By: Gen. Jim – 8/23/24
“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you”(John 16:13, 14 KJV).
First off, I want us to note how many times the Word “He” is found in v.13, and14. 7 times and the word “Himself” once. This tells us the Spirit is not a thing but a person, a divine person. [See all our articles on the Holy Spirit].
Jesus tells His disciples about the Holy Spirit, He will come to them after Jesus goes away: “… I am going away, unless I go away, the Counselor (i.e. “Helper” in other translations) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (NIV).
Jesus was speaking of His death upon the cross. He would die but the H.S. would come and guide them into all truth concerning their future and what was to come for the world.
John 14:17 and 18 tells us, “the Spirit of truth – the world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (NIV).
The Spirit of truth in essence and in action the Spirit characterized by truth. He brings people to the TRUTH of God. [All 3 persons of the Trinity, aka tri-unity, are unified in and with TRUTH. (See the “Son,” John 14:6). On the Day of Pentecost the H.S. came to those awaiting Him, Acts 2 and Romans 8:9.
I think the “truth” Jesus spoke of was that of the whole “Christian Way,” aka “New World Order” and that of the revelation, revolution (presented and preserved in the O.T. and forward into the apostolic future).
It is Biblical to repent (see Matthew 3:2 = John taught it. Matthew 4:17 = Jesus taught it; Mark 1:15 = Jesus taught it;
Acts 2:38 = Peter taught it; Luke 24:47 = Jesus mentions “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Jesus goes on to state, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued (filled) with power from on high” (v.49). We see clearly the trinity/tri-unity here: “Promise = H.S.; “I” Jesus/Son; “Father” = Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Peter went on to preach, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19). He did not stop there, he continues with, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is not other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (4:12).
We very well could call “The Acts of the Apostles,” “The Acts of the H.S.”
The Bible teaches, no repentance, no salvation. Joining a church or fellowship etc., will not save you.
Back to our original texts, John 16:13 and 14 the Vulgate and some copies of the Itala, read, “He will teach you all truth;” but this and more is implied in the word (όδηγησει), “he will lead;” besides, this reading is not acknowledged by any Greek MS.
The Holy Spirit claims Jesus, will not speak of Himself; He will not speak anything contrary to what Jesus was teaching. The Father, the Son, and the H.S. are ONE (unified/in agreement); they have one conjoint testimony. It is the indwelling Spirit of the “Born Again” Christian (see John 3:3,5) that teaches us, enables us to live the Christian life; perfecting us (maturity).
The substance of Jesus’ instruction come from the H.S. the power, the authority (see Matthew 4:1 = the H.S. led Jesus into battle with Satan; “then Jesus, being FILLED with the H.S., returned from the Jordan and was led y the Spirit into the wilderness” (Luke 4:1). Once Jesus did Spiritual Warfare against Satan, the Bible says, “Then Jesus returned in the POWER of the Spirit to Galilee…” (Luke 4:14). Dropping down to v.18, Jesus reads from the book of Isaiah (4:17): “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me…” Jesus tells those in the synagogue that it was/is the Holy Spirit that enables Him to (1) preach the gospel; (2) heal the broken hearted; (3) proclaim liberty to the captives (of sin); (4) the recovery of sight to the blind (lit. and fig.); (5) to set at liberty those who are oppressed; (6) to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Prophecy etc. No matter which title is used, THEY are ALL in agreement, ONE.
The H.S. still speaks today. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that the H.S. does not speak, reveal, quicken etc. The Spirit will continue until all is finished. The “Paraclete” (Greek) is ALIVE, ACTIVE, ALERT, and AMONG God’s true people.
John mentions the word “Advocate” in 16:7 (the word “Helpers” is also used in some versions): “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” Jesus speaking. The “Spirit of truth” (John 16:13, NKJV) and “the Helper” or “Advocate” are one and the same. (See John 14:17 = “Spirit of Truth,” NKJV). Also, some versions use the word “Comforter,” “Advocate,” and “Helper;” v.8 says, “And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”
As already stated the Greek word for C/A/H is “paraclete.”
John writes: “… we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins…” (1 John 2:1,2). The “Parakletos” (Gk.) is an intercessor, consoler, comforter; the Gk. word “Paraklesis” (from “Parakaleo” means “comfort, consolation, entreaty, exhaust, pray etc.”
the Bible uses the word “Comforter” in John 14:16,26; 15:26 and 16:7, meaning “advantageous Helper” (KJV). So, an Advocate or Comforter is one who pleads the cause of another (John 14:16); They are one and the same – “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17). It is the Holy Spirit that imparts Christ’s life (Acts 2:33), and UNITES the believers to God the Father.
Fin
John, chapter 14-16, we find a group of sayings about the promised presence of the H.S., four of them (14:15-17, 25, 26; 15:26, 27 and 16: 5-11) are characterized by the use of the (Gk.) word “Paraclete” or “Counselor” (RSV), “Comforter” (KJV), “Advocate” (NKJV), and the fifth (16:12-15), though not using theses terms, speaks of “the Spirit of truth,” who is equated with the Paraclete (v.17; 15:26).
The H.S. is regarded as the agent in regeneration, the believer’s counselor (Paraclete/παράκλητος). In John He is called “another Paraclete” (14:16), which recalls 1 John 2:11. There is a parallel to this in Romans 8, where in v.27 intercession is attributed to the H.S., though in v.34 Christ is the intercessor: “And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:27, NOAB); “Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us” (v.34, ibid).
Paul says that the Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26), hence, He the H.S./Paraclete makes intercession in our behalf.
When Jesus was assembled together with His disciples, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the “Promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4). He went on to tell them that they shall be baptized with (or in) the H.S. (v.5), meaning they were already believers but not H.S. filled believers. (See my articles on the “Baptism in the H.S.” et al.). They need this baptism of POWER (v.8) for their future Christian work. I am grieved when I hear “christians” telling me they do not need the baptism. Some go so far as to say it is of the devil!
The whole reason for the Spirit’s baptism is to fight the devil and his demons!! Even Satanists/Spiritists know they receive POWER from their master – SATAN! Yet, too many believers are without POWER. Remember, it was the H.S. that led Jesus into combat with the prince of demons, Satan himself. The disciples needed to be “endued with POWER from on high” (Luke 24:49).
It is the H.S. that gives us power. When we feel tired, used and abused, the H.S. makes intercession for us, as does Jesus. Even Christian believers grow weary (I do!). We need to face our transmutation of futility, calling upon the H.S./Lord Jesus to help us. Spiritual pride – our fleshly strength – will fail us. It is not wrong to admit our lack of faith and strength, for as a Christian in a fallen world, ruled by evil forces, we will get “worn and torn.” Satan loves to cut us off from the SOURCE of POWER that we need to feel secure in Christ. If you have not received the baptism in the H.S. pray for it. Be a warrior for Righteousness.