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      "The Distinctive Mark of the Church"
      John 14:16-21
      Theme: Never before have the people of God had the permanent resource of the Holy Spirit residing within.

        1. The Provision of the Assistance of Holy Spirit – 14:16

          1. The Role of the Savior in Supplying the Spirit

            1. The reciprocal relationship between the believer and the Savior is emphasized through this section.
            2. Having promised that He would do whatever "you ask in My name, …" (vv. 13-14) Jesus continues here by stating: "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper."
            3. Aware of the absolute (not merely marginal) dependence that exists on Him by the disciples, Jesus acknowledges what essentially they feel – you cannot survive without the kind of enabling that I have provided you.
            4. So, He indicates that one of the first tasks of intercession the He would undertake for them is to replace Himself with "another Helper" that would duplicate His impact
              1. The term "another" is ?????? a term that describes another of the same kind
              2. The term "Helper" comes from ??????????? - meaning, "called to one’s side" for the purpose of helping.
            5. Jesus thus states that He would pray that the Father would give the Holy Spirit so that Jesus could send Him to replace Himself and serve the disciples.
            6. It is in this fashion that the Holy Spirit is called the "Spirit of Christ" – cp. Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6.

          2. The Responsibility of the Spirit in Supporting the Saints

            1. Christ Jesus’ statement here ought to encourage us – that instead of His disciples losing the source of their spiritual success, they would actually possess an even greater resource.
            2. Jesus has just indicated that He would continue to serve them – only it would be from heaven – as He goes to "prepare a place for them"
            3. He indicates that He would send a replacement who would be equal to Himself – "another Helper" to be their resource on earth.
            4. Hence Jesus would plead their case with God the Father, while the Holy Spirit would plead God’s case with them.
            5. In addition, this Helper is given "that He may be with you forever."
            6. Once He is given, there would never be any separation between them and the Holy Spirit – He would take up permanent residence in them – cp. Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7
            7. The term "Helper" thus involves the idea of advising, exhorting, comforting, strengthening, interceding, and encouraging.

        2. The Peculiarity of the Assistance of the Holy Spirit – 14:17

          1. The Impedance of the Sinner

            1. This Helper is "the Spirit of Truth" – referring to the primary career of the Holy Spirit – to advance the truth as its source and primary communicator.
            2. However, even as the world had rejected the One who is the Truth (cp. v. 6), it is unfit to receive the Holy Spirit – "whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him."
            3. As the Holy Spirit’s primary task is to guide the people of God into an awareness of Christ's identity and accomplishment, those who reject Christ and harden their hearts to Him will not recognize the legitimacy of the claims of the Spirit.
            4. The world’s darkened understanding prohibits them from comprehending the truth offered by God’s Spirit until such a time that they are awakened to the truth through faith – cp. 1 Corinthians 2:12-14

          2. The Indwelling of the Saints

            1. But in contrast to the lost, "you know Him because He abides with you."
            2. This is the unique privilege of the believer – we possess the Holy Spirit that enlightens our minds and enables us to understand the spiritual realities concerning Christ
            3. Jesus reference is that during the pre-Pentecost days of their faith, the Holy Spirit had a mighty task of encouraging them and enhancing their ability to believe
            4. However, a major transition was about to happen – the Holy Spirit would not merely be "with them," He would actually be "in them" – "He abides with you and will be in you."
            5. This new relationship with the Holy Spirit is the distinctive mark of the Church – that which separates them from the unbelievers as well as from Israel
            6. This is a key element in the doctrines of Dispensationalism – recognizing the distinction between the church in whom the Holy Spirit permanently indwells and Israel with whom the Holy Spirit temporally resides.
            7. Of course this new relationship to the Holy Spirit that is being described by Jesus as so intense that it will adequately replace His own influence upon them - began at Pentecost when the church was born.
              1. The Promise is made here in John 14:16-17; 26.
              2. They are told to wait for the fulfillment of the promise in Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8
              3. The promise is fulfilled in Acts 2:1-4ff

        3. The Prerequisites for the Assistance of the Holy Spirit – 14:18-21

          1. The Provision of Redemption – vv. 18-19
            1. Jesus thus assures His disciples that "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."
            2. However, before this promise can become a reality, they had to be reconciled to a Holy God – something that had not yet been accomplished.
            3. Jesus then makes a reference to His upcoming death – a death that was to consummate His entire life as well as the anticipating of mankind ever since the skins were provided for Adam in the garden – "After a little while the world will see Me no more."
            4. Jesus departure is through death – whereafter He would be buried and no unbeliever would see Him again.
            5. However, He would rise triumphant over death – appearing solely to believers – "but you will see Me."
            6. The practical ramifications of Jesus conquest of death is that He now has the right to grant life to others – "because I live, you will live also."
            7. It is the provision of eternal life to those who believe that provides the basis for the ministry of the Holy Spirit who does the actually work of regeneration - cp. Titus 3:5-6.

          2. The Proceedings at Pentecost – vv. 20-21

            1. A specific event is in view by Christ for He says: "In that day …"
            2. Most evidently referring to the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit is poured out.
            3. The Helper who is the Spirit of Truth will thereafter enable believers to "know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you."
            4. It is the Spirit of God’s influence and power that convinces us of the reality of Christ’s claims and promises – that He is who He says and that we are in intimate relationship with Him.
            5. Thus, these things are not apprehended by logic, reason or deduction – but by the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit’s ministry of enlightening and quickening sinners.
            6. This is not to be thought of as primarily a subjective assessment - the greatest proof of the Holy Spirit’s work is the objective obedience to the Word of God – "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to them."

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