Christ In The Christian

"Christ in the Christian"

Introduction: I'm going to start this message with a quote from Dr. Adrian Rogers, "The best friend that you have on this earth is the Holy Spirit. You say, Well, I thought Jesus was my best friend. That's exactly right. The best friend that you have on this earth is the Holy Spirit who is Christ in the Christian." My purpose in preaching this message is that you might know the Holy Spirit, love the Holy Spirit, trust the Holy Spirit, and believe the Holy Spirit who lives in your heart. I want you to have assurance that He is in your heart, affirm that He is in your heart, appreciate Him and adore Him! Let's read a passage from the Bible and learn what it says about the Holy Spirit.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever; 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.

If I understand what John is saying here, the One who was dwelling with them was the One who would be in them. Who is that? Jesus! You see, the Holy Spirit is Christ in the Christian. The Holy Spirit was sent to us to be what Christ was to His disciples. He walked with them, talked with them, fellowshipped with them, guided them, instructed them, and protected them. The key to understanding the coming of the Holy Spirit is found in the phrase "...another Comforter..." In the Greek language, there are two words for another, allos and allelon. Another may be another of a different kind or it may be another of the same kind. For instance, a car is one kind of transportation and a motorcycle is a different kind of transportation. However, if you get a motorcycle just like the first, then you have another of the same kind. John uses the word here that means another of the same kind! He uses the word allos which means another of the same kind. In other words He is saying that He is sending someone like himself to take His place in the life of the believer so the Holy Spirit is Christ in the Christian! If there is any doubt in your mind as to the truth of what I am saying we need look no further than this same chapter to confirm this truth:

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.

What else do we need to know about the Holy Spirit, who is Christ in the Christian?

First, there is:

I. The Holy Spirit and Grace

a. Convicting us

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Without the convicting power of the Holy Spirit you and I would never see the need for a Savior. Conviction leads to repentance which the Lord said was absolutely necessary to salvation.

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

b. Calling us

Do you know that there are a great many things that Christians believe today that are just not in the Bible. One of those things has to do with the idea that men "seek after God" that there are millions of unsaved people who are "seeker sensitive." There is just one problem with that. It's not in the Bible. It's well intentioned and I believe it was born out of a sincere desire to see folks saved but it is not born out by Scripture. Let me give just a few verses in support of what I'm saying:

Romans 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.