Hopefully making theology simpler to understand! (2 Corinthians 1:12)

I preached this past Sunday, June 30, 2019. I would have uploaded this sooner, but I am sure you understand technological issues and upload errors …

I barely used notes, so there is barely enough to read. If you want the full text, then listen to the message by clicking here or listening below!

I actually started reading from John 15:26 to help with context, in case you want to have your Bible ready. Other references are Genesis 2, 2 Corinthians 7:6-11, Revelation 20, Ephesians 6:12, and Matthew 28:18-20.

John 16:5-15 (15:26-16:15): The Great War and the Counselor, Comforter, and Helper

World War 2:
Propaganda: “All Germans are evil!”
Truth: “Many Germans helped in secret to undermine the Nazis.”
Reality: Many Germans were shunned, despised, mistreated, and distrusted after the war for “wanting to kill all non-Germans, especially Jews!”

Read 15:26-16:6

        John 13:36-14:7 – Peter & Thomas asked
        For Peter: Going to cross, “You will follow me”
        For Thomas: “We don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” They did not understand He was leaving this world behind. They essentially were asking “What place on Earth are you going to prepare to kick out Rome?” Not “You are leaving? What do you mean? What place is it that we are unable to follow you to?”
The disciples were confused, scared, and worried. “He seems to be speaking nonsense. Is He leaving us? He keeps talking about dying and leaving us!”
After Thomas’ question, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will come, which leads to …

Read 16:7

        The Holy Spirit –the Counselor, the Comforter, the Helper – would not be sent permanently until the Son and Father sent Him from Heaven.

Now think back to the first time a helper was given to Man: Genesis 2:20-25. No good helper was found, so God put the man into a deep sleep and created a woman from his rib. Then we have verses 24 and 25. [Read] We have the establishment of marriage (v. 24), and it says they were without shame (v. 25).
What does this have to do with our new Helper?

Read 16:8-14

        The Holy Spirit has three major jobs:

1. Convict the world of sin
2. Point to Jesus
3. Reveal the true World War raging since Creation (Genesis 3)

Let us look at these:

1. Convict the world of sin:
   1. Romans 3:23 reminds us that we are all guilty of sin.
   2. The Counselor tells us we are messed up beyond hope: We all have essentially punched God in the face and claimed innocence.
      1. 10 Commandments: How we have all have fallen short
   3. 2 Corinthians 7:6-11: Godly grief (of sin) leads to repentance
2. Point to Jesus:
   1. How then can we be saved? The work of Jesus!
   2. The Comforter shows that we are made righteous through the only True Way to Life (14:6): Believing in the vicarious work of Christ’s death on the cross for the forgiveness of all of our sins!
   3. If teachings about the Holy Spirit do not glorify Jesus Christ, is it really from Him?
3. Reveal the true War:
   1. This war started in the Garden, with “that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan” (Revelation 20:2), and that will only end upon Christ’s return, thus fulfilling v. 13.
   2. This war is spiritual in nature: Ephesians 6:12.
      1. Do not retaliate against fellow image-bearers!
   3. So how do we fight this war?

Read 16:14-15

        The Spirit of Truth, the Helper, reminds us of Matthew 28:18-20 (Great Commission)

        We fight this war (that was won at the cross!) through the power of the Helper, in a world that says Christians and God are bad and evil.