6. Who is the Holy Spirit? - John 16:1-15

What is the Holy Spirit going to achieve in the lives of his disciples? Jesus is about to answer this question. Jesus has promised the disciples in John 14 that He is going to send the Helper. Jesus’ leaving is for their benefit. The Advocate, the Helper will come and will benefit the disciples and the world. What is the Holy Spirit going to do? What is the work of the Holy Spirit? 

In v1 Jesus tells the disciples of the persecution to come, in order to keep them “from falling away.” In Jesus’ warning he is making clear that they and future believers would face persecution from religious authorities. They would be kicked out of the synagogues (v2). The early church’s experience shows that Jesus was right. Before His conversion, Paul, the Pharisee, was looking to destroy the Church. It was comforting to know that Jesus saw the future. 

The disciples were expecting that Jesus would instantly establish the kingdom of God. Instead, Jesus spoke to them of the many difficulties they would face. Sometimes the most significant advancements are made in the face of tough times. If this happens, we must not lose heart, but be steadfast and faithful.

The Holy Spirit and the Christian By nature, people are spiritually dead (Eph 2:1). The Spirit brings spiritual life to dead people (Eph 2:1 Ezek. 37:14 Romans 8:2, 11, John 6:63). The Holy Spirit makes the believer sure of their union with Christ (1 John 3:24, 4:13). The possession of the Spirit is the Christian’s recognizing mark (Rom 8:39). The Christian’s body is the temple of the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, 2 Tim 1b4,5). The Holy Spirit dwells within every Christian forever (John14 :16).

In v4-7 Jesus is leaving and they need to know what is going to happen. In v5 Jesus says that He is going to the Father, who is the one who sent him. None of the disciples asked where Jesus was going. But they did back in John 13v36?

The disciples were not asking, “Why are you leaving? Where are you going?” They were concerned what Jesus’ leaving will mean for them. They had forgotten to focus on God.

In v8-11 Jesus says that the work of the Holy Spirit is to convict. All people are guilty. The Holy Spirit will come and convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.

First, the Spirit will convict the world as guilty in regard to sin. God has to teach us what sin/selfishness is. Without the revelation of God, we would never know God’s law or that we have broken it. But sin is more than lawbreaking. It is unbelief v9 and rejection of God’s love. People have rejected Jesus, preferring darkness.

Second, the Spirit will convict the world in regard to righteousness. God has to teach us that our right living is inadequate. It is hard for people to understand that our good works do not earn salvation. Our goodness is nothing when referenced to the depths of our sins.

We must be convicted of the gravity of our selfishness/sins. The standard of righteousness is God, not us. Our works do not set us free but condemn us.

Third, the Spirit will convict the world is regard to judgment. Our judgments, values and discernments are all based on the wrong standard. We make judgments based on appearances, status, standard of living, and so many other things. God is the standard for judgment.

How was the Spirit going to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment? See John 16:7 here Jesus is promising the Spirit to the apostles yet his coming will convict the world. The Holy Spirit would come to the apostles who would write down what the He revealed to them. When we read and listen to the word of God it is the Holy Spirit working in our hearts to convict us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The word of God is living, active, and powerful (Hebrews 4:12).

In v12-15 we see the Holy Spirit’s work for the church. Jesus still has many things to teach. To help us, Jesus is sending the Spirit of truth. The Spirit will be the one who will guide these apostles into the truth. This is an important promise. To whom is all truth given? All truth is not directly given to every Christian. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives all truth to the apostles. The apostles wrote these things down so that we can have the same understanding.

This revelation by the Spirit will show the glory of Jesus v14. How is the Spirit going to do that? The scriptures reveal Jesus. The spotlight is on Jesus.

Finally, allow the Holy Spirit work in your life. The word of God are the words of Spirit written down by the apostles and prophets who were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The work of the Spirit was threefold. First, the Spirit would convict. Second, the Spirit would reveal all truth. Third, when we read the Word of God we see the glory of Jesus in what we are reading.

Bible Study 6 Questions
John 16:1-15 - Who is the Holy Spirit?
1. As the passage starts, why did Jesus tell His disciples to expect persecution when He was gone? What might have happened had He not told them to anticipate this? 
 
2. Looking at v1-3 why would the early Christians be persecuted? What does Jesus reveal about the persecutors' relationship with the Father? 
 
3. In v7 why did Jesus say it was better for His disciples if He left?  
 
4. In v5-11 what is revealed about the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the world? How did you experience that ministry and how did it lead you to Christ? 
 
5. How does the passage teach us about the Bible and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit help us understand the Bible today? 
 
6. How should these verses 8-11 shape what we pray about and w7hat we might say to our non-Christian friends? 
 
7. Why do some people ridicule and persecute Christians? 

8. As you think back on all that we have learned about the Holy Spirit, what is the most comforting or reassuring truth you learned and why?