"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." John 16:7-15
That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe.
New City Catechism Question 36: What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, comforts us, guides us, gives us spiritual gifts and the desire to obey God; and he enables us to pray and to understand God’s Word.
New City Catechism Question 37: How does the Holy Spirit help us?
1. The Holy Spirit was to come after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.
(John 7:37-39, Acts 1:8)
2. He is to convict the world of:
The Spirit’s presence in the world is proof that the world does not believe in Christ. This sin that condemns the soul is unbelief, the rejection of Christ.
The Spirit’s presence in the world is proof of the righteousness of Christ, who is now returned to the Father. Thus, the claims of Christ to be eternal and one with the Father have been vindicated. The fact that the Spirit is present on earth is proof that the Father raised the Son and received him back to heaven.
The Lord is speaking of the judgment that happened at the cross. The presence of the Spirit in the work is evidence that Satan has been judged and defeated. (John 16:8-11)
3. The Spirit of truth will guide his people into all truth. (John 16:13)
Illumination is the applying of God’s revealed truth to our hearts so that we grasp as reality for ourselves wheat the sacred text sets forth. It is the heart understanding of the greatness of the triune God.
4. The Helper will glorify Christ. (John 16:14)
QUESTIONS
1. What “triggered” the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost?
2. How was it to the “advantage” of the disciples that Jesus would “go away”?
3. The Holy Spirit: c_______, c_______, opens S_______and e_______ Jesus.
(ANSWERS: came, convicts, Scripture, exalts)
4. What is illumination?
5. How do we guard against grieving the Holy Spirit? (Ephesians 4:30)
“The way to benefit from the Spirit’s ministry of illumination is by serious Bible study, serious prayer, and serious response in obedience to whatever truths one has been shown in the Bible. This corresponds to Martin Luther’s Dictum that three things make a theologian: Prayer, Medication (serious pondering upon the word of God), and trials (the struggle for Biblical fidelity and obedience in the face of pressure to disregard what Scripture says).” J.I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs