jesus’ physical presence; and He mediates God to believers. The Spirit is in a believer forever (cf. Rom. 8:9). He is also the Spirit of Truth (lit., “Spirit of the truth”; cf. John 15:26; 16:13) and thus would guide the apostles. He is invisible (the world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him), yet He is real and active. Without a radio, radio waves go unnoticed. The Holy Spirit is unnoticed by the unsaved who have no spiritual life. The disciples had some experience with the Spirit (doubtless in preaching and miracle-working) but now His working would be much more intimate. Why did Jesus say that the Holy Spirit will be (fut. tense) in them? Because in Old Testament times the Spirit came on some believers for special enablement, but after Pentecost He indwells every believer permanently (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13). 14:18–19. What did Jesus mean when He said, I will come to you? Was He referring to (1) His resurrection, (2) the Rapture, (3) the death of a believer, (4) a mystical experience, or (5) the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost? Views 1 and 5 seem best. Verse 19 favors view 1 since the disciples did see Him after His resurrection. His resurrection is also the pledge of their resurrection V 2, p 324 (Because I live, you also will live; cf. 1 Cor. 15:20–21) and the foundation of a new life. 14:20–21. On that day refers to the day of Pentecost when the outpoured Spirit gave evidence of Jesus’ Ascension to the Father. (Some, however, take the “day” to refer to Jesus’ resurrection, the basis for believers’ assurance.) The Spirit would come into believers (v. 17), and would teach them of their union with Jesus (you are in Me, and I am in you) while He manifested Christ in them. Christian love is manifested as a believer obeys the Lord’s words (cf. vv. 15, 23). The rewards of loving Him are great: (a) the Father will show His love to him (cf. v. 23), and (b) the Son will love him and show Himself to him. This passage does not teach a “works” religion, but rather that one who believes and obeys Christ’s Word is loved by the Lord. Saving faith results in obedience (cf. “the obedience that comes from faith,” Rom. 1:5).3