Study the Bible
with Pastor Gregory

"Troubles and Trials"
John 16:29-33
Theme: Our ability to remain faithful to Christ in trials depends upon His victory over the world.

Having listened to Jesus’ promises regarding the openness that will exist through the Holy Spirit – a day delayed until after His atoning work and Pentecost – the disciples allow themselves to assert that such a day already exists.
Jesus had spoken of a day when the Father will be revealed "plainly" as the Holy Spirit leads and teaches with everything pertaining to life and godliness.
However, having seen how Jesus knew what they were thinking and answered their question without them having asked it state: "Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech."
In stating this, they assert that there is perfect comprehension and that there is not more information needed – their faith is all it should be … possibly even suggesting that it couldn’t be any stronger.
They state: "Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You."
Essentially, they have "figured it out" and are able, based on their own observations, to conclude who Jesus truly is.
Any further investigation is unnecessary – and perhaps even inappropriate.
They don’t have to wait for any clarifications or information that would be forthcoming through the Spirit of God, what they know is enough.
We become too frequently willing to assert our own conclusions – based on something other than the truth: intuition, logic, an extrapolation of limited knowledge thing that we are fully oriented when we are not.

When we do such a thing – assert that we don’t need further information or guidance – our confidence is in our own conclusions.
In this text, the disciples assert – "by this we believe that You came from God."
True saving faith comes not through observing miracles, but by means of the truth of God’s Word in the hands of God’s Spirit.
Again, they figure that they have the information they need and thereby assert that what Jesus is telling them is dependent on the Holy Spirit, in reality they already have – even without Him.
As is evident by Jesus response, their "faith" was not yet empowered and secured by the Holy Spirit and would therefore wane – cp. vv. 31-32a.

Although they did possess faith – it was an underdeveloped faith.
Jesus responds to their assertion by asking them to evaluate their faith – "Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe’?"
He understands that what the disciples are so confident about is really a faulty faith – not a faith that will be able to endure.
Despite their assurance, what they possessed lacked the power that would ultimately come from a full comprehension provided by the Spirit – cp. vv. 12-14.
We have to understand that there are a variety of reasons why people believe:

Some believe because they have never thought about the issues – and they are able to believe on the basis of superficiality.
Some believe because they have thought about it and have ruled out any innate contradictions and therefore they are willing to accept it.
Some believe because they are told to believe.
Some believe because of what is called universal affirmation – everyone around them believes so they figure they ought to as well.
Some believe because of a fear of the consequences if they don’t – not that they are absolutely convinced.

In the same way, the disciples’ "faith" is still based upon their own assessments and not on the truth revealed by God.
We too can assert that we possess faith, but fail to base that faith on the truth of God’s Word in the hands of the Holy Spirit.
It is underdeveloped because it is based on tradition, parental requirement or training, fear, logic, or emotions.

Faith that is so faulty is no match for the tests that it will have to face.
Jesus anticipates for the disciples that their confidence is grossly misplaced: "Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave me alone."
Thus, despite their confidence, they would fail when tested – because they have no power.
When our faith fails, it is because our confidence has been derived by our own reasoning and based on our own conclusions instead of empowered by God’s Spirit and based upon God’s Word.

Jesus, having informed the disciples about the consequences of their faulty faith, begins to affirm them – stating that despite their failure, God’s redemptive plan will succeed.
He testifies that despite human failure, God the Father will not fail – "… and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me."
The commitment to redemption is something that will endure all things as God executes His perfect plan – all the while providing everything needed by Christ to triumph – cp. Isaiah 50:7-9
Men may give up on Christ, but the Father has promised to see Him through to the triumphant end.
This victory by Christ through the will of the Father forms the basis for the spiritual integrity enjoyed by those filled with the Spirit of God who gives true and genuine saving faith.

The ability to possess spiritual integrity is therefore dependent entirely upon the work of Christ – "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace."
"These things …" refer to the matters presented by Jesus throughout the Upper Room Discourse – John 13:1-16:33 and centers on the power of the ministry of the Holy Spirit to provide them power and strength in their faith.
The summary of the matter is that the world will deal with them with hostility, but in the end, those faithful to Christ prevail – "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world"
Jesus’ use of the perfect tense demonstrates how certain his victory would be at the cross and through the resurrection.