Sermon Tone Analysis

David, resources for killing Goliath.

He chose a sling and a few stones.

He refused armour that didn’t fit And a sword that may have been too big.

He used resources that were appropriate for him for the mission.

A few weeks ago we started looking at Jesus’ Farewell Discourse - or his Last Will and Testament.

We started by reflecting on...

Part 1: What the disciples can expect -

Jesus is leaving to prepare a place but will return.

Jesus’ expectations of the disciples

love one another

believe in him

do greater works

What Jesus will give

Comfort

Hope

Holy Spirit

Part 2: Talked about obedience

we demonstrate our love for Jesus by obeying his commands - namely to love one another

The Holy Spirit will help us obey and will instruct

Part 3: Jesus discussed what life in the vine is like.

it requires

Pruning

Connection

it results in

fruit

love

answered prayer

Last week we looked at...

Part 4: Jesus set some difficult expectations for his followers

Expect hatred because of him

Expect help from the Holy Spirit

Expect hazard’s along the way - namely falling away or apostasy

Expect Heaven’s plan to prevail

Today, we come to the final section of Jesus’ Last Will and Testament - or his farewell discourse, we learn about two significant resources that Jesus will leave for his followers - the Spirit and the Son.

As we go through the outline today, we are leveraging and adapting some of the work of Bruce Milne - as his analysis seemed to clearly delineate this section of scripture in a logical and memorable way.

So, first of all, Jesus reveals...

The active resources of the Spirit (John 16:5-15)

The Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, is not a vague, mystical force.

He is a person.

He is an active person.

Jesus communicates here that the Spirit is active in three ways - in addition to the ways that we’ve seen in prior weeks.

The first activity we see is...

The Spirit’s coming (John 16:5-7)

Jesus has told his disciples that he is getting ready to go, to return to the Father.

He has already promised that the comforter or helper or Spirit of Truth would be sent.

So here, for the fourth time in His farewell discourse - Jesus promises that the Spirit will come.

But Jesus communicates this in a rather interesting way.

It seems odd for Jesus to say that it is to the disciples “advantage” or in other translations, that it is “expedient” for Jesus to go.

There is a contingency here - if Jesus doesn’t go, then the Spirit won’t come.

There is this dance that seems to happen among the Trinity.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit all work in sync and cooperation with each other - in part because they are one, but also because they have different roles and functions.

One of the early church fathers, Athanasius, discussed their work this way:

“The Son is sent from the Father; for he says, ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16).

The Son sends the Spirit; ‘If I go away,’ he says, ‘I will send the Paraclete’ (John 16:7).

The Son glorifies the Father, saying ‘Father, I have glorified thee’ (John 17:4).

The Spirit glorifies the Son; for he says: ‘He shall glorify me’ (John 16:4).

The Son says: ‘The things I heard from the Father speak I unto the world’ (John 8:26).

The Spirit takes of the Son; ‘He shall take of mine,’ he says, ‘and shall declare it unto you’ (John 16:14).

The Son came in the name of the Father.

‘The Holy Spirit,’ says the Son, “whom the Father will send in my name’ (John 14:26).”

(Beeke, 151)

So in this beautiful dance of mutual glorification and unified communication, the Spirit comes into the world - as Jesus said before - to be with us and to be in us (John 14:17).

So the spirit has come.

He has indwelled believers.

The question is do we recognize him?

Or do we assume he is only a sometimes help?

There when we actually need him but ignored the rest of the time?

In his coming, we get to see the second way that the Spirit works as an active resource, that is...

The Spirit’s convicting (John 16:8-11)

So the Spirit won’t simply come and be a presence with us in the world, Jesus tells us that the Spirit has a work of convicting that works in three different ways - namely of sin, righteousness and judgment.

Notice, that this work that the Holy Spirit is doing is focused on the world - the non-believing world.

Before we get to the focus of the convicting work, let’s consider what that word means.

There are several different ways that word in Greek could be translated - to convince or expose or convict.

Don Carson notes that this word is used 18 times in the NT.

Each time, the purpose of the word is to show someone their sin - often as a “summons to repentance.”

The Spirit is not simply pointing something out, but pointing it out in order to produce a change.

So the Spirit’s work begins with convicting the world...

of sin - “because they do not believe in” Jesus (9).

Jesus is the perfect human.

He is the one who has perfectly fulfilled all of God’s righteous decrees.

He is the perfect sacrifice.

When we compare ourselves to Christ, we are filthy.

We need that perfect comparison.

The Spirit helps us to see that.

Carson notes: “If they did believe in Jesus, they would believe his statements about their guilt and turn to him.

As it is, their unbelief brings not only condemnation (3:18, 36) but willful ignorance of their need.”

In order for us to come to faith, to receive Jesus’ perfect gift of forgiveness and salvation - we have to recognize our sin.

Friend - where do you stand with your sin? Have you been convicted of your need of a savior?

Have you been convicted of the presence of your sin?

Beloved, while Jesus is talking specifically about the convicting work of the Spirit to the world - which ultimately he must do in order for anyone to turn - we also have to recognize the convicting work of the Spirit in our lives.

While we are covered by Jesus’ sacrifice, we still willfully rebel against God.

It doesn’t affect our eternal standing, but it does impact our witness in the world and our walk with God.

Pay attention to that convicting work of the Spirit in your life and repent when He prompts.

But in addition to convicting the world of sin, Jesus says the Spirit convicts the world...

of righteousness - because Jesus would be returning to the Father.

Now, at first read, this seems like a non sequitur - like the two don’t have anything to do with each other.

But, again if we look at how Jesus lived his life on earth, he demonstrated perfect righteousness.

He became like a perfect plumb line - the perfect standard.

When I was in Middle School I had a take a Home Economics class.

We did a bit of cooking and sewing and cleaning.