The Third Person Pt 3 Series

"The Third Person" Pt 3

John 14:17, 16:13, 15:26-27

John 14:17 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.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Introduction: Today is the third and last of three parts that have dealt with the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. In John 14-16 we learn a great deal about the Spirit of God. In part 1 we looked at His person and His personality. In part 2 we examined His work in the world and today we will investigate His word in among believers, those who have placed their faith in Jesus and are now working for and serving Him. First, let's examine:

I. HE IS AN INDWELLING PRESENCE

a. His abiding

In the OT the Holy Spirit is pictured as moving on, resting upon, abiding upon the men and women of God but there are passages that hint that there would be a time when the Holy Spirit would have a new and different relationship between Himself and people of faith. That difference is found in the distinction between two prepositions, "upon" and "in." Let me give a few examples:

1 Samuel 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Notice the change in language when God tells the prophet Ezekiel about this new relationship...

Ezekiel 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live...

b. His assurance

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

c. His activity

The indwelling Holy Spirit produces enablement, empowerment, endowment, equipment and enduement in the life of a believer. His is the particular work of sanctification and He conforms us to the image of Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

II. HE IS THE INSTRUCTOR OF PRINCIPLE

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth...

a. The leadership He provides

The word guide is translated "lead" and indicates that the Holy Spirit gives the believer access to the Truth which in this case would be the truth as it is found in the Word of God.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

b. The liberty He provides

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Listen what Gill has to say about this verse: "And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty; which may be understood of the third person in the Godhead; where he is as a spirit of illumination, there is freedom from former blindness and darkness; where he is as a spirit of regeneration and sanctification, there is freedom from the bondage of sin, and captivity of Satan; where he is as a comforter, there is freedom from the fear of hell, wrath, and damnation: where he is as a spirit of adoption, there is the freedom of children with a father; where he is as a spirit of prayer and supplication, there is liberty of access to God with boldness." John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

To guide us to Truth the Spirit's work is two-fold. He must remove the blinders of unbelief and darkness and then shine the light of Truth to illuminate our hearts and minds.

c. The love He provides