The Holy Spirit in Me
Verse by Verse Study of the Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted
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Today we reached the end of chapter 3 of the Gospel of John— this by far could be the most important chapter in the Bible for it bears the truth that has eternal impact on a person’s life
The narrative of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus has clearly spelled out to us the very important doctrine of salvation— when Jesus said that to see the kingdom of God— one must be “born again”— born of water and of the Spirit
Baptism and the Holy Spirit was given highlight in this chapter—
We learned so many principles applicable to our lives such as:
Avoidance of stupid arguments [as a result of jealousy]
To be contend with what God has for us
The we must decrease so the Holy Spirit may increase
We are witnesses for Jesus and the Holy Spirit gives us power to testify to our family, community, city and even to our country
We also learned about the how may I be saved? who may be saved? why do I need a Savior? What are the things that I must believe about Jesus?
And in the process— we also learned the Romans Road and the ABC of Salvation
Now to close this chapter, let’s take a look at remaining verses from John 3:31-36
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31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
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THE ONE WHO COMES FROM HEAVEN IS ABOVE ALL
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
John recognizes that Jesus is from heaven and he was not— he is from earth and his words are from an earthly standpoint
Jesus on the other hand— who is from heaven— is the only one who has seen and heard the things of heaven that he bears testimony
NO ONE ACCEPTS HIS TESTIMONY
32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
This is a hyperbole and must not be taken literally— when you come across hyperboles [exaggerated words or statements not taken literally] in the Bible, which you would— there’s a lot of them— make no mistake and take caution because if you take it literally could lead you to misunderstand the Scriptures
This hyperbole of John is to emphasize the world’s tragic rejection of the Messiah
GOD GIVES THE SPIRIT WITHOUT LIMIT
34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
Take note that John is talking about Jesus here— and when he said that the Spirit was given without limit— he was referring to the Spirit given to Jesus
Question: Are Christians given different portions of the Holy Spirit?— YES— but not to Jesus because of his unique relationship with the Godhead
Throughout the redemptive history— God spoke to his people through many accredited messengers
Each received that measure of the Spirit that was required for his or her assigned task
Evidence to this is the story of Elijah and Elisha in 2 Kings 2:9
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
And another is when God told Moses to bring Him 70 Israel elders— Numbers 11:16-17
16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.
You remember the Sanhedrin?— the Jewish ruling council?— this when God established it!
And when Paul talked about present weakness and resurrection life he said in 2 Corinthians 4:16
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
The simple word for this is “regeneration”— Christians are regenerated by the Holy Spirit day by day— we grow in the measure of the Holy Spirit
WHOEVER BELIEVES IN THE SON HAS ETERNAL LIFE
John ended this third chapter with an emphatic restatement of the Johannine thesis— that whoever believes in Jesus is not condemned— but whoever does not believe stands condemned already
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
You already know about the first, second and last point— our take away today will be on the third point— the giving of the Holy Spirit to Jesus was with no limit obviously because of his unique relationship being part of the Triune God
For the prophets and for Christians that includes you— if you are a believer— to be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be energized and controlled by the Spirit
Spirit filling leads to renewal, obedience and boldness in testimony
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As a follower of Jesus, I must be filled with the Holy Spirit
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
I must walk with the Holy Spirit
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
I must bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.