Okay, now we're turning in our
Bible, hope you have it there open in front of you, to John
14. John chapter 14. I'm entitling the message from
the words that the Lord declares down here in verse 15. If you
love me, writing to his church and declaring this gospel to
his dear chosen apostles. If you love me, keep my commandments. Keep my commandments. Now I'm
entitling the message from those words and the title of the message
will be Love Christ and Keep His Commandments. Love Christ. and keep his commandments. Now I know for an absolute certainty
beyond a shadow without of any doubt that the Lord Jesus Christ
is not instructing us to go to Sinai's mountain and keep the
Law of Moses. That's not what's being said. He's not instructing us to go
to that mountain that smoked with fire and brimstone and thundered
and quaked When God gave the law to Moses,
he's not instructing us to go to Mount Sinai, nor is he instructing
us to keep the law of Moses. That would be totally contrary
to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, wouldn't it? If righteousness
comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. If that be so,
that the Lord is telling us to keep the law of Moses, why did
Paul write in Galatians chapter 5, stand fast in the liberty
wherewith Christ has set us free and don't be entangled again
with the yoke of bondage, referring to that law of God. We've studied
in Hebrews 7 verse 19 where it says the law of God made nothing
perfect, nothing, never justified one sinner. The blood of bulls
and goats never put away or made atonement for one's sin. The
law made nothing perfect but bringing in of a better hope
did by which we draw nigh unto God. Where we've been made nigh
unto God only by the blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's
through his sacrifice that he reconciles us unto God. The Lord
Jesus Christ, the just one suffered for the unjust that he might
bring us unto God. How did He bring us? By His blood,
by His righteousness. Not by the blood of bulls and
goats, but by His own blood. He obtained eternal redemption
for us. Now, the Lord instructs us clearly
in this chapter, even in John 14, that the Lord Himself is
the way, the truth, and the life. Again, referring back to the
book of Galatians, He said that the Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed
us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Why
would He point us back to keep the law when the Lord Jesus Christ
has honored the law of God for us and every believer in Christ
has already kept the law, obeyed the law of God. What the Lord
is saying here, he is saying this, believe the gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Believe my word, believe my truth. That's what he's saying here.
If you look just across the page in verse 23. If the man love
me, he will keep my words. He'll keep my words. He'll receive
my words. Submit unto my words. Own these
words. And my Father will love them.
And we will come unto Him and we will make our abode. He that
loveth me Not doesn't keep my sayings, my word, my commandments. And the word which you hear is
not mine, but my father's that sent me. Now, going back just
a little bit in John 14, back to verse 8, wherein Philip asked
this question. that I want to consider the second
part to the Lord's answer. Show us the Father. In verse
8 of John 14, Philip saith unto him, Show us the Father, show us the
Father, and we will be satisfied. Now, as I said earlier, from
verse 9 all the way down through verse 21, the Lord gives an answer
to that question. And last week we looked at verse
9 down through verse 11, and today I want to consider verse
12 down through verse 18. But just in way of review for
just a moment, back in verse 9, 10, 11, the Lord plainly declares
unto them that He is God. He that hath seen me hath seen
the Father." He's plainly declaring His deity, that He is God the
Son. That the Father and the Son are
one, are one in purpose, one in power, one in eternal glory. He said that plainly in John
chapter 10 verse 30. He said, I and my Father, we
are one. Look again down at verse 20 in
John 14 verse 20. At that day you shall know that
I am in the Father, and ye in me, and I in you." We see this
oneness, this unity in the Godhead and between the Lord's people
and Himself, the Lord and His Church. All that He said, that
is His words, and all that He did, His works, declare unto
us that He is no other than God Almighty come among us, dwelling
among us. He is indeed what the Apostle
calls Him repeatedly, God our Savior. He's the only one who
can save us from our sin. Now let's take a look at verse
12 and following. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
he that believeth on me, The works that I do shall he
do also. And greater works, notice that
word works has been added, greater than these shall he do because
I go to my father. Now how can this be said? How can we understand what he's
saying here? And whatsoever he shall ask in
my name, that will I do that the father may be glorified in
the son. Well, I think the difficulty
of understanding this verse is removed if we keep in mind that
he is addressing his apostles, chosen men, given special identification,
special credentials to identify them rather. He's addressing
these apostles who are about to face a hostile ungodly world
when he sent them out to preach the gospels that go into all
the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And the Lord
is reminding them that when the Lord, at that time when He sends
them out, that He would not physically be with them to encourage them,
so He gave them special endowments, special gifts to magnify the
Lord and to preach the gospel. Notice if you turn over one page
to John 15. The Lord gives them a special
encouragement and special gifts and special tools to carry on
the ministry when he would not physically be with them. Notice
verse 18 of John 15, if the world hates you, you know that it hated
me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the
world would love his own, but because You're not of this world,
but I've chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth
you. Remember the word that I said
unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they've
persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they've kept
my sayings, they will keep yours. But all these things will they
do unto you for my sake, because they know not him that sent me."
These apostles, they all died as martyrs. And the years that
God gave them to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, they
were severely persecuted, even unto death. So the Lord here,
His apostles were given special gifts, special qualifications,
special credentials to signify to everyone that heard them preach
that they were indeed sent of God. that they had the message
of the gospel. You see, at that time they didn't
have the completed Word of God that we have. So God gave these
chosen apostles, He gave them special credentials, special
gifts to enable them to carry on the ministry and to do this
work of the gospel. Now don't turn, let me just read
it to you here in Hebrews 2. You remember where the Apostle
says, How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation
which at first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed
on us by them that heard him? God also bearing them witnessed
both with signs and wonders and diverse different miracles and
gifts of the Holy Ghost according to God's own will and purpose. He gave them special... They
could speak the gospel in languages that they never learned something
that was totally not their native tongue, but they would walk into
a certain village or town and preach the gospel in their language,
having never learned it. They had special qualification
and special gifts given to these men, and when these men were
taken, those gifts were taken away as well. Only these special
men have these gifts. But he mentions here, greater
works shall you do. Now, what's he saying here? It can't mean greater in power,
or greater in glory, nature, and kind, or kind, but what he's
saying here is it's greater in number. Greater in number, that
is through the preaching of the gospel. And through these men
that served as a springboard for the early church and the
foundation of the preaching of the gospel and the foundation
of the New Testament church, greater in number through the
preaching of the gospel of their ministry, multitudes of sinners
have been spiritually raised from the dead and made new creatures
in Christ. Turn back to John chapter 5 verse
25. greater in number now. You see,
when God is pleased to send the gospel message and the power
of the Holy Spirit to a sinner who was dead in sin, what do
we see happening? Resurrection, glory, power. Notice, if you will, in John
5, 25, "...verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming,
and now is when a dead shall hear the voice of the Son of
God, and they that hear shall live." Now there he's talking
about a spiritual resurrection. You have the quickened who were
dead in trespasses and in sin. Now part of this that he's saying
here, the Lord is, part of this promise was fulfilled on the
day of Pentecost. that Pentecostal feast happened
50 days after the Day of Atonement. So not many days after the Lord's
resurrection, you remember after his death and his resurrection
he lived among men in a glorified body 40 days and then in 10 days
that would make 50 days the Day of Pentecost when Peter stood
there and preached the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and
they heard him and were given life to believe the gospel, the
Lord added 3,000 souls. One sermon was preached and the
Lord added daily, such as should be saved by His grace. So you
see, not greater in power or glory, but greater in number.
Many, many sinners. You think since that day, how
the Gospels gone out all over this world, how many have been
raised up from the dead. But watch this, the last part
of verse 12, greater works in these shall you do, greater in
number, because, because, because of this reason, because I go
to my father. Now what does that signify? That
he's going to the Father. That means that his atonement
was accepted of God. That means that everything that
he did was accepted of God and satisfying to God and on that
basis redemption on that basis salvation is given because he
successfully put away the sin of God's people all those for
whom Christ died and put away their sin they will hear the
gospel and they will believe it and they will be raised from
the dead and given life in Christ because I go to my father all
this is made possible because the Lord Jesus Christ fully paid
our sin debt at the cross. He was delivered for our offenses
and raised again because He justified us by His blood. He justified
us by His grace. Now, He says this many times,
I'm going away, but I go away to my Father. Notice, if you
will, in John 14, 28, you've heard how I've said unto you,
I go away. And I come again, he said that
back in the first part of this chapter. If you would love me,
if you love me, you would rejoice because I said, I go to my father,
I go to the father for my father is greater than I. my father
is greater than I." Now we'll look at the last part of that
statement when we get to it, but what I'm emphasizing right
here is the fact that he says, I'm going to my father. When
he by himself purged our sin, what happened? He ascended to
glory and He is seated at the right hand of God. Because He
ascended having as our forerunner put away our sin, brought in
everlasting righteousness, completely fulfilled all the will of God,
all the work of God for us, on that basis we have salvation. On that basis we have the forgiveness
of sin because I go to my Father. I like this statement he says
down here in verse 19, John 14 verse 19. Yet a little while,
and the world will see me no more, but you see me, because
I live You shall live also. You remember in our study in
the Revelation, he said, I am he that liveth and was dead.
Behold, I'm alive forevermore. I'm alive forevermore. I have
the keys of hell and death. He's the owner of all things
because he accomplished all things for us. Now let me make a brief
comment on verse 13 and verse 14 of John 14. And whatsoever
you shall ask, asking my name that's how we pray in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ whatsoever you ask in my name that will
I do that the father may be glorified in the son if she shall ask anything
in my name I will do it I will do it now again this promise
is given to these apostles and this promise is repeated several
times if you look at John 15 verse 7 John 15 Verse seven, if you abide in
me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and
it shall be done unto you. Again in chapter 15, look at
verse 16. You have not chosen me, but I've
chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth
fruit, that your fruit should remain, that whatsoever you shall
ask of the Father in my name, Whatsoever you shall ask of the
Father in my name, He may give it unto you. Again in chapter 16, verse 23,
And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I
say unto you, Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name,
He will give it to you. Hitherto you've asked nothing
in my name. Ask! and you shall receive that
your joy may be full." Now, what's he saying here? Ask, ask the
Lord. The Lord is reminding these apostles
once again that their ability to carry out their ministry and
the preaching of the gospel would not be diminished by the Lord
being away from them, rather it's going to be enhanced, not
diminished. Remember in Matthew 28, turn
over there, Matthew 28. It's not gonna be diminished
by him going away, but he's reminding them that as he sends them out
to ask him for power, ask him for his presence to preach the
gospel and to carry on, in preaching of the gospel message. Matthew
28 verse 18, and the Lord Jesus came and spake unto them, this
is the risen Lord, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven
and earth. Go ye therefore and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost, the Trinity, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I've commanded you, there's that command again, and lo, I'm with
you always. I'm with you always even unto
the end of the world." So all go preach the gospel knowing
that all power in heaven and earth is given unto me. But rather
what he's saying here, rather ask that God may be glorified. rather for the glory of God as
long as what they asked for was for the furtherance of the gospel
according to the will of God the glory of God it shall be
done and that's the our Lord taught us to pray that way he
said this what he said he said that he taught us to pray this
way thy kingdom come thy will be done our Redeemer taught us
to pray to ask not according to our will but according to
his will that His purpose might be done, that the Father might
be glorified. Ask what you will, and it'll
be done, given unto you. Now, ask that Christ might be
honored, that God might be honored, that the furtherance of the gospel
would go forth, that He would be magnified, that He would be
honored in all things. Now, look at verse 15. Now, if you love me, If you love
me, keep my commandments, keep my words. Love Christ and keep
his commandments. Now I looked that word up in
the original and it can actually be read this way, take my prescription,
take my prescription. What is he prescribed? He is
the doctor. He is the master teacher. Take
my prescription. Keep my commandments. Follow
my instructions. That would have to be frustrating
for a doctor to examine a patient and give him what you think would
help him and then he disregards the prescription. That would
be frustrating, wouldn't it? You would want him to do what
you say, take what I tell you. And that's what the Lord is saying
here. Keep my commandments. Follow my instructions. Also
the word there can be rendered precepts. Precepts. Remember
in Psalm 119 where David said, through thy precepts I get understanding. Faith comes by hearing and hearing
by the Word of the Lord. So, take his prescription, receive
his words, bow and submit unto the Word of the Lord. Highly
regard everything we read in God's Word as inspired and God-given. It's his prescription unto us.
It's his instruction unto us. If you love him, receive it.
Bow to it. Submit to it. Notice in verse
23 of John 14, the Lord Jesus answered and said unto him, if
a man love me, he will keep my words. He will receive my word,
my truth. And my father will love him and
we will come unto him and make our abode. He that loveth me
not, He just disregards what I say. Keep it not my signs.
The word which you hear is not mine, but it's my Father's word. My Father's truth. Take the prescription. Believe his word. Bow and submit
unto his gospel. Now, we've seen this before.
Turn over to John chapter eight. John chapter eight. John chapter 8 verse 30. John chapter 8 verse 30. As he
spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those
Jews which believed on him, if you continue in my word, then
are you my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and
the truth shall make you free. Turn one more page. You remember
what Peter said concerning The word of the Lord and the words
of the Lord. In John 6 verse 66, from that
time many of his so-called disciples went back when they heard him
preach the sovereignty of God, salvation by the grace of God.
They went back and walked no more with him. But then said
Jesus under the twelve, will you also go away? Simon Peter
answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of
eternal life. receive his word. We believe
and we are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living
God. Love God, love Christ, and keep
his precepts, his prescription, his instruction. Now, this gospel
promise that he's given us here, let's review for just a moment. Turn back to John 14. Here's
a prescription that he gives He said if you love me keep my
commandments keep my prescription. Okay, here it is John 14 You
remember the woman at the well John 14 13 What so whosoever
drinketh of this water this natural water will thirst again? But
whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him that's
my prescription He drank of this water Shall never thirst, but
the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water
springing up into everlasting life. Lord, give me that water. Help me to drink of that water.
Turn again to another promise here in John 5, 24. Here's his
prescription, take it. Here's his command, take it.
Believe the gospel, bow to him, John 5, 24. Verily, verily, I
say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him
that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. Turn one more
page, John 6, 35. John 6, 35. I am the bread of
life. He that cometh to me shall never
hunger. He that believes on me shall never thirst. There's his
prescription. If you love me, keep my commandments. Bow. Believe the gospel. Turn to John 7.37. This is what Peter called exceeding
great and precious promises. John 7.37, In the last day, that
great day of the feast, the Lord stood and cried and said, If
any man thirst, Let him come unto me and drink. If you love
me, keep, receive my prescription, bow to my precepts, submit unto
the promise of the gospel. If you love him, you will. You will receive his truth. Now
listen to this. Obeying and believing the gospel
springs from loving the Lord Jesus Christ, doesn't it? When
the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
obeying and believing the gospel springs from loving the Lord
Jesus Christ. The two go together. The two
cannot be separated. We read in John 14 verse 23 a
moment ago, if you love me, keep my words, keep my commandment,
keep my prescription. You see, it is the fruit of the
Holy Spirit This, turn to John or Galatians 5, turn to Galatians
5 just a moment. It's the fruit of the Holy Spirit,
this love of God, this love for God and faith. Where does that
faith come from? I mean, the faith of God's elect,
saving faith. I'm not talking about historical
faith, emotional faith, all that other kind of faith that's not
saving faith. The faith of God's elect that
acknowledges the truth is the gift of God, isn't it? And that
faith is a gift that God looks back to the author and finisher
of faith, the one who gave faith. And it's the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians chapter 5 verse 22. The fruit of the Spirit is love.
Love. Love for God. Love for Christ. Love for His Word. The fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness,
Faith. Faith. You see, love and faith
go together. Peace and joy go together. Meekness and temperance go together. Against such there is no law. He would have us believe the
gospel. The command of the gospel. Now
don't turn. Let me just read this to you.
We read it earlier where it said, And this is His commandment.
This is 1 John 3, 23. That we should believe on the
name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as He gave
us command. This is His commandment. And
the only way we can believe the gospel is by His command. Now, listen to this, what are
the dreadful consequences of not loving the Lord Jesus Christ? What are the dreadful consequences
of not believing and receiving, bowing and submitting unto the
Lord Jesus Christ? Well, they're dreadful consequences,
aren't they? Terrible consequences. Listen
to this scripture, 1 Corinthians 16, 22. If any man loved not
the Lord Jesus Christ, everything be okay. That really matter.
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema
maranatha. Let him be a curse, damned when
Christ comes again. If any man believe not the gospel,
we studied in John 3.36, he that believeth on the gospel, he that
believeth the gospel hath everlasting life. He that believeth not He
that believeth not, everything be okay. The wrath of God abides
on them. The Lord is laying down a principle
of faithfulness and obedience to him based on what principle? Love. Love. Love. Not law. Not law. Love. Love. Not slavish fear. Not promise
of reward, but love. Love. What a strong motivator.
In 2 Corinthians 5, verse 14, it says there that the love of
Christ constrains us. The love of Christ compels us. The love of Christ... You know
believers are highly motivated? You know why? Because they love
the Lord Jesus Christ. We love him, not like we ought
to, not like we should, not like we will one day, but by his grace,
we love him because he first loved us. You see, he's laying
down this principle, if you love me, and God's people do, then
submit unto me, bow unto me, believe the gospel. Now, Look
at verse 16, and I'll pray, I'll pray for you. See verse 16, John
14, 16, I'll pray. I will pray the Father. I will
pray for you. Now what great encouragement.
I'll pray for you. The Lord ever lives to intercede
for us. I will pray the Father. and he
shall give you another Comforter that you may abide, that he may
abide with you forever." And I pointed out on the word there
Comforter, it's capital C, and the word actually can be rendered
intercessor, counselor, advocate. Talking here about the third
person of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit. I will pray for
you. Now what great delight this brings into our hearts that we
have an advocate with the Father. Who is it? Who is it? We have
an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Our Lord said, when you sin,
my little children, these things I write unto you, that you sin
not, But when you do, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous. We have a blessed everlasting
mediator with the Father, one God and one mediator between
God and men, that is the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, notice
the Lord says, I will pray the Father and He shall give you. Now the Lord is not the intercessor
of all men everywhere, nor does the Lord Jesus Christ. You know
He doesn't pray for all men everywhere? You sure? Turn to one page, John
17 verse 9. He doesn't pray for those that
are not given to Him in the covenant of grace. He doesn't pray for
those or intercede for those that He did not die for. John 17 verse 9, this is His
high priestly prayer. This is His prayer that He prayed
in the garden. You ever want to know what the
Lord prayed in the garden when His sweat became great drops
of blood? Right here it is. I pray for
them, those that you have given me. I pray not for the world,
all men everywhere without exception. In that sense, that word is being
used. I pray not for all men everywhere, but for them which
thou hast given me, for they are thine, and you have given
them unto me. The Lord does not intercede for
everyone because He didn't die for everyone. He died for His
elect. He died for those given unto
Him as a Father. Now, I don't know... Is that
offensive to you? To say what the Lord says? I don't know why, and I guess
I do, because they don't really believe the truth, but why would
preachers in our day try to soften that, or deny it, or make it
say something different? I'll tell you why. They try to
take the offense of the cross out of the message. And when
you take the offense out of the message, you take the power out
of the gospel. It's the gospel of Christ that's
the power of God unto salvation. May we never soften it, lighten
it, compromise, but boldly declare unto all men that will hear it,
that the Lord Jesus Christ actually put away the sin of His people,
given to Him in that covenant of grace, that He died exclusively
for them, He mediates for them, He saves them, and them only. Didn't we read in John 10 where
it says, I lay down my life for the sheep, right? Call His name Jesus, He shall
save His people from their sin. Now our Lord assures us here
that His prayer will be heard and will be answered. And the
Lord will send, God the Father will send the Comforter. And
we know here by the commentary of Scripture, you know the best
commentary you can buy on the Bible? It's not John Gill. The best commentary you can buy
on the Bible is the Word of God itself. Verse 26, But the Comforter,
which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,
he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance. You see, it's the Holy Spirit
called the Spirit of Truth that is sent unto us to teach us. Here again we see in verse 16,
we see The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in verse 16, don't we? In verse 16, I will pray the
Father. There's a son praying. He's praying
unto what? Praying unto who? God the Father.
And then he said, I'm going to send the Holy Spirit that he
may abide with you. We see in these words the scripture
again teaching us the whole Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
is involved in our salvation. Here we see the Lord Jesus Christ
praying unto the Father for us. We also see that the promise
of the Holy Spirit the Comforter coming to live within us to reveal
unto us the gospel and to show us and to teach us all things.
Our Lord is going to say over in John chapter 16 verse 13 and
following that the paramount important and principal business
of God the Holy Spirit is to take the things of Christ and
to show them unto us, to reveal the gospel unto us. All three persons of the Godhead
and we believe in what's called the Trinity. Now although that
word is not a biblical word, Trinity, you know the word sovereignty
is not in the Bible either. But certainly the truth of sovereignty
is there, God reigns, and certainly the truth of the three in one
and the one in three is taught, what we call the Trinity. All
three persons of the Godhead are equally gracious unto us,
and all three are totally involved in our salvation. Paul says this
in Ephesians chapter 1, where it talks about the Father Choosing
a people giving them unto Christ when it talks secondly about
the Son redeeming them and in the Holy Spirit Calling and quickening
and sealing them all given to us in Ephesians chapter 1 all
three persons of the Godhead are equal in divinity They all
are deity, but distinct in personality. All three persons of the Godhead
are equal in grace, but distinct in the operations of grace. We see the Father choosing a
people unto salvation, according as He had chosen us in Christ
before the foundation of the world. We read in John 6.37,
all that the Father giveth me shall come to me. So there we
see the Father choosing. And we see the Son of God redeeming
the chosen. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
way of redemption, the truth of redemption, the life of redemption. Apart from the Lord Jesus Christ,
there is no redemption. There is no salvation. Every
blessing that God the Father has for us is in Christ. He's blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in the heavenlies in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, am
I chosen of God? God's people are, I'm chosen
in Christ. Am I blessed of God? If I am,
I'm blessed in Christ. Am I predestinated by God? If
I am, I'm predestinated to be like Christ. If I'm adopted of
God, I'm adopted in Christ. If I'm accepted of God, I'm accepted
in the Beloved. If I'm redeemed by God, I'm redeemed
in Christ. If I have the forgiveness of
sin by God, I'm forgiven only because of Christ. If I love
Him and know Him, know God Almighty, I know God Almighty in the Lord
Jesus Christ. If I have an inheritance with
God, I have it in Christ. Joint heir of God and a joint
heir with Christ. If I'm called of God, I'm called
in Christ. You kind of got the idea? Everything
God has for us is in the Lord Jesus Christ. All grace comes
to us only through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the means. Thirdly,
God the Holy Spirit makes effectual application to the elect of God
in regeneration. So there's the Father, Choosing,
the Son purchasing, and God the Holy Spirit making application
to your heart in regeneration. He reveals Christ unto us. He
forms the Lord Jesus Christ in us by irresistible grace. He
calls us out of darkness and death and gives us life in Christ
Jesus. He calls us out of the kingdom
of darkness and translates us into the kingdom of God's dear
Son. We are saved by the purpose of God the Father in election.
We're saved by the purchase of God the Son at Calvary. And we're
saved by the power of God the Holy Spirit in the new birth. Remember what the Lord said in
Nicodemus? Except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom
of God. The word that I speak unto you,
they are spirit and they are life. Therefore, we can safely
say all three persons in the Godhead are equally gracious. All three persons in the Godhead
must be praised. The work of the Father is no
less and no more vital than the work of the Son and the Spirit.
And the work of the Son and of the Spirit are no less and no
more vital than the work of the Father. They all work in unison
together. You get what I'm saying? and
my father are one now look at verse 17 John 14 17 even the
spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it saith
him not he does not know him but you know him for he dwells
in you the comforter Verse 17, the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter
and the Spirit of Truth is the same person, God the Holy Spirit. The true spirit of God, who is
a dictator of the scriptures of truth, who leads men into
the truths of the gospel, confirms them in the truth, and gives
them boldness and freedom to own the truth, and to confess
the truth before men. That's what he says here in verse
17. The world of the natural, ungodly, unbelieving men cannot
receive and will not receive the revelation of the Holy Spirit. What is the revelation of the
Holy Spirit? Christ. No man can come to me except
the Father, which sent me draw him, because I have no eyes to
see him, no ears to hear him, no heart to love him. All they
have to themselves is enmity against God. But he says here,
verse 17, you know Him and you love Him because the Holy Spirit
dwells in you and is and shall be in you. You know Him, you
love Him because God the Holy Spirit abides in you. Christ
in you is the hope of every believer. Now, here's an important question. In closing, How do I know that
God the Holy Spirit dwells in me? How do I know? How do I know if God the Holy
Spirit dwells in me? Is it by some special feeling?
or some special sign, speaking in tongues, or something else. As many people say, you've got
to seek the speaking of the tongue. That's the evidence that you're
in dwell with the Holy Spirit. They talk about seeking the Holy
Spirit, and the Holy Spirit this, and the Holy Spirit that. I'm
afraid you're talking about another spirit. not God the Holy Spirit. So how do I know as a believer
that the Holy Spirit dwells in me? Well, it's not by some special
feeling or some special sign, not at all. Here's how we can
tell if God the Holy Spirit has done a work of grace in our heart. It is simple, isn't it? He's
brought you to love the Lord Jesus Christ, to esteem Him,
to appreciate Him, to adore Him, to worship Him as God, to love
Him above all things, all people, to you who believe He is gracious.
If you're a lover of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, it's
because God the Holy Spirit has invaded your space. He's invaded
your heart, your life, your mind, your feeling, your affection.
He permeated your whole everything that you are. Heart, mind, soul,
and body. And He brings us to love Him,
love His Word, love His people. To you who believe He's precious,
to you who believe He's altogether lovely, to you who believe He
brings you to this conclusion, that there's salvation in no
other. If Christ is all you have, that
is everything that God has determined for the believer to have. And
Christ is enough. Christ is all and in all. Verse
18, I will not leave you as orphans. I will not leave you comfortless.
I will come to you. The Lord assures us that he will
not abandon us nor leave us. You know orphans are helpless
people. I mean, children that are orphans, they can't work
for themselves, they can't fend for themselves, they can't feed
themselves, they're helpless. The Lord said, I'm not gonna
leave you defenseless. Helpless, I will defend you. I will provide for you. I will
never leave you nor Forsake you as Joshua the promise to Joshua
was given the Lord said I will not fail thee I will not forsake
thee be strong and be of good courage the Lord is called Jehovah
Jireh remember I Jehovah-Jobber. He's my Jehovah-Jobber. What does that mean? The Lord
will provide. He's my provider. The Lord will
provide for us. What does He provide? All things.
All things. He provides all things for us.
You see, in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,
and in Christ we stand complete, accepted in the Beloved. We're not left as orphans. Behold
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we
should be called sons of God. But of him are you in Christ
Jesus, who God has made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption. He's given us everything. I will
not leave you as orphans. I will be with you. I will not forsake you. I will
be with you always.