The purpose of the Holy Spirit

Given below is a "statement of faith" that is held to be a fundamental doctrine in what is commonly considered a typically conservative "main stream" religion.
This lesson is based upon the principles taught in this "statement of faith". 

We believe the Holy Spirit is the divine Administrator for Jesus Christ in His churches (Luke 24:49; John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:4, 5, 8; Acts 2:1-4).

To believe in something is to have faith in something . . . in this instance – to believe that The Holy Spirit “supervises” or controls

the NTC means that we have faith in “the power of God” as opposed to faith in “our own power or wisdom” to uphold and to direct His church . . . Notice what Jesus told His church in John 4 . . .

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments (even when those commandments are not popular)

Luke 6: 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Far too often we look at religion as a means to retain popularity . . . religion may be designed to “please” the world . . . but as we

see in Luke 6:22-23 . . . Christianity is designed to only “please” God . . . so if we love God enough to guard/protect/keep/practice His commandments of New Testament Worship . . . then God's promise to us is . . .

16 And I will pray the Father, and (after I am gone back to heaven) he shall give you another “Comforter” that he (the comforter) may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The comforter that is mentioned here is “The Spirit of Truth” (The Holy Spirit) that today dwells IN the NTC . . . and this “spirit of comfort” also enters INTO the heart of every believer when we accept Jesus as our personal savior.

The basic “purpose” of The Holy Spirit in our lives – is to teach us right from wrong . . . to comfort us in times trouble by reminding us

“in our heart” that God is ALWAYS with us . . . that God will never leave us nor will God ever forsake us . . . but

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

So when we talk of the promise of The Holy Spirit . . . we are also talking about “the comfort” and the wisdom to see the

difference between right and wrong . . . this wisdom is what we as God’s children receive in our heart from this spirit of comfort as we

allow Him to guide our lives.  The setting of these scriptures in John 4 . . . is shortly before Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss . . .

the disciples did not yet understand that Jesus would be put to death and “ascend back to heaven” . . . they did however understand

that the Jews were persecuting them “as disciples” because of their love for Jesus and because of how they worshipped . . . in fact

Jesus told them in verse 15 that if they were faithful to “keep” His commandments “of NT worship” then He would send to them

another comforter . . . this comforter being The Holy Spirit.  As we mentioned earlier . . . we need The Holy Spirit in our lives to teach us right from wrong . . . for instance consider

I Cor 10: 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

How would we know what idolatry was . . . if we did not have The Holy Spirit within our heart to “convict us” - to “burden us” or to “remind us” that it is a sin to give honor to a

(so called) false god by “worshipping” what is really no more than a stone . . . a piece of wood . . . or an ancient philosophy

How many times have we been guilty of committing some type of sin . . . only to be “miserable” afterward in our heart . . . this

“burden” that we feel is placed in our heart by The Holy Spirit for the purpose us reminding us that we have disappointed God with the

choice that we have made . . . and that we are in need of repentance (we need to tell God we are sorry) in order to find forgiveness and to restore our “fellowship” with God.

So what the disciples did not yet realize – was that the one who had been teaching them . . . the one who had been providing them with

comfort in their times of need . . . the one who had been forgiving them for their wrong doings . . . was about to leave them and go back to heaven.

Notice the following scriptures that lead up to this passage in John 14 . . .

John 13: 1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that “his hour” was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 

2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

Judas departs the group here in order to betray Jesus and “The final passover” (our present day Lords’ Supper in the church) is complete.

Jesus loves His disciples and tries to prepare them for what is coming next.

3 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so NOW I say (the same thing) to YOU (My church).

Previously Jesus had told the Jews . . . that He was going to depart and go to a place that they would not be allowed to enter . . .

Now He tells this group of His closest followers the same thing . . . He was going to return to heaven . . . but they would have to stay on the earth and continue on with their lives.

John 13: 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples (or follow my teachings) if ye have love one to another.

36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

As Jesus approaches the cross . . . the church that He is leaving behind does not yet fully understand that Jesus is about to leave them.

Notice what Peter said here in verse #36 . . . “where are you going” . . . and Jesus’ reply is that “you cannot follow me now . . . but you

will follow me later” . . . we know of course that Jesus is talking about His ascension into heaven after the Resurrection . . .

The church could not follow Him now . . . but there will come a day when the church will follow Him (this is the rapture) . . .

I Cor 15: 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (lay down in death) but we shall all be changed,

The mystery spoken of here is the rapture . . . we will not all sleep in death . . . but those who are alive and following the “new commandment” of John 13:34 at the return

of Jesus . . . they will be changed as they “follow” Jesus to heaven . . . this is the fulfillment of the scripture which refers to “but thou shalt follow me afterwards” . . . this change (rapture) will occur . . .

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Those who have previously died “in Christ” . . . the saved of all the ages will be raised from the dead to receive their glorified bodies . . .

and the “WE shall be changed” refers to the disciples of Jesus who are living at the time . .  this refers to the disciples who have accepted the new commandment of John 13:34 . . .

 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

This is simply a description of the fulfilment of what Jesus was referring to in John 13: 36 when He said . . . you cannot follow me now . . . but you will follow me afterwards.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

You see . . . Jesus promised to send “The Holy Spirit of God” . . . Jesus promised to send The Spirit of Truth (to provide comfort) unto

those “disciples” who continued to follow a certain path in their lives/worship . . . Notice “the effect” that this “Spirit of Truth” would

have in the “disciples” lives . . . but only IF these “disciples” continued to follow the way of Truth . . . more next lesson