The Work of the Holy Spirit John 16:5-15

Review Jesus has already told the apostles a few things about the Holy Spirit –He would be another paraclete (aid / defender) (Jn 14:16) –He’d teach them all that they needed to know And remind them of what Jesus had already taught them (Jn 14:26) –He’d testify of Jesus (Jn 15:26) But what else would the Spirit do? –How would those things be done?

Where He was going John 16:5-6 –Jesus has told them several times that He was leaving The first time, Peter had followed up with a question (Jn 13:36) –Jesus said He was going to His Father’s house to prepare a place for them (Jn 14:2-4) Thomas followed up by saying they still didn’t understand where Jesus was going (Jn 14:5)

Where He was going Several more times Jesus has said or hinted at His coming departure –The disciples no longer asked where He was going Not because they understood But simply because they had become more concerned with their own situations –He had just told them of the rejection, suffering, and persecution they would endure –Their focus was on their coming problems, and they were filled with sorrow »They had latched onto the negatives, but seem to have forgotten the positives

The advantage of Christ’s departure John 16:7 –One might think it was best if Christ remained Peter had thought this (Mt 17:1-6) –But if He remained, then salvation’s plan could not be completed He needed to be the sacrifice (He 10:1-10) He also needed to be the High Priest (He 9:11-12) –Bringing the offering into heaven He secures our hope by His presence beyond the veil (He 6:19-20) –And His departure signaled the beginning of the next phase of that plan – the work of the Spirit

The work of the Spirit John 16:8-11 –“To convict”, “to reprove” “to demonstrate by argument, to prove, to persuade anyone to do a thing by presenting reasons. It hence means also to convince of anything, and particularly to convince of crime” (Alfred Barnes) –This is the function of a paraclete in Roman courts Proving the guilt or innocence of the accused –What will the Spirit be proving?

Convicting the world of sin The Spirit would work to prove to the world that they had sinned –For example, on the day of Pentecost Acts 2:4 – gave apostles utterance Acts 2:22-36 – Peter preached Christ Acts 2:37 – people convicted of sin Acts 2:38-39 – people told to repent and be baptized Acts 2:40-41 – those who were willing did so gladly –How did the Spirit convict the world of sin? Through the word of God He revealed to the apostles

Convicting the world of righteousness Not that the world was righteous –But rather, in order to see their sin, the world needs to understand righteousness Specifically the Spirit would prove the righteousness of Jesus –Need to understand what it will take for them to be forgiven of sin As they did on the Day of Pentecost If you are convicted of sin, you know your unsaved condition If you are convicted of righteousness, you know Christ’s righteousness and what it takes to be forgiven of those sins

Convicting the world of judgment If the world does not understand that there will be a judgment, then they won’t change –Acts 17:30-31 The assurance of a judgment is the assurance of Jesus’ resurrection The Spirit would provide the proof of His resurrection –That proof would show that Satan had lost, “the ruler of this world is judged” »Those who choose sin over righteousness will know they are on the losing side –The very fact that the world spends so much time trying to prove that sin is not sin shows they have been convicted by the Spirit

How will the Spirit carry out His work? The Spirit must prove the nature of sin, righteousness, and the certainty of judgment John 16:12-15 –He would guide the apostles into all truth 1 Cor 2:10-13 –The Spirit did this by revealing the mind of God –His words would be the same as the Son’s and Father’s There is only one plan of salvation The words would be confirmed by prophecy The words would give glory to Christ by fulfilling His mission (salvation’s plan)

Conclusion The Spirit would provide the apostles with the knowledge, words, and guidance needed –For the kingdom to take root and grow –For the world to understand sin, righteousness, and judgment He gave them the word of God (Eph 6:17) –Which remains with us and continues to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment Has the Spirit convicted you? –If so, then why not act in obedience now?