Read John 16:5-15
6) vs. 7. Jesus said it is good that He was leaving the disciples, why? If He didn’t leave the Holy Spirit could not come to them.
7) When the Holy Spirit does come, what will He do in regards to the world?
Greek word for world is Kosmos. It is a world system made up people, technology, thoughts, activities, actions, words, philosophies, beliefs, desires. Things we can see and things we can’t see. Things that are tangible and things that are not tangible. They all interact with one another to produce a world system (kosmos). How would you characterize the world system (kosmos) we have created … that our technology, thoughts, activities, actions, words, philosophies, beliefs, desires has constructed? Evil; sinful; ungodly. According to Jesus, the one who rules this evil, sinful, ungodly world system (kosmos) is the Enemy, Satan. He dominates this world system (kosmos). He influences/molds people, technology, thoughts, activities, actions, words, philosophies, beliefs, desires to promote evil/wickedness. To create a world system (kosmos) that promotes evil/wickedness … makes evil/wickedness the norm.
Jesus says when the Holy Spirit comes into this world (kosmos) He will convict it. Convict in the Greek means “to expose; find fault with by bringing to light.” Holy Spirit is not only a defense attorney, He is also a prosecutor. The Holy Spirit is a defense attorney for the followers of Jesus. He is a prosecutor against the followers of Satan. In order to convict someone, what must a prosecutor do? Present evidence to prove his case against the accused. Bring to light proof that the accused is guilty. In John 16, who is the accused? This evil, sinful, ungodly world system (kosmos) that we live in ruled by Satan.
The Holy Spirit will convict the world (kosmos)concerning:
Reminder: Jesus is giving the disciples a short summary/outline/template of who the Holy Spirit is and His role in the lives of Jesus’ followers. He does not have a lot of time left. At this moment, Judas is leading a mob to arrest Jesus. Jesus does not have to time to go into detail about the Holy Spirit. Even if He did, the disciples were not spiritually mature enough to comprehend everything Jesus had to say. As we’ll see, Jesus assures the disciples that more information about the Holy Spirit will be forthcoming in the future.
a) sin – vs. 9. The Holy Spirit will expose/bring to light the sin of the world (kosmos). He will make lucid/plain/unambiguous/coherent what sin is. Exhibit number 1 in His case will be the fact the world (kosmos) does not believe in Jesus. This world (kosmos) does not believe Him to be the Son of God. You do not believe in Jesus, you are guilty of sin. You do, you are innocent. Read John 3:16
b) righteousness – vs. 10. Righteousness means to be in right standing with God/doing what is right according to God’s standards. Up to this point, it has been Jesus acting as prosecutor against the world (kosmos) – see Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) for an example. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus defined what it means to be truly righteous, a true follower of God, and how the world (kosmos) fell short of God’s definition of righteousness. He did so throughout his three years of ministry. But, soon Jesus is leaving to go be with the Father. So who will now act as prosecutor against the world (kosmos)? The Holy Spirit will take on the role of prosecuter against the world (kosmos) in regards to righteousness. He will confront this world (kosmos) with the definition of true righteousness and this world (kosmos) will be found sorely lacking. Example –What is the world view regarding sex outside of marriage, abortion, or pursuit of wealth? The Holy Spirit acts as prosecutor by presenting evidence (the Word of God) that condemns the world (kosmos) in this area. What the world (kosmos) tries to present to humanity as something enjoyable, fun, pleasurable, the Holy Spirit exposes as evil, putrid, ungodly. For a moment, imagine a world (kosmos) with no Holy Spirit to counteract the evil of this world (kosmos). It’s a scary thought.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Holy Spirit 101 pt. 2
b) Holy Spirit – Define holy – divine; sacred; without blemish; set apart. The Holy Spirit has a divine nature. There is no sin in Him. He has no part with sin. (5. Holy Spirit is a divine being not an earthly being.)
c) Parakletos – legal word. Definition - one who pleads another's cause before a judge, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate. In other words, the Holy Spirit is a lawyer. English translators used English variations of the Greek word Parakletos.
Comforter – one who gives comfort, consolation, relief, encouragement. Remember, the disciples are sorely troubled/upset at the thought of Jesus leaving them. They are in dire need of comfort and Jesus knew that.
Helper – one who helps/assists/supports. As we’ll see in the book of Acts, the disciples are going to need a lot of help to overcome opposition to the Gospel in the form of persecution.
Counselour – an adviser who offers wisdom/counsel when making decisions. In the case of the Holy Spirit, decisions that relate to obeying God or not obeying God. Before you make your decision, the Holy Spirit will bring to mind everything you need to know in order to make the right choice. Specifically, the Word of God as well as the consequences from making the wrong choice.
Intercessor/Advocate – someone who acts on behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble. The Holy Spirit acts as an intercessor between the followers of Christ and God. He speaks on our behalf to God when we’re going through adversity, trials, tribulations or experiencing temptations. He pleads to God on our behalf for God’s power, grace, compassion, mercy, love, wisdom, healing, etc., to help us overcome. See Romans 8:26-27
If you were in legal trouble, wouldn’t you want a lawyer with the above qualities? Someone who is generally concerned about your plight and will use every means at his/her disposal to help you win your case. (6. Holy Spirit is our Comforter/Helper/Counselour/Intercessor/Advocate)
c) Parakletos – legal word. Definition - one who pleads another's cause before a judge, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate. In other words, the Holy Spirit is a lawyer. English translators used English variations of the Greek word Parakletos.
Comforter – one who gives comfort, consolation, relief, encouragement. Remember, the disciples are sorely troubled/upset at the thought of Jesus leaving them. They are in dire need of comfort and Jesus knew that.
Helper – one who helps/assists/supports. As we’ll see in the book of Acts, the disciples are going to need a lot of help to overcome opposition to the Gospel in the form of persecution.
Counselour – an adviser who offers wisdom/counsel when making decisions. In the case of the Holy Spirit, decisions that relate to obeying God or not obeying God. Before you make your decision, the Holy Spirit will bring to mind everything you need to know in order to make the right choice. Specifically, the Word of God as well as the consequences from making the wrong choice.
Intercessor/Advocate – someone who acts on behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble. The Holy Spirit acts as an intercessor between the followers of Christ and God. He speaks on our behalf to God when we’re going through adversity, trials, tribulations or experiencing temptations. He pleads to God on our behalf for God’s power, grace, compassion, mercy, love, wisdom, healing, etc., to help us overcome. See Romans 8:26-27
If you were in legal trouble, wouldn’t you want a lawyer with the above qualities? Someone who is generally concerned about your plight and will use every means at his/her disposal to help you win your case. (6. Holy Spirit is our Comforter/Helper/Counselour/Intercessor/Advocate)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Holy Spirit 101 pt. 1
Backround: Jesus is only hours away from being betrayed, put on trial, and put to death. John chapters 14-17 contain His farewell address to his disciples. He has much to share with them but little time to do it in. One of the important matters He wants to make known to the disciples is the Holy Spirit – who He is and what role He will play in their lives and the lives of all believers. Because of the limited time He has as well as the spiritual immaturity of the disciples, Jesus cannot and does not go into great detail about the Holy Spirit. Additional knowledge of the Holy Spirit would come with time. He shares just enough to give his disciples encouragement. So it will be with you and me in this study of the Holy Spirit. We will not be covering every facet of the Holy Spirit. Just as you don’t feed a 32 ounce porterhouse steak to a newborn baby and expect him to digest it, you don’t do an in depth theological exploration of the Holy Spirit in a Bible 101 class. In this study, I will be following Jesus’ example … I will share with you who the Holy Spirit is and what His role is in the life of a follower of Christ.
Read John 14:15-26; 15:26-27
1) In these verses, Jesus repeatedly says that a person who loves Him will do what? Will keep His commandments/word. A person who does not keep His commandments/word does not love Jesus. The key to knowing Jesus … to having a relationship with Jesus is to obey His word. The disciples were probably wondering if Jesus was about to go away, who will teach them His word … who will help them remember everything Jesus taught them? Was Jesus going to abandon them? In John 14:5, Thomas asked the question “Lord, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?”
2) After Jesus leaves His followers who will come to be with them? The Holy Spirit. For how long would he be with them? Forever. Jesus is not going to abandon His followers. They will not be orphans (vs. 18.) From whom will he come from? God the Father (14:16, 26; 15:26.) Just as God sent Jesus to earth to be with humanity (John 3:16), God will send the Holy Spirit to be with humanity. Unlike Jesus, who was on earth for a short period of time, the Holy Spirit will be with humanity forever. (1. Holy Spirit is eternal.)
3) vs. 17. Can the Holy Spirit be seen? No. (2. Holy Spirit is invisible.) Spirit in Greek is Pneuma – associated with a movement of air like breath or the wind which can be felt but not seen. The Holy Spirit will not be a physical being like Jesus. Despite that, a follower of Christ will know Him. How? See Question 4.
4) vs. 17. Where will the Holy Spirit dwell? In the followers of Christ. Greek word for abide/live is Meno – not to depart/continually dwell. The Holy Spirit will not be a transient visitor. He will take up residence within the followers of Christ. (3. Holy Spirit is omnipresent – Everywhere at once)
5) List the three titles Jesus gives the Spirit. What does each title tell us about the character and/or role of the Spirit?
a) Spirit of truth – teach truth and aid Jesus’ followers to remember truth (vs. 26) – The truth about what things? All things about God and Jesus – what it means to be a follower of Jesus. He will do so by 1) helping the followers of Jesus remember His words (14:26) so that they can do what we discussed in Question 1. (See Luke 12:11-12) for an example of Holy Spirit helping the followers of Jesus to remember His words.) The Holy Spirit will teach truth by 2) testifying about Jesus to His followers (15:26.) What does testify mean? Greek word is Martureo – to bear witness that one has seen, heard, or experienced something/someone. Because of the unique nature of their relationship, the Holy Spirit knows Jesus thoroughly. One of his primary responsibilities is to make known this knowledge of Jesus to His followers. (4. Holy Spirit is a teacher.)
Read John 14:15-26; 15:26-27
1) In these verses, Jesus repeatedly says that a person who loves Him will do what? Will keep His commandments/word. A person who does not keep His commandments/word does not love Jesus. The key to knowing Jesus … to having a relationship with Jesus is to obey His word. The disciples were probably wondering if Jesus was about to go away, who will teach them His word … who will help them remember everything Jesus taught them? Was Jesus going to abandon them? In John 14:5, Thomas asked the question “Lord, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?”
2) After Jesus leaves His followers who will come to be with them? The Holy Spirit. For how long would he be with them? Forever. Jesus is not going to abandon His followers. They will not be orphans (vs. 18.) From whom will he come from? God the Father (14:16, 26; 15:26.) Just as God sent Jesus to earth to be with humanity (John 3:16), God will send the Holy Spirit to be with humanity. Unlike Jesus, who was on earth for a short period of time, the Holy Spirit will be with humanity forever. (1. Holy Spirit is eternal.)
3) vs. 17. Can the Holy Spirit be seen? No. (2. Holy Spirit is invisible.) Spirit in Greek is Pneuma – associated with a movement of air like breath or the wind which can be felt but not seen. The Holy Spirit will not be a physical being like Jesus. Despite that, a follower of Christ will know Him. How? See Question 4.
4) vs. 17. Where will the Holy Spirit dwell? In the followers of Christ. Greek word for abide/live is Meno – not to depart/continually dwell. The Holy Spirit will not be a transient visitor. He will take up residence within the followers of Christ. (3. Holy Spirit is omnipresent – Everywhere at once)
5) List the three titles Jesus gives the Spirit. What does each title tell us about the character and/or role of the Spirit?
a) Spirit of truth – teach truth and aid Jesus’ followers to remember truth (vs. 26) – The truth about what things? All things about God and Jesus – what it means to be a follower of Jesus. He will do so by 1) helping the followers of Jesus remember His words (14:26) so that they can do what we discussed in Question 1. (See Luke 12:11-12) for an example of Holy Spirit helping the followers of Jesus to remember His words.) The Holy Spirit will teach truth by 2) testifying about Jesus to His followers (15:26.) What does testify mean? Greek word is Martureo – to bear witness that one has seen, heard, or experienced something/someone. Because of the unique nature of their relationship, the Holy Spirit knows Jesus thoroughly. One of his primary responsibilities is to make known this knowledge of Jesus to His followers. (4. Holy Spirit is a teacher.)
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