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2009-06-27 - The Paraclete
John 14:16, And I will ask the Father, and He will give
you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.
I have never heard anyone accused of honoring the Holy Spirit too much within
the Trinity. The mistake is often made in the other direction. One historical
note respecting the Holy Spirit: The year 2009 marks the 500th year since
the birth of John Calvin. There are celebrations and conferences going on
throughout the world. Many love the doctrines of grace that Calvin taught
so well, but others simply cant stand Calvin, or more to the point,
what has been called Calvinism (which was a term not used until the Synod
of Dort, long after Calvins death). Calvin probably never even heard
the term Calvinism. But love Calvin or hate him, he is the only pastor that
I have ever known with the title, The Theologian of the Holy Spirit. It is
how he was known, and there is much honor in such a label.
So how do we describe this Helper that is come to be with us? The Greek word
here is Paraclete. It has a meaning that is difficult to contain.
It literally means, called to or called beside someone else,
to assist them. The idea of an advocate is very closely related to what the
Holy Spirit is and does for us. We might also begin to fill out our definition
with concepts like: teacher, comforter, guide, counselor, friend, intercessor,
encourager, and pleader. Each of these terms is full of meaning, but the
Spirit encompasses all of them and more. Christ calls the Helper another,
and uses a word that means another of equal quality to Himself. The word
used is allos, and it shows that the Holy Spirit is equal to Jesus. The Holy
Spirit is God. If Christ had used the word Heteros, which is also a word
meaning another, it would have meant that the Holy Spirit is of a different
nature, or quality, but we dont have that word here. It is allos, and
Christ is saying that the Spirit undertakes Christs office in the world,
and will glorify Christ, after Christ is taken away to Heaven. This
is what is in view in this verse, but in 1 John 2:1, the Holy Spirit has
a different office.
If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous, 1 John 2:1. That word advocate is the
Greek word we had above, Paraclete. It is the same word here rendered
advocate rather than helper. The Holy Spirit serves to represent Christ and
glorify Him, but also the Holy Spirit takes on a role of an intercessor,
in Heaven, on our behalf. The Holy Spirit has many roles to fill, and all
of them are important to our daily lives with God. Charles Spurgeon put the
difference between the ministry of the Holy Spirit and Christ this way: God
the Son makes intercession for the saints. God the Holy Spirit makes intercession
in the saints. It is a helpful distinction. Christ is gone to Heaven
right now. He has sent His Spirit to represent Himself to us, and to lead
us to Him. That is one of the many ministries of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit
is an advocate within us, to lead us to Christ. He is our helper in spiritual
things - all spiritual things, and He shows us Christ. He takes the Bible,
the Word of Christ, and He helps us understand it. In every way, the Holy
Spirit is to be adored and prized by us.
Soli Deo Gloria,
T-
GodRulesTB@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
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