May 2018 Messenger Newsletter

"When the Spirit of truth comes ...he will not speak on his own "
(John 16:13)

Day of Pentecost

The Coming Rejection

John 15:26 "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.
John 15:27 You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.
John 16:4 But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

John 16:5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'
John 16:6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
John 16:8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:
John 16:9 about sin, because they do not believe in me;
John 16:10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer;
John 16:11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
John 16:12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 16:14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
John 16:15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

[John 15:26] The theological concept of "procession" or "generation" of the Spirit is based on this verse (cf. 14:16; 16:7; 20:22). The Holy Spirit comes from the Father and is commissioned by the Son. This does not subordinate the deity of the Spirit but rather is a statement of the operational relationships within the three Persons of the Godhead. Coming in the Father's name emphasizes the divine delegation of certain ministries the Spirit performs.

[John 16:6] The perfect tense ("sorrow has filled your heart") suggests that the disciples are in a state of lingering gloom. They have not as yet grasped the blessedness and necessity (v. 7) of His departure in order that the Holy Spirit (Parakletos, Gk.) can come. This is an unfortunate failure on the part of the disciples. Most of the material recorded in John 14-16 is designed to prepare the Lord's followers for their new experience with the Holy Spirit of promise.

[John 16:8] The Holy Spirit's convicting ministry is operative in three different aspects: (1) He convinces us of sin in its ultimate form, namely, the failure to place our faith in Christ (v. 9); (2) He convicts us of righteousness in that the Righteous One has gone from our midst back to heaven, having conquered sin and death in the resurrection (v. 10); and (3) He convinces us of coming judgment in that the prince of this age (i.e., the devil) is clearly judged in the cross and the resurrection (12:31; 14:30; Col. 2:14). The Holy Spirit convicts of sin committed, righteousness forfeited, and judgment coming.

[John 16:12] After Christ's resurrection, many of His words became clear to His disciples, but much more understanding would follow the coming of the Holy Spirit. The disciples, who were in a state of gloom (v. 6), underwent a metamorphosis and, with increased revelation and unique courage, turned the world. The word "bear" indicates that at present more revelation would have proved to be a burden rather than a blessing.

NSRV & Believer's Study Bible (BSB) Notes

Readings for the week of May 27th
Holy Trinity
First: Isaiah 6: 1-8
Psalm 29
Second: Romans 8: 12-17
Gospel: John 3: 1-17

Sunday Worship Services at 10:00am
Sunday School at 9:00am

Thursday Bible Study (Library) 10:30 am
Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) Noon