THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
John 16:8-15.
Again Jesus emphasised the certainty of the Spirit’s coming. The Greek of John 16:8 begins, “And He having come.”
The Spirit came in the fullness of His power to convict the world of sin (John 16:8), even the sin of unbelief (John 16:9; cf. John 3:18-20).
He came to convince the world of Jesus’ righteousness (John 16:8; John 16:10), cutting to the very heart of those who had crucified Jesus (cf. Acts 2:37).
And He came to warn the world of the judgment to come (John 16:8), in which the devil already stands condemned (John 16:11).
It is manifestly the “world” which is challenged concerning these truths. Thus it could be said of the early Christians that they were ‘turning the world upside down’ (cf. Acts 17:6).
Jesus had many things still to teach His disciples, but before His resurrection they were not ready to receive them (John 16:12). We grow up by stages, moving from milk to prepared foods, to fulsome meat.
The Holy Spirit came to impart enabling power for the application of the Word of God, to bring glory to Jesus, and to show things yet to come (John 16:13-14).
In the first instance, the Spirit of truth enabled the Apostles for the preaching of the Word of God, empowering them to make their stand before the world.
Secondly, He inspired the writing of the New Testament.
Thirdly He blesses all His people with understanding of the Word, and with insights into the spiritual truth that they need for their salvation (John 16:13).
The Holy Spirit takes the gifts of God, which Jesus purchased by His death and resurrection (cf. Psalm 68:18), and applies them to our lives. He takes the message of Jesus, and writes it in our hearts (John 16:15).
Within the limitations of the incarnation, Jesus could only be in one place at one time: but the Holy Spirit’s ministry on His behalf is worldwide.
