HG150pt2 John 15:26-16:15
Notes
Transcript
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
1 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.
“And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5 “But now I go away 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 depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of 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 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
Today’s sermon is about the work of the Holy Spirit. First, we need a little background for this passage is about the Holy Spirit and the necessity of sending Him. Jesus, plainly was physically with them the whole time but that is limiting as He can only be one place at one time. He was born as a human being after all, by choice, to be like us. But now He was speaking confusing things to the disciples for He is talking of not being there, talking of being betrayed by one of their own, talking of reinstituting the Passover as a memorial of Him. After all, in their understanding He was the One who was about to be crowned King in Jerusalem, where they presently are, but they are starting to get an inkling that things are not working out how they thought. And, to be honest, it was too much to take in, they were at their full capacity of understanding. That, Jesus make clear in verse 12. We cannot be too harsh on them for the crucifixion and the resurrection had not happened yet though Jesus had given them hints.
For the disciples there that day they were preoccupied with their own problems. That makes me ask the question as to whether we so taken up by the immediacy of our own problems that we are missing out on the things God is saying to us? It is all too easy to be so consumed by what is going on to stop, be still, and know that He is God. A God who knows the future, a God who is in control, a God who has our best at heart.
And this was what Jesus was saying. He had to go away for His work on earth was done but by doing so He was going to send the Holy Spirit instead who can be with us all wherever anyone of us are. So, what was the ministry of the Holy Spirit - what was He sent to do? We find the answer here in
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Jorge Rodriguez was a Mexican bank robber who operated along the Texas border around the turn of the century. He was so successful in his forays that the Texas Rangers assigned an extra posse to the Rio Grande to stop him. Late one afternoon one of the special Rangers saw Jorge slipping stealthily across the river, and he trailed him at a discreet distance as he returned to his home village. He watched as Jorge first mingled with the people in the square around the town well, then went into his favourite cantina to relax. The Ranger slipped into the cantina as well and managed to get the drop on Jorge. With a pistol at Jorge’s head, he said, “I know who you are, Jorge Rodriguez, and I have come to get back all the money you have stolen from the banks of Texas. Unless you give it to me, I am going to pull the trigger.” But there was a problem—Jorge did not speak English, and the Texas Ranger did not know Spanish. The two adults were at a verbal impasse.
About that time an enterprising villager said, “I am bilingual. Do you want me to act as a translator?” The Ranger nodded, and the villager proceeded to put the words of the Ranger into terms Jorge could understand. Nervously, Jorge answered, “Tell the big Texas Ranger that I have not spent a cent of the money. If he will go to the town well, face north, and count down five stones, he will find a loose one there. Pull it out, and all the money is behind it. Please tell him quickly.” The little translator assumed a solemn look and said to the Ranger in perfect English, “Jorge Rodriguez is a brave man. He says he is ready to die.”
What we do not know most assuredly does hurt us!
One’s ignorance of sin, righteousness, and judgment will ultimately bring eternal hurt. Therefore it is incredibly important that we grasp these things for ourselves and for others.
Preaching the Word: John—That You May Believe What the World May Perceive Through the Holy Spirit (vv. 7–11)
The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to bring to the world’s consciousness three things—a correct perception of sin, a correct perception of righteousness, and a correct perception of judgment. Verse 9: “ in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me.” Verse 10: “in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer.” Verse 11: “in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” The saying “What you don’t know won’t hurt you” is certainly not true here!
Let us also note that the work of the Spirit is to convict the world, not just the individual. The word translated here as Helper or Advocate used of the Spirit is ‘Paraclete’ which is a legal term as defender and prosecutor. The world’s system is against us but the Spirit defends us and proves we are justified and the Spirit also prosecutes the world to make them realise the truth they are ignoring and persecuting through hating Jesus, us and in putting to death those that declare the truth. The Spirit is our helper when we proclaim Jesus and Him crucified and resurrected.
As Hence Burge said:
As the community stands on trial for Christ, the Spirit will turn the tables and address the world through the Church with the veracity of its own Christ-centred message
Let’s now look closer at the threefold conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit:
To convict of sin.
What is sin? Sin is rebellion against God and, as put in one of my commentaries, it reached its climax in the crucifixion of Jesus. Sin is always against God. The Holy Spirit brings home the guilt of sin so that they would turn to God and seek His mercy. But the greatest sin is the failure to believe and put trust in Jesus. This is what verse 9 says: because men do not believe in me. Most unbelievers do not see that not trusting Jesus is sin but if the Holy Spirit is at work in someone that is what He does. He glorifies Jesus and brings our focus to Him. This is only possible through the Spirit. People need to realise their spiritual bankruptcy and ask for Jesus to come into their lives.
I’ve heard of leadership teams praying for the conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit and seen and heard remarkable results in the souls of people turned to God. When someone says to you they feel really down or feel awful and it is not to do with their physical health it could well be the conviction of sin. Tell them to cry out for mercy from God found in Jesus Christ. The problem is we and they don’t always recognise this conviction when it comes as it must do to bring people to a realisation of the need of a saviour.
This is what happened on the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached:
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
And 3000 were added to their number.
2. To convict of righteousness
Jesus, when talking of righteousness said: that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees you will not enter Heaven. That must have been an enormous blow for the Pharisee was a spiritual superstar. People think that on the whole they have done more good than bad - and this is an idea sold by religion - but we are not weighed in a balance - what is demanded is perfection. “Be ye perfect as my Father is perfect”. And when you are told that then you know there is a problem. This is a different standard altogether. Perfection, we know, is not attainable for we are already imperfect. It is only when we come to Jesus that we can then be clothed in the robe of righteousness given to us by Him.
The cross is necessary to convict of sin for Jesus paid the price, that is, the punishment we should have paid. But we have a curious statement here about the conviction of righteousness because I go to the Father. So, this conviction is no longer about the cross but the resurrection and ascension for it is in this that Jesus is validated as God’s righteous servant spoken of in
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
When God raised Jesus from the dead He was saying “This is the Man I accept”, and in so doing has rejected all others not like Him. The resurrection is an historical fact that we must believe to partake in the future resurrection to everlasting life.
And thirdly, the Holy Spirit’s work is to:
3. Convict of Judgement
If we are not convicted of sin and of righteousness then there is only one thing left and that is judgement for the death and resurrection of Jesus was the death knell for the devil for it was there in those three days that Satan was defeated who originally had the power of death and hell. Now, all judgement has passed to the Son. Satan is judged and those who keep in cahoots with Him as it says in:
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
This place was never meant for human beings but it is the end of all who do not trust in Jesus.
Judgement is surely coming and anyone not under the conviction of the Spirit does not realise this but those who are need to look to the only One who can save and that is Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is preparing people for salvation. We are called to join in this work.
Conclusion
Jorge Rodriguez found out that what you do not know can indeed hurt you. In the spiritual realm, that is infinitely more true. The Spirit’s work will have its culmination on Judgement Day when
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
The secrets will then be exposed. Sin. Righteousness. Judgement. The Holy Spirit’s work is to open our eyes and enlarge our ability to see. He always begins with sin and righteousness and judgment. Are you convinced of sin? Are you convinced of Christ’s righteousness? Are you convinced of judgment? Then you are under the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
If so, there is only one thing left to do if you have not already done it, and that is to come to Christ.
Some years ago a certain young woman sat in church. She understood these great doctrines, but she considered herself unworthy of God’s salvation. “She was almost in despair and hardly heard the words of the elderly man who was speaking. Suddenly, right in the middle of his address, the preacher stopped and, pointing his finger at her, said, ‘You, Miss, sitting there at the back, you can be saved now. You don’t need to do anything!’ ” His words struck like thunder in her heart. She believed at once, and with her belief came a wonderful sense of peace and real joy. That night Charlotte Elliott went home and wrote a well-known hymn.
Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Communion
Communion
Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of sin? Is He convicting you of righteousness? Or is He convicting you of judgement? Friends, as it was told Charlotte, all you have to do is receive the gift of salvation found in Christ alone. It is before the throne of God you will find mercy if only you come to Him. This remembrance table we come to reminds us of the great mercy and love shown to us when Jesus came to this world, lived like us but died horrifically at the hands of those He had made. His body represented here by the bread, His blood spilt and splattered represented here by the wine. Jesus bore the penalty for the sin we live in and commit - it was us who crucified Him there - so we could live free of judgement.
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Benediction
Benediction
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Bibliography
Bibliography
Burge, H. (1987). Anointed Community: The Holy Spirit in the Johannine Tradition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Fredrikson, R. L., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1985). John (Vol. 27). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.
Hughes, R. K. (1999). John: that you may believe. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
Reynolds, T. (2017) Reading Scripture in the Fellowship of the Spirit. London: Apostolos Publishing Ltd.
Walvoord, J. F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:03 18 January 2020.