“When He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak: and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13
There is no doubt that the resurrection of Christ from the dead is the greatest, and most confirming event of true Christianity, for upon that singular event, not to exceed in importance that of the crucifixion of Christ, rests the totality of faith in Christ as the only way to God, proven by God. The Apostle Paul put it like this in his first letter to the Corinthians: “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain.” “If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (15:14,17) The resurrection of Christ is the very hinge upon which the whole of faith in God hangs, with the hope and certainty of eternal Life in Christ. Notwithstanding the vast importance and power of the resurrection, and the essential element that it is to true faith, there is another event which possesses, because of its place and significance in the realization of this “great salvation” in Christ, a monumental significance to be laid hold of. It is by the ascension of Christ into heaven after His resurrection, having been seen at the time of the event, that something marvelous shortly occurred afterwards. It is an event that will be, according to the prophet Joel in the Old Testament, that will affect all people on the earth. When Christ had ascended on high, He left behind Him in the hearts and minds of His disciples, a promise, the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit in a most unique way, in order to convey, or give, to the believers on the day of Pentecost, Christ’s power. By that power, all things would become possible to the individual believer, for the Holy Spirit would not only be “with” the disciples but would “indwell” them. Christ by His Spirit would dwell in their hearts by faith. All that was possible to Christ now became possible to the believer, according to the will of God for every individual, and the gifts with which God had equipped each one. Great would be the blessing of the indwelling Spirit, especially in the matter of being specifically led by Him. (Romans 8:14)
In the Apostle John’s gospel, we have laid out before us in part the marvelous ministry of the Spirit of God. That ministry in the hearts, minds, and souls of believers began to be revealed after Christ ascended into heaven, to be seated at the right hand of the Father. It was then that He, along with the Father, sent the Spirit to accomplish in the hearts and minds of His disciples, or born-again believers, the following work. The first, and perhaps the most important aspect of that work, after He had come to dwell in the hearts of the believers, was to give them the assurance that Christ was IN the Father, and the disciples were in Christ, and He in them. (Jn. 14:20) An indissoluble union, and bond between the Spirit of Christ and the believer was created. The believer had become a NEW creation.
The second thing was the promise that the Spirit, whom the Father would send in Jesus’ name, would “…teach you all things,” bringing to their remembrance all things.
The third thing was that the Spirit would witness to the spirit and soul of the believer concerning Christ’s presence and power. Because the Spirit would witness to the believer concerning God’s presence, He would also witness to the heart concerning the truth of that witness, and His leading.
Thirdly, the Spirit was given to guide the believer into all truth, confirming that which was of God, and the direction that God would reveal. The fact was that the Spirit would speak to the heart with the authority of Christ, confirming the will of God by the peace and assurance He gives.
Dear Father, Lead us clearly today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.