Convicted by the Spirit • John 15:26-27; 16:7-15
By Clay Anthony
During the next few weeks of this new quarter, our focus is the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Truth be told, He is the member of the Trinity that we think little about. His work is often misconstrued. It is difficult enough to attempt to understand precisely how the Holy Spirit fits into an interrelationship with the Father and Son, let alone grasp what exactly He does in the life of a Christian.
If you were to write up the job description for the Holy Spirit, what exactly would that entail? The good news is that we do not have to rely on misrepresentations to know the Holy Spirit’s role. Jesus left clear teachings on the subject.
He pleads: John 15:26-27. The Holy Spirit is known as the paraclete, or helper. The judicial system of Jesus’ day was very different from ours. No jury or attorneys were present. There was a judge, the accused, and the accuser. Think of all the references where Jesus taught on God being a righteous judge and Satan being a first-rate accuser.
The accused had only their word to defend themselves; that’s when a paraclete was called in. This person would be deeply aware of the background of the accused. On their word and honor, they would simply swear that no person knows the accused as deeply as they.
They would understand the charges as well as the flaws of the one being accused. They would be well aware of what was deserved as punishment and would serve the accused as the best character witness that could be found. Apply that information to what we read in verse 26.
When the Holy Spirit enters the stage after Jesus’ departure, He will testify about Jesus. Who knows Jesus better than the Holy Spirit? Who can be trusted to speak on the character, actions, and truthfulness of Jesus? In the hearts of millions of believers throughout history, the Holy Spirit has pleaded the cause and person of Jesus with all manner of trust. He reveals to all just who Jesus is and what God has planned for the future.
He convicts: John 16:7-11. Jesus being fully human and fully divine meant that He could only be in one place at a time. The Holy Spirit, being fully spirit while fully divine, can be in all places at all times. This we celebrate. He is fluid in His movements.
We are told that His main job is to convict. That means to bring to mind the situations where we’re out of line with our Christian walk. This happens in three different ways. First, about sin. He points out where humanity is wrong — and it does not get any more wrong than to not believe in Jesus. It matters very little what you’re right about if you’re wrong about Him.
Secondly, about righteousness. This is a grand way of saying living rightly. Who among us gets life right 100% of the time? That is where the Holy Spirit steps in to open our eyes to the sin around us and the sin within us.
Thirdly, about judgment. It is so easy to watch the nightly news and glance toward heaven and ask, “Will you not do something?” Truth is, He already has. The world we live in and the ruler of this world have been tried and found wanting. Judgement has already been cast against the one who is set against God and His children.
He guides: John 16:12-15. The Holy Spirit always leads believers where they need to be: towards the truth while taking others along. This is done by His voice. He speaks what He hears from the Father (v.13). Those words can be trusted.
He also declares what is to come (v.13). We should not view the Holy Spirit as a fortune teller but as the One who knows the heart of God and the future of the believer. What is ahead for us? Simply put, heaven! He knows truth and He knows where we are headed. In doing so, He gives glory to Jesus (v.14).
To give glory means to give credit where credit is due, so if we desire to know truth and know what lies ahead for us, we need look no further than Christ. The Holy Spirit is holding up a flashing light pointing right at Jesus.
Anthony is director of the Collaborative Missionary Network, Oxford/Holly Springs.
