The Work of the Holy Spirit • John 15:26-27, 16:7-15
By Don Schuman
The work of God is evident in the natural creation around us. The work of Christ is evident in the new nature created in the believer. Our lesson today shows us the work of the Holy Spirit in the world and in the believer.
The Holy Spirit Testifies about Christ (15:26-27). The Holy Spirit testifies of Christ. When you testify of Christ, you are doing the work of the Spirit. We know witnessing is good, righteous, and exemplifies genuine love for others because it is the work of the Spirit.
Every disciple is called to bear witness of Christ, whether a politician, paper pusher, or plumber. In Acts chapter one, Jesus told those who believed in Him that they would be His witnesses unto the ends of the earth. That commission continues through every believer here today. In Acts chapter two, God empowered Christ’s witnesses with the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Christians wonder what God would have them do. God would have us to be Christ’s witnesses in the world any time and all the time in the power of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit Convicts the World (16:7-11). The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin (what’s not right), of righteousness (what’s right), and of judgment (the need to get right). Not only does the Holy Spirit expose what is not right and lead in what is right, He exposes the right of God to judge the world. God is absolutely right to judge the world. He is the Creator of all things, visible and invisible. God is right to judge because He is the Righteous Judge.
Digging deeper, we find that the world is judged already. We live in a judged world. Look at verse 11. The prince of this world is already judged. He is already condemned. Likewise, every unbeliever is already condemned (John 3:18-21). How fitting for the Holy Spirit to descend upon the disciples at Pentecost as tongues of fire.
However, present condemnation does not mean there is no hope. The good news, the Gospel, is that there is deliverance from condemnation through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 8:1 (KJV): “Thereis therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
The Word of God guides us in righteousness, being inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21, Acts 1:16). Since Scripture is given to us by the Holy Spirit, it is only logical to conclude that the Holy Spirit works in harmony with Scripture to reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Second Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV): “All scriptureis given by inspiration of God, andis profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” There’s that word, reproof, again!
The Holy Spirit reproves of righteousness as the Word reproves. He empowers and leads us in the way of righteousness as the Word does (Romans 8:13–14). The Spirit has made it possible for us to follow the righteousness of God. He has made it possible for us to live a righteous life according to the Word — not sinless perfection in this life, but an upright life in the righteousness of Christ.
The Holy Spirit Guides in Truth (16:12-15). The Holy Spirit guides in truth for today (v. 12). This broad, deep, and wide teaching of Jesus must have overwhelmed their minds, like drinking from a firehose, with much passing over their heads in the short term. Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide them in all the truth they needed to know. The Spirit guides us in the truth of the Word today.
The Holy Spirit guides in truth for tomorrow (v. 13). John was in the Spirit when he wrote about the end of the Gentile age (Rev. 1:10, 4:2). The Spirit inspired all Scripture, including Scriptures Peter and Paul wrote about tomorrow, such as 1 Cor. 15:51-54, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, and 2 Peter 3:10-12).
The Holy Spirit guides in truth about Jesus and from Jesus (v. 14). Heresies that deny the deity or humanity of Jesus Christ are not revelations by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit guides in truth about Jesus’ divine nature, Christ’s unity with God the Father, and Christ’s unity with the Spirit. Trust the truth that the Spirit has given.
Schuman is pastor of Temple Church, Myrtle.
