The Gospel & Salvation: Salvation Produces God’s Presence In Us

Salvation Produces God’s Presence In Us

John 14:16-18

Read John 14.

In this series on the work of salvation we have been looking at what God’s work of salvation accomplishes in the lives of those who are truly converted. The work of salvation makes us worshipers of God, who worship in spirit and truth. Salvation makes us obedient as slaves. It makes us to become living sacrifices. It makes us to become those who obey the word of God. Salvation makes us humble. Salvation makes us to become spiritually fruitful, including making us witness who make disciples.

As I considered this series and all these things that the work of salvation produces in the life of the redeemed, it dawned on me that I have never explained the means by which all these things are produced. Something, or someone, must be working in us to make us to become all that the work of salvation is to make us become. God, who saves us, must also provide the resources to make us become all that a saved person is to be. And that resource is the Holy Spirit of God. We cannot have a series on the gospel and the work of salvation and not include what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit.

If you have struggles with what I have been teaching, and you have heard me say that as a Christian you are to be presenting your body as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, you might be a little frustrated because you now know what you are to do, but you don’t really understand how to do it. We have acknowledged often that many aspects of the Christian life are things that say easy, but do hard. The hard things are accomplished through the work of God by His Holy Spirit who comes to be with us and in us. In the miracle of salvation, the Holy Spirit is given to all believers. 

Turn to Ephesians 1. I want to make sure you understand this truth that the Holy Spirit is given to all true Christians. Ephesians 1:13-14a says, “In Him (Christ), you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance.”

When Paul speaks of us being “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” he speaks of the official seal which was placed on an official document or contract or transaction. The tomb of Jesus was made as secure as possible and the Roman guard set a seal on the stone which was placed over the entrance of the tomb. (Matt. 27:66) This seal represented the authority of the one who placed it there. In this case it represented the authority of the Roman government. Fortunately it wasn’t enough authority to keep Jesus in the grave. This is the idea of the Holy Spirit being given to believers. He is God’s seal representing the authority of God to save us, the authenticity of His work to save us, His ownership of those whom He saves, and the security we have as those who are saved.

The Holy Spirit is also given as a pledge of our inheritance. The idea of this is like that of a down payment. If you purchase a house you put up earnest money. This indicates your intention to go through with the transaction. The Holy Spirit is God’s earnest deposit. The Holy Spirit is God’s pledge of our future inheritance in glory. Because the Holy Spirit is given at the time of our salvation, we know that the work of God will come to completion. We can be certain that, as Romans 8 tells us, that those whom He predestined, He also called, and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. It is no wonder that Paul went on to say in Romans 8, “If God is for us, who is against us?” If God has saved us, and has given us His Spirit as a seal and a pledge, who has the authority to undo what God has done?

So then, what is the advantage of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian? God does not give the Holy Spirit only as a seal and a pledge. God gives the Holy Spirit in order that the very presence of God dwells within us. The work of salvation is a miraculous transformation. It makes the sinner become a saint. It transforms the enemy of God into one who loves God. It changes the selfish one who lives only for self into a servant of others. These are not changes wrought by the power of the sinner. These are changes wrought by the power of God operating in us by the Holy Spirit.

If a foreigner were dropped into the American culture who had no idea of the Scriptures, and he was to turn on the television and learn about the Holy Spirit from what he saw on television, he would conclude that the Holy Spirit is some cosmic, supernatural, inexplicable force that exerts his power through the touch of a person’s hand. The Holy Spirit makes people do strange things, like speak in languages they don’t comprehend, fall down into an unconscious state, dance around and do all sorts of incoherent gyrations, see visions of strange things, transport people back and forth from heaven to earth, speak personal and private messages to a special few, and an assortment of other actions, none of which are found anywhere in the Bible. This isn’t the Holy Spirit. It certainly isn’t an accurate picture of who the Holy Spirit is, or what the Holy Spirit does.

The Bible tells us who the Holy Spirit is and what He does. His work is unmatched in importance to the true believer in Jesus Christ. His value is measureless. His intentions are clearly spelled out in the Scriptures. He glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. His work in the Christian is nothing short of miraculous. Our goal is to understand the person and the work of that marvelous member of the Holy Trinity who has been given to us to live within us. We are going to learn of the role of the Holy Spirit in making us fruitful followers of Christ.

John 14 is important because this was the place in Scripture where Jesus first introduced His disciples to the Holy Spirit. The disciples had seen the Holy Spirit’s power in the life of Jesus. They were familiar with His work through what they had seen and heard in the life of Jesus. The Holy Spirit had descended on Jesus at His baptism and had worked in His life powerfully. The disciples had seen this but they did not know the Holy Spirit personally. The time had come for Jesus to introduce His followers to the Holy Spirit. Why was it necessary at this point?

Jesus brought the disciples together. It is the night of His arrest. He had just finished washing their feet and explaining the importance of loving one another, serving one another, and keeping His commandments. He has also just predicted His betrayal and told them that He was about to leave them and go to a place where they could not follow. This would have caused obvious distress in the lives of these men. They had left everything to follow Christ. Christ had been everything to them. He had provided for them, taught them, and led them. They were expecting Him to assume His role as the Messiah and become the religious, political, and military leader to deliver Israel. Now He tells them He is going away. Things were unfolding in a way completely different than what they had expected. They were understandably confused and troubled.

I want to make a point of application here. It was because of the troubling times the disciples were about to face that Jesus decided it was time to introduce them to the Holy Spirit. He wasn’t sending the Spirit at this time because it wasn’t yet time for Him to come. But it was time for these men to be introduced to the One who would come to their aid and empower them for the work Christ had for them to do. This is what the Holy Spirit was going to do. He was going to come to these disciples, He was going to be with them, and in them, and He was going to aid them and empower them to do what Christ was going to tell them to do. The Holy Spirit’s mission has not changed. He comes to us and lives within us to aid and empower us to do what Christ has called us to do. You and I need His help to carry out the work Christ has for you to do on this earth.

Look closely at verses 16-18. “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” 

The first thing we see is that Jesus promised to “ask” the Father. The KJV says Jesus would “pray” to the Father. The Greek word is “erotao.” The general meaning is to submit a request, to entreat or beseech another. Here it has a very distinct meaning. It denotes a request from one of equal standing and authority to another of the same standing and authority. The same word is used in John 17:9, 15, 20.

Look up to verses 13 and 14 where the word “ask” is used in regards to us asking the Father for something. A different Greek word is translated “ask” in these verses. The Greek “aiteo” is used. This word is used in the case of a request from an inferior to a superior. God is superior to us in authority. Jesus used this word in Matthew 7:9 to describe a son asking his father for bread. James used it in James 1:5 to describe how a man should ask God for wisdom. Clearly, in all these passages we have an individual of lesser authority and power asking, or pleading with another of greater power and authority.

What is implied in the use of “erotao” in the request of Jesus to the Father? Because the One asking is equal with the One being asked, the expectation of the desired response is elevated. Whenever Jesus asks the Father for something, we can be assured His request will be granted. Jesus was equal with the Father in every respect. When He told His disciples He would ask the Father to send another Helper, these disciples could rest assured it would happen. We have the biblical record of the Holy Spirit coming. We have been studying in Acts and we have seen the tremendous power of the Holy Spirit working. 

Jesus said, “I will ask the Father and He will give…” “Will give” is one word in the Greek. It is “anadidomi.” “Didomi” means “to give.” “Ana” is a preposition meaning “on, or upon.” “Ana” is used as an emphatic. It places greater emphasis on the meaning of the verb to which it is attached. Jesus’ choice of words emphasizes the certainty that the Holy Spirit would be given directly upon His followers.

This verb is in the future tense and active voice. The future tense means that the giving of the Helper would happen at some point in the future. The active voice indicates that the subject of the verb would be responsible for the action of the verb. Here the subject is “He” referring to “Father.” The Father will give you another Helper. There isn’t anything you can do to make the Helper come. It is totally an act of the Father. Here is another important truth lost on the Pentecostals. Not only is there nothing you need to do to receive the Holy Spirit, if you are a believer in Christ, there isn’t anything you can do to make Him come. Nor is there anything you can do to prevent Him from coming. The Father will send another Helper.

Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit by describing Him as “another” Helper. The Greek word used by Christ is “allos.” There are two different words commonly translated “another” in the New Testament. The other word is “heteros.” “Allos” means another of the same kind. “Heteros” means another of a different kind. Not only does Jesus tell us that the Holy Spirit will be a Helper of the same kind, but this is a designation of the Holy Spirit’s equality with Jesus.

“Helper” is the Greek word “Paracletos.” The word literally describes the act of comforting, encouraging and exhorting. Classical Greek writers used this word to describe one who served as a legal advisor, a proxy, or an advocate – one who came forward on behalf of another as a representative. The Holy Spirit comes forward on behalf of Christ. He is sent to the Christian as Christ’s representative of Himself. The Holy Spirit represents Christ and is the manifestation of Christ’s presence in our lives in the absence of the bodily presence of Christ. The Holy Spirit is another like Christ who dwells with us. 

As a Helper just like Jesus, the Holy Spirit is our Helper in the same way Christ was a Helper to His disciples while among them. He taught them, guided them, encouraged them, served them, and was a continual blessing in their presence. He rebuked them when they were wrong. He led them into service. The Holy Spirit would come to the followers of Christ and do for them what Christ had done. Through the Holy Spirit these disciples would do greater works than even Jesus. These were not greater in power, but greater in scope.

Jesus asks the Father to send another Helper that “He may be with you.” The KJV says “He may abide.” The Greek word is “meno” and it means “to remain, abide, dwell, or live”. It carries the idea of being at home. This was what Paul teaches in Ephesians 5:18 where he instructs us to “be filled with the Spirit.” We are filled with the Holy Spirit as we yield to Him and His work of holy influence. This is how we are filled with Him and facilitate Him being at home in our lives. Notice how, in our text, that Jesus repeated the emphasis of loving Him and keeping His commandments. My friends, this is the key to the Holy Spirit being “at home” with us. He is with us. He lives in us. He is “at home” with us when we are keeping the commandments of our Lord.

In the next verse Jesus calls the Holy Spirit “the Spirit of truth.” This is important to understand because this explains another aspect of His personality and character. The Holy Spirit is the source of truth. He is the avenue through which God has given His truth. The word “Spirit” is “pneuma” in the Greek. It means “breath.” 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” Those words “inspired by God” come from one word in the Greek. It is “theopneustos.” It is a compound word combining “theos” which means God with “pneustos,” the verb form of the noun “pneuma.” The Spirit of truth, or the Holy Spirit is the Agent through whom Scriptures is given. Scripture is “God-breathed.”

2 Peter 1:21 tells us, “for no prophecy was ever made by an act of the human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” As the Spirit of truth there was no truth God revealed to man that did not involve the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1:12 makes it clear that the gospel message was preached through human messengers but it was from the Holy Spirit. “It was revealed to them (prophets) that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things into which angels long to look.”

As the Spirit of truth the Holy Spirit’s primary responsibilities are in revealing and instructing God’s word. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would do for believers in John 16:13. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” In John 17:17 Jesus prayed for His disciples, “(Father) Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” 

Our spiritual progress is impossible without God’s truth, the truth of His word. Just as important as the Word of God is the work of the Spirit of truth who guides us into all the truth and sanctifies us with the truth of the word of God.

Jesus makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is only with those who belong to Him. He said in verse 17, “Whom the world cannot receive…” The writers of Scripture often used the term “world” to make a distinction between those who belong to Christ and those who are unregenerate, unredeemed, and lost. There are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who are in Christ and belong to Christ – those who possess and know the Holy Spirit. Then there are those who are outside of Christ. These belong to their father the devil. They are without the Holy Spirit, being completely natural men. Those who are without Christ cannot receive the Holy Spirit. 

The Greek word translated “receive” is “lambano.” This word is used to speak of one who receives someone as a friend or guest into his house. This is to accept Him, receiving Him as an honored guest. The Greek construction of the sentence literally reads, “the world receives Him not.” The negative particle “ou” expresses direct and full negation. We have something of this expression in the modern culture. It is rather obnoxious in the current culture but it takes the word “not” stated emphatically after a statement. 

Jesus goes on to tell us why the world does not receive the Spirit of truth. It is “because it does not see Him or know Him.” “See” is “theoreo” meaning to gaze, to look on with interest for a purpose. The word usually indicates the careful observation of the details. Here the meaning is “to consider, comprehend, recognize and acknowledge.” Once again the negative particle “ou” follows the verb. The meaning is something like this: The world considers, comprehends, recognizes, and acknowledges the Holy Spirit, not! The world has no interest, no desire, and very little curiosity about the Holy Spirit.

Not only does the world not see the Holy Spirit but they do not know Him. The Greek word is “ginosko.” It means to know in a completed sense. The world does not fully know the Holy Spirit. They may have heard of Him but they do not know Him. They have no experience with Him. He has no part in their lives. But what is not true of the world is certainly true for the Christian. We do see Him and know Him.

I must point out something I think is important. Both the verbs “see” and “know” are in the present tense, active voice, and imperative mood. These details give us important insight into the meaning. The Greek construction here indicates that the world is responsible for rejecting the Holy Spirit. The people who are without Christ in the world are responsible for not seeing and knowing the Holy Spirit. It is not like they haven’t had a chance.

“But you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” It is noteworthy that Christ states what is currently true and what will be true in the future. “He abides with you” is in the present tense. Certainly the Holy Spirit was abiding with them now because He was fully present and active in Christ. They knew the Holy Spirit because of what they had seen of Him in Jesus. “Will be in you” is a statement of a future reality. The very same Holy Spirit whom they had seen with Christ would be in them.

We make full circle as we come to verse 18. “I will not leave you as orphans: I will come to you.” The idea of an orphan is one without a source of comfort. That is why it is translated “comfortless” in the KJV.  The most comfortable place in the world for a child is in the arms of mother or father. Jesus promised these distraught followers that He would not leave them in a state of hopeless despair. He said, “I will come to you.”

Isn’t that interesting? Jesus promised to ask the Father to send another Helper to be with them forever and He promises that this Helper would abide with them and be with them forever. Then Jesus said, “I will come to you.” Who is the Holy Spirit? He is the Spirit of truth. He is the Spirit of God. He is the Spirit of Christ. Romans 8:9 identifies Him as the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ in the same verse. “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6)

When we are born again, we received a wonderful, powerful, personal Helper who abides with us. I want to send you home today with this truth. The Holy Spirit who has been sent to be with us and in us is none other than God. Look at verse 23. Jesus promised that to all who love Him and keep His commandments, this being a description of the true Christian, to those Jesus said, “My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” 

The understanding of this is important. The indwelling Holy Spirit is God living in us. How do we live a spiritually fruitful life? How do we present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices acceptable to God? How do we become faithful witnesses? Not by anything we do, but by the power of the omnipotent God who abides with you and is in you.

Let’s pray.