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John 16:1 Comforter

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Comforter

Not believing in Jesus will have consequences. When Jesus returns to heaven, He will send the Comforter to help us.

John 16:1-15

This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.

If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.

1. This refers to chapter 15.

Modern translations substitute offended (KJV) with stumble. (HCSB, AMP, others)

“The hatred of the world was such that it would seek to trap and destroy the disciples in an effort to prevent their witness to Jesus as Messiah and Son of God.” (MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. [Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005], 1409)

2. Christians will be killed or persecuted because of our belief in Jesus.

Christians will be put out of churches.

“Paul, before he was saved, personified this attitude as he persecuted the church, thinking that he was doing service for God (Acts 22:4-5; 26:9-11; Galatians 1:13-17; Philippians 3:6; 1 Timothy 1:12-17).” (MacArthur, 1409)

3. This is happening because they do not know God or Jesus.

“Friend, if you stand for the Word of God, you will find that the world won’t love you. You will experience the hatred that Christ experienced.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 471)

Persecution

4. “These disciples would experience persecution in a matter of weeks, certainly months. And the Lord wanted them to recall this quiet night of teaching when chaos later broke out on the streets of Jerusalem” [Max Anders and Kenneth O. Gangel (2012). HNTC Vol. 04: John. [B&H Publishing Group]. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

“This was personal instruction linked with the role of the Holy Spirit” [Max Anders and Kenneth O. Gangel (2012). HNTC Vol. 04: John. [B&H Publishing Group]. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

Jesus protected the disciples and will protect us.

Jesus Sending Comforter

5. The disciples “were then so absorbed in their own sorrow and confusion as to lose interest where He was going. They were apparently consumed with what would happen to them.” (MacArthur, 1409)

Don’t we do that. Lord, I want this? Or what will you do for me? This is not what Jesus wants.

6. Sorrow hath filled your heart.

“Many Christians let one experience embitter them. They experience some disappointment in an individual or in a church and are overwhelmed by sorrow and turn from God…We are not to be overcome by sorrow.” (McGee, 472)

7. “The Holy Spirit might come to empower the church for life and witness. Also, the ascended Savior would be able to intercede for His people at the heavenly throne of grace.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 362)

If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

“The Holy Spirit will be in all places. He is right with me today and He is with you today. Jesus says this is better. He will send the Comforter, the Paraclete, and He will come to us and dwell in us.” (McGee, 472)

Comforter Purpose

8. “The purpose of Holy Spirit is not condemnation but conviction of the need for the Savior.” (MacArthur, 1410)

9. “sin. The singular indicates that a specific sin is in view; i.e., that of not believing in Jesus as Messiah and Son of God. That is the only sin, ultimately that damns people to hell.” (MacArthur, 1410)

10. “ righteousness. The Holy Spirit’s purpose here is to shatter the pretensions of self-righteousness (hypocrisy), exposing the darkness of the heart. (3:19-21; 7:7; 15:22,24).” (MacArthur, 1410)

11. “judgment. The judgment here in context is that of the world under Satan’s control…The world can’t make righteous judgments (7:24), but the Spirit of Christ does (8:16). (MacArthur, 1410)

“The prince of this world, Satan, has already been judged.” (McGee, 473)

“The only person who can rescue him [us-lost sinner editor comment] from such a horrible situation is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Wiersbe, 362)

Cannot Bear to Hear

12. Have you ever said, “too much information?” Jesus said, but you cannot bear [to hear] them now.

We cannot handle it all now, but the Comforter will help us.

13. “When you compare John 14:26 with 16:13, you see the wonderful way that God arranged for the writing of the New Testament Scriptures. “ (Wiersbe, 363)

“It is essential that we see that the work of the Spirit of God is never divorced from Jesus Christ or the Word of God.” (Wiersbe, 363)

14. “This is really the same as verse 13, in that all NT truth revealed by God centers in Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2).” (MacArthur, 1410)

15. The Comforter is doing and saying what God is saying.

He will share it with believers.

“It is the ministry of the Spirit to enrich us with the treasures of God’s truth. He enlightens us with God’s truth and enriches us with God’s treasures.” (Wiersbe, 363)

“We do not study the Word of God to order to ‘argue religion’ with people or to show off our grasp of spiritual things. We study the Word to see Jesus Christ, to know God better, to glorify Him in our lives. As we witness in this hostile world, the Spirit uses the Word He has taught us, and we share Jesus Christ with the lost. It is our job to witness; it is the Spirit’s job to convict.” (Wiersbe, 363)

References

Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

Max Anders and Kenneth O. Gangel (2012). HNTC Vol. 04: John. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004

Love                                                                                Joy

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