“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am
going away. Unless I go away, the Councilor will not come to you; but if I go,
I will send him to you.”…John 16:7
Christ's departure was necessary to the Comforter's coming.
Sending the Spirit was to be the fruit of Christ's death, which was his going
away. His bodily presence could be only in one place at one time, but his
Spirit is everywhere, in all places, at all times, wherever two or three are
gathered together in his name. See here the office of the Spirit, first to
reprove, or to convince. Convincing work is the Spirit's work; he can do it
effectually, and none but he. It is the method the Holy Spirit takes, first to
convince, and then to comfort.
The Spirit shall convince the world, of sin; not merely tell
them of it. The Spirit convinces of the fact of sin; of the fault of sin; of
the folly of sin; of the filth of sin, that by it we are become hateful to God;
of the fountain of sin, the corrupt nature; and lastly, of the fruit of sin,
that the end thereof is death. The Holy Spirit proves that the entire world is
guilty before God. He convinces the world of righteousness; that Jesus of
Nazareth was Christ the righteous. Also, of Christ's righteousness, imparted to
us for justification and salvation. He will show them where it is to be had,
and how they may be accepted as righteous in God's sight.
Christ's ascension proves the ransom was accepted, and the
righteousness finished, through which believers were to be justified. Of
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. All will be well, when
his power is broken, who made all the mischief. As Satan is subdued by Christ,
this gives us confidence, for no other power can stand before him. And of the
Day of Judgment. The coming of the Spirit would be of unspeakable advantage to
the disciples. The Holy Spirit is our Guide, not only to show us the way, but
to go with us by continued aids and influences. To be led into a truth is more
than barely to know it; it is not only to have the notion of it in our heads,
but the relish, and savor, and power of it in our hearts.
He shall teach all truth, and keep back nothing profitable,
for he will show things to come. All the gifts and graces of the Spirit, all
the preaching, and all the writing of the apostles, under the influence of the
Spirit, all the tongues, and miracles, were to glorify Christ. It behooves everyone
to ask, whether the Holy Spirit has begun a good work in his heart? Without
clear discovery of our guilt and danger, we never shall understand the value of
Christ's salvation; but when brought to know ourselves aright, we begin to see
the value of the Redeemer. We should have fuller views of the Redeemer, and
more lively affections to him, if we more prayed for, and depended on the Holy
Spirit.
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