To Your Advantage

“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. “ John 16:1

(“These things” – chapter 15 -- "The world will hate you because of My name.")

Jesus was preparing Himself to face the Father’s judgment on the cross. He must also prepare His men to face the shocking treatment they were sure to endure after His departure. They needed to be warned, so when it came, they would remain steadfast in their faith.  Sometimes, when enthusiastic believers are attacked by the world’s hatred and ridicule, they don’t know how to persevere. People, in general, would rather be liked and respected. Folks who are openly fervent about their faith tend to be not very popular with the masses. If it is a grace-faith they are fervent about, religion will not tolerate them at all. When the persecution came, these men would remember that Jesus warned them of it, and would know how to deal with it. God the Son is omniscient. He knew everything that would befall Himself as well as these men who loved Him. It would be a difficult trial for them, as the religious system tried to stifle their influence. They would be ostracized and martyred for their testimony of the Savior, but they need not be neutralized.

“They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.  But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.” John 16:2-4

The disciples of Jesus at first met in the synagogues and the temple. They would soon be evicted from those facilities by the Jewish leaders. Then, those same leaders would launch a campaign to eradicate the Christians from the world. If they killed some in the process, they would consider it a sacrificial offering to God, Whom they did not know, just as they did not know His Son. The apostles would experience stress and confusion, but when they came to actually face the bigotry and persecution, they would remember His warning, and His encouragement. They would remain grace-oriented in adversity, because of His comforting advice, and because they would not be facing it alone.

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.” John 16:5-6

Jesus had not attempted to make them understand these things earlier on, because while He was with them daily they were learning about Him and His ministry. Learning to love and trust Him. Now He was preparing to leave them. He had spent three years familiarizing these men with His grace, His love, His power, His deity. Those early years were not the time to prepare them for the persecution to come, although He had alluded to it at times in their work together. They had seen the dogged opposition of the religious leaders throughout His public ministry. It’s something all believers experience in our daily witness. This time it was different. More dire. More deeply serious. They had bonded with Him and with one another. The time of His departure was at hand, and the time of their testing by the world was about to begin.

Earlier, they had been like children, questioning Him about His destination. Now, there were no questions. Just stunned silence. A heavy pall had settled over the group. They were grieved, and they could not know how much they would need the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the days ahead. He could not come to them until Jesus was gone away.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7

“To your advantage!” – This human incarnation of God the Son was confined to time and space. He had laid down His life of supreme deity to become a man and to die for man’s sins. Now, He would go away, and God the Holy Spirit would come to indwell all who have believed in God the Son. He would be their, and our teacher, inspiration and power source for the continued Work of Jesus Christ on earth. And He would have a special ministry to all mankind.

“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:  concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” John 16:8-11

“He will convict the world” – admonish, reprove, convince. It means to lay bare the facts regarding the truth of the gospel so that men will have a clear understanding of the issue, which they can then accept or reject.

“He will convict the world” – of three things:

“concerning sin” – Singular. The sin that condemns is unbelief in Jesus Christ. Not behavior. Rejection of Christ.

“concerning righteousness” – The only righteousness that can save; the imputed righteousness of Christ. Not programs or regulations. Human good is no good. We must receive the righteousness that belongs to God. This is grace.

“concerning judgment” – Satan has been judged. His doom is sealed. He stands condemned. The sins of humanity were to be judged on the cross. Jesus would pay in full for all our sins, of all time. Those who reject Jesus’ atonement will share in the judgment of Satan and the fallen angels. (John 3:17) Those who refuse Jesus are choosing Satan’s destiny. This is fair.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:12-15

The eleven had already heard from Jesus more than their stunned minds could absorb. These men, who were rendered silent by our Lord’s farewell message to them, were simply not yet able to comprehend even what they had been told, much less capable of receiving the “all truth” of New Testament Mystery Doctrine, to which Jesus alluded here. That would require supernatural help. The Holy Spirit would help them remember and understand later, when they would desperately need it.  And then, the Spirit would give them the marvelous Church age doctrines of the whole New Testament, which glorify our Lord Jesus Christ and instruct us in the work we are called to do. There would be ordained men who would be gifted to receive these truths and to teach them to other believers, who would teach them to still others. It would start with these eleven apostles to whom He was speaking. "All truth" describes the inspiration of the canon of New Testament scripture.

It is important to note that the Holy Spirit never operates under His own agenda. His mission, always, is to glorify Jesus Christ. What He teaches is given to Him from God the Son. What comes from the Son has been given to Him from the Father. That’s why there can never be any contradiction between the written Word of God and any teaching by the Holy Spirit.

Repeat: if it contradicts the written Word of God, it is not from the Holy Spirit.

John 16:15 – “he (The Holy Spirit) will take what is mine (Bible Doctrine) and declare it to you.”

The Spirit received from the Son, and made known to us what He heard, and what was yet to come: the New Testament canon of scripture. The mind of Christ.