Peter Barnes | John 15:26-27
SERMON NOTES
The Witness of the Spirit and the Apostles
Joel 2:28-32; John 15:18-16:4
– union with Christ (15:1-11); love to His people (15:12-17); hatred from the world (15:18-25)
1. The Holy Spirit is a divine Person.
– 15:26; ‘Advocate’ is possibly the best word here.
– Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as a ‘He’ even though the Greek word for ‘Spirit’ is neuter.
2. The Holy Spirit will bear witness of Christ.
– 15:26; we focus on Christ (Acts 11:26)
– Mark 13:11; Acts 5:30-32
3. The apostles will bear witness of Christ.
– 15:27; speaking to apostles here, not all Christians
– Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:21-22; 5:32; 1 John 1:1-3
– Calvin: ‘And, indeed, when the world rages on all sides, our only protection is, that the truth of God, sealed by the Holy Spirit on our hearts, despises and defies all that is in the world; for, if it were subject to the opinions of men, our faith would be overwhelmed a hundred times in a day.’