Not Orphans God the Holy Spirit John 14:16-18 (part 1)

For a couple of Sundays we will look at what is revealed about God the Holy Spirit in the gospel of John. To some Christians, the Holy Spirit is the coach who determines who is “first team” and who is “scrubs.” Some believe that someone can be a child of God without being made so by the Holy Spirit, thus the question of whether a believer is spirit-filled or spirit-baptized. And then there is the question of spiritual gifts. All these topics are not dealt with in the Gospel of John, but the function of the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, is described and displayed in John's Gospel.

Thus we will see that God-the Holy Spirit:

ANSWERS THE QUESTION ASKED IN GENESIS 22:7

“Where is the lamb?” John 1:29-34

• The Holy Spirit gave permanent proof that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

  • John recognized Him before the Spirit descended in a visible form - Matthew 3:14

    • John was filled with the Holy Spirit from before his birth Luke1:15, 41

  • The Spirit descended (Mark1:8; Matthew3:11; Luke3:16) and remained on Jesus –

    John 1:32

• The witness of the Spirit gave John the baptizer the confidence and the inspiration to proclaim that Jesus is the Lamb of God – Not just once – John 1:29, 36

• The witness of the Holy Spirit gave John assurance of validity of his ministry. “This is he of whom I said...”v.30

  • Old Testament Holy Spirit experience:

    • Given to those whom God would use to lead or defend His chosen people. Not necessarily people who were in a sold-out relationship with God. Numbers 11:16-30(elders of the exodus); 1Samuel19:19-24(Saul's flunkies and Saul)

      • These guys preached the glory of God – the Holy Spirit always testifies of God as redeemer and deliverer.

    • The Spirit of God was placed upon and removed from individuals

      Judges15:14, 16:20(Samson); Psalm51:11(David)

ANSWERS THE QUESTION OF WORSHIP John4:23-24

• Only those who have the indwelling Holy Spirit and who obey the truth can worship God acceptably. v.24 (“for God is Spirit...” therefore we can see that the Holy Spirit is God- not just an impersonal “force”)

  Also Romans 8:5 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”

• True worship, led by the Spirit, founded in the Truth, is in contrast to legalistic worship that has requirements of specific places (Mecca, Jerusalem) and maintains barriers between Jews and Gentiles. Spiritual worship sets us free to love the unlovely as God has done with us.

ANSWERS THE QUESTION OF TIMING John7:39

after Jesus was glorified;

• Jesus was glorified in His death John 12:23-24

  • as perfect obedience to will of Father

  • as perfect substitutionary sacrifice for those whose trust in Jesus as only Lord and Savior

    • The Lamb sacrificed restores us to the relationship God had with man in Eden.

• Poured out on believers on Day of Pentecost (50 days after the cross) Acts2

ANSWERS THE QUESTION OF WHO IS INDWELT John7:38-39

whoever believes in Jesus

• Not Varsity and Junior Varsity Christians some with the Spirit and some who might yet achieve it. 1Corinthian12:3-7, 13; Ephesians4:7-12

• Not only for the benefit of believers. Only believers receive the Holy Spirit indwelling. But because it is “rivers,” it benefits more than just the recipient. John7:38; John4:14

Jesus is glorified. So now you can receive refreshing (recovery of breath) from the Lord. NOTE: “recovery of breath” as when something precious to you has been lost or taken away and it causes that hit-in-the-stomach feeling that takes your breath away... God-the Holy Spirit restores your breath when you repent and turn again to God. Acts 3:19-20 (re. Acts 3:20 note that the Holy Spirit's name is Jesus)

If the Holy Spirit has shown you that Jesus is the sacrifice (Lamb) for your sin. Repent, turn to God from running your life, and you will receive new life, new breath. The Holy Spirit will come to live in you and through you. He will convince you that Jesus is the Savior. He will allow you, help you worship God. He will help you relate to holy God. And, He, the Holy Spirit, will gift you to bless the church and be a blessing through the church to people around you in Jesus' name.

Next week we will look at Holy Spirit fortifying, indwelling, teaching, reminding, testifying, convicting, guiding, glorifying, and being received in John chapters 14-16 and 20.

Jesus Ascended Hebrews1:1-4; Acts1:9-11; 1Timothy3:16; Acts5:30-32; Acts2:22-33;

Last week, as we considered the resurrection of Jesus, an effort was made to emphasize that Jesus was raised with a physical body. He likewise ascended in a physical body. I want to make this point because, sometimes we adopt the Greek philosophy that creation is divided into material and spiritual with the material being bad and the spiritual or immaterial being bad. And some would use that to indict God of making a mistake in creation and excuse the acts of their own physical body as beyond control since they are part of the faulty and wicked material realm.

However, the bodily resurrection and the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ, as well as the Biblical descriptions of Heaven as a material place (redeemed creation) remind us that God makes no mistakes, that the redemption in Jesus is a total redemption, that those who have departed this life having trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior are now physically with Him, and Jesus will physically (“in the same way” Acts1:11) return.

Jesus is now ascended:

EXALTED TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER Hebrews1:3; Acts5:31; Acts7:55-60; Philippians2:9

• hupsoō = to be lifted up literally or figuratively John 3:14, 12:32

• Right Hand = Place of righteousness and strength Psalm48:10, 80:17

  • Jesus said He would be there Matthew26:64

  • Steven saw Jesus there Acts7:55-60

• Ruling Ephesians 1:20-22; 1Corinthian15:27

  • His rule is our hope Ephesians1:17-20 That is what Steven saw that enable him to -

    • testify ... and to forgive

ACCESSIBLE TO ALL WHO CALL ON HIS NAME Hebrews 4:13-16, 7:25, 13:6

• Not now limited to a locality as He was when on earth. Hebrews 9:24

• Able to save and to keep those who call on His name. Hebrews 7:25 [Name = authority, character John17:6(Jesus showed the character -name-of God the Father.]

• Able to help and He is sympathetic Heb.4:13-16

• It honors Jesus to call on Him – it gives recognition to His holding all things and knowing all things and being able to do all things and meet all needs. Hebrews1:3

• Jesus is with us as we carry the gospel to the world. Matthew 28:20

HE IS WITH BELIEVERS WHO HAVE DIED IN THIS WORLD

• He took some with Him (Old Testament believers) Ephesians 4:8

• He has prepared a place for all believers since He ascended John 14:1-3

All PART OF THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS 1Tim.3:16

• Mystery – not something hidden or unrevealed, rather something sacred and therefore appreciated only by those “on the inside,” in this case, those interested in godliness – pleasing God. In verse 9, the reference is to the gospel.

1. Jesus was manifested in the flesh – indicating that He was in existence before He was incarnate

2. Vindicated by the Spirit - Romans1:4 – “by His resurrection from the dead”

3. Seen by angels – Acts 1:10-11 at His ascension – giving them insight into the plan of God for man's redemption. 1Peter1:12

4. Proclaimed among the nations (“ethnos”) Repentance is available even to the Gentiles

5. Taken up in glory

THE WAY WE ACT AND LIVE SHOULD TESTIFY TO TRUTH OR JESUS BEING RISEN AND ASCENDED TO GLORY 1Timothy3:15

• The church of the living Savior needs to have credibility as the “pillar and buttress of truth.”(ESV)

The Tomb Emptied Luke 24:1-12; 1Corinthian15:12-19

+It was prophesied in advance. Isaiah 53:8-12

+Jesus predicted His resurrection. Matthew12:38-40; Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:33; John 2:18-22

+Jesus died on the cross. A night of trials, beatings, exhaustion; scourged; crucified by professionals; spear into side and heart; wrapped in one hundred pounds of linens and spices; three days in a tomb without water, food, or medical attention. John 19:34, 1Corinthians 15:3


+Jesus was buried in a tomb that was easy to find. Isaiah53:9, Matthew 27:57-60

+Jesus appeared physically alive three days after His death. Matthew28:9; John20:17,20-28; Luke 24:36-43

+It was recorded in scripture soon after it happened.(as early as 37AD, no later than 65AD) Mark 14:53,ff

+It convinced His family to worship Him as God. John 7:5, Matthew13:55; Acts1:14; 1Corinthians 15:7; James1:1; Jude 1:1 (from various sources including Evidence That Demands a Verdict – Josh McDowell and Vintage Jesus – Mark Driscoll)

It is essential to Christianity that Jesus is risen from the dead. It is the proof of the truthfulness of Jesus, It is the proof of the power of Jesus (His deity). It is the proof of purpose of Jesus.

THE EVIDENCE BELIEVERS HAVE SEEN

• New Testament Accounts -

  • Gospels and Acts 3:15; 4:10; 10:40; 13:30

• New Covenant Activity

  • Jesus intercedes Hebrews 7:25

  • Jesus reigns 1Corithians 15:25

  • Jesus is exalted Acts 5:30-31

  • Jesus is head of the church Ephesians5:23

  • Jesus is returning 1Thessalonians 4:16

HE WAS RAISED

• A New Kind of Man 1Corinthians 15:20, 23

  • NOT Resuscitated (like Lazarus), but with a perfect body with no weakness, no effects of aging, no death – able to live eternally 1Corinthian15:42-44

  • Physical, Material Body – “Spiritual” does not preclude “material.” Rather = “Suited to and responsive to the guidance of the Spirit” (Systematic Theology -Wayne Grudem ) Jesus had put on immortality .

  • Body returned to the perfection that God originally created Genesis 1:31

• Recognized / Not Recognized John20:19-20 vs John20:14-15

  • Dark John20:1; Kept from recognition Luke24:16; Eyes were opened Luke24;31

  • Effects of Amazement, Fear, the differences of the effects of suffering, hardship, grief, etc.

  • Hand, Feet, Food – Luke24:39-43

• Appearing and Disappearing? Luke24:31, 36; John20:19,26 (consider Acts8:39; 12:5-10)

WHY PHYSICAL RESURRECTION IS IMPORTANT

• God Created Good Genesis 1:31

  • The problem is not “material creation.” Going to be new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells 2Peter3:13 free from bondage to decay Romans8:21

• Mankind is the pinnacle of God's creation (with physical bodies)

• Jesus, in a perfected physical body, ascended, reigns, and will return for those who remain.

WHY THE RESURRECTION IS IMPORTANT

• Proves Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. John11:25; Hebrews7:16

• Ensures our Regeneration 1Peter1:3, Ephesians2:5-6; Philippians3:10

  • The spiritual power that works in us to enable us to walk in newness of life Romans6:4-11

• Ensures our Justification Romans4:25/Eph. 2:6

• Ensures our Perfected Resurrected Bodies 1Corinthian6:14; 15:20; 2Corinthians4:14

SINCE JESUS IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD

• Come to Him as Lord and Savior Acts4:10-12

• Be Encouraged/ Stop Sinning Colossians3:1-4; Romans6:12-13

• Judgment Comes John5:16-30

THE CROSS EMPTIED John19:13-22, 33-42

The triumphal entry began a week that would include Jesus teaching about His second coming (Matthew 24 and 25), His high priestly prayer (John 17), and the institution of the Lord's Supper as well as the agony of Gethsemane and the passion of the cross. Palm Sunday marks the first of that week, but today we will focus on the end of that week of passion (passion: a Latin term coined to describe sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death ).

Our Christianity has become so neat and sanitized that we lose sight of the lengths to which our Holy God has gone to reconcile mankind to Himself. We overlook the gore of the physical sacrifice Jesus made for us. We overlook the blood sacrifices that were paid by early believers and continue to be paid by believers today. In our effort to keep everything neat and clean, we fail to allow strugglers to share burdens which we can help bear (Galatians 6:2). God wants us to see the mess that Jesus came into; the mess that we are in; the mess that we are; the valley of the shadow of death through which Jesus, our Shepherd walks with those who are in relationship to Him.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CROSS

• Excruciating Pain (Latin: from the cross)

  • The Garden Luke 22:44 "hemohidrosis" or "hematidrosis"

  • Scourged Matthew27:26 skin stripped away from back and probably front of body. No limit to number of lashes Romans could give. Isaiah52:14 beaten beyond recognition

  • Crown of Thorns Matthew27:29, 30 Driven in to scalp by blows to the thorn covered head.

  • Stripped and nailed to the timbers of the cross.

• Humiliation

  • Carrying the cross member (patibulum) Luke23:26 Jesus apparently too weakened.

  • Outside the city of Jerusalem for reasons of sanitation

  • Public as deterrent to criminals

• For a detailed description of Jesus' crucifixion go to: http://www.blueletterbible.org click on commentaries and then Terasaka M.D., David and you will see the link to Medical Aspects of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

DILEMMA OF MAN

• Sinful and self centered Isaiah53:6; Roman3:10-18

• Just Penalty for sin Romans2:6-9, 6:23

• Iniquity

• Worldly Sorrow 2Corinthians7:10 reaction of proud heart – worldly remedies: 1) learn from mistakes and grow. 2) turn up the music. 3) deny guilt and dive into the cause of sorrow. 4) blame others. 5) hate self/ sabotage self = death.

DEMAND OF GOD

• Repentance (does not equal guilt)

  • Starts with reality – Sin brings sorrow / shame – even if you are agnostic. (not socially imposed)

  • Godly Sorrow – brings repentance to salvation.

  • Understands that God is offended Psalm51 (re. 2Samuel chapters 11&12) When David looked at Bathsheba, he had contempt in his heart toward God. (“God, you and what you have given me is not enough.”)

  • Internal change of mind that leads to external change of living. Amos5:21,ff-”Stop playing religious games.” Matthew23:25-28-”Clean the inside first.”

• Regeneration Exodus20:1-6

  • Jealous God = because of relationship / betrothal - not insecurity.

  • Heart is empty outside of that relationship. No other lover/god will do.

  • New creature 2Corinthians5:17;

  • No condemnation Romans8:1-14

DELIGHT OF THE SAVED Romans3:23-26 Because Jesus paid my debt (the cross is empty), I can have a relationship with God. He has caused me to have hope.

The Image: Becoming the same flesh -eat his body and drink his blood.

Messy: recurring offenses; family help; need for constant “gardening”/digging and dunging.

Because we are imperfects in a growing relationship w/ God.

You can have a car and never drive it. You can have money and never spend it. You can have knowledge and never display it.

However...

You cannot have a life without living it. If the activity of your life does not show the influence of Jesus (fruit) then you do not have the life of Jesus.