The Holy Spirit (Part 4) – Functions of the Holy Spirit (Part B)

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The Holy Spirit (Part 4) – Functions of the Holy Spirit (Part B)

1. Reproves the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Joh 16:7-8).
   1. Reprove v. – 1. trans. To reject. 2. To express disapproval of (conduct, actions, beliefs, etc.); to censure, condemn. Now rare.  3. To reprehend, rebuke, blame, chide, or find fault with (a person).
   2. The Holy Spirit reproves the world of sin because they believe not on Jesus Christ (Joh 16:9).
      1. Through the preaching of the apostles and others, the Spirit reproved the Jews of sin for their unbelief of Jesus Christ (Act 2:22-23, 36; Act 3:13-15; Act 4:10; Act 7:51-52).
      2. “Sin, in general, is any violation of a law of God, but the particular sin of which men are here said to be convinced is that of rejecting the Lord Jesus. This is placed first, and is deemed the sin of chief magnitude, as it is the principal one of which men are guilty. This was particularly true of the Jews who had rejected him and crucified him; and it was the great crime which, when brought home to their consciences by the preaching of the apostles, overwhelmed them with confusion, and filled their hearts with remorse. It was their rejection of the Son of God that was made the great truth that was instrumental of their conversion.” (Albert Barnes Commentary, Joh 16:9)
      3. Though the specific sin under consideration is the sin of not believing in Christ, this verse also demonstrates that one of the rolls of the Holy Spirit is to convict men of sin in general.

1. 1. He reproves the world of righteousness because Jesus went to the Father (Joh 16:10).
      1. The Holy Spirit reproves the world of their lack of understanding of Christ’s righteousness.
         1. He convinces men that Jesus is the righteous (1Jo 2:1; Luk 23:47).
         2. Jesus was justified (shown to be righteous) in the Spirit (1Ti 3:16).
      2. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God was the basis for the Spirit convincing men of His righteousness.
         1. Jesus went to the Father and sent the Spirit to testify of Him (Act 2:33).
         2. Jesus Christ came to bring in everlasting righteousness (Dan 9:24).
         3. The Jews needed to be reproved of Christ’s righteousness because they went about to establish their own (Rom 10:3).
      3. The fact that Christ went to the Father and men would see Him no more meant that He finished the work that the Father gave Him to do, demonstrating His righteousness.
      4. “The “righteousness” here spoken of, does, in the first sense of the word, design the personal righteousness of Christ. The Jews had traduced him as a wicked man, said he was a sinner himself, and a friend of publicans and sinners; that he was guilty of blasphemy and sedition, maintained a familiarity with Satan, yea, that he had a devil: now the Spirit of God, by the mouth of Peter, on the day of “Pentecost”, proved, to the conviction of the Jews, that all this was slander; that Christ was an innocent, holy, and righteous person, and a man approved of God among them, as they themselves must be conscious of, Act 2:22; of all which, his going to the Father, and being received by him, were a full proof and demonstration. The effusion of the Spirit in that extraordinary manner upon the disciples, showed that he was gone to the Father, and had received from him the promise of the Holy Ghost, which he then shed abroad; and his going to the Father, and being set down by him at his right hand, made it clear that he came from him, and was no impostor; that he had acted the faithful and upright part, and was free from all the charges the Jews had laid against, him.” (John Gill’s Commentary, Joh 16:10)
   2. He reproves the world of judgment because the prince of this world (Satan) is judged (Joh 16:11).
      1. The Holy Spirit reproves the world of judgment by convincing men that all judgment has been committed to Jesus Christ (Joh 5:22).
      2. This is evident because Jesus judged and destroyed Satan, the prince of this world (Heb 2:14; 1Jo 3:8; Col 2:15).
      3. At the final judgment Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, and likewise will the wicked who follow him (Rev 20:10-15).
      4. “Thirdly, Of the power and dominion of the Lord Jesus. He shall convince the world that all judgment is committed to him, and that he is the Lord of all, which is evident by this, that he has judged the prince of this world, has broken the serpent’s head, destroyed him that had the power of death, and spoiled principalities; if Satan be thus subdued by Christ, we may be sure no other power can stand before him. Fourthly, Of the final day of judgment: all the obstinate enemies of Christ’s gospel and kingdom shall certainly be reckoned with at last, for the devil, their ringleader, is judged.” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Joh 16:11)

2. Regeneration of the elect
   1. The Holy Spirit regenerates (quickens, makes born again) the elect (Tit 3:5; Joh 6:63).
   2. The Holy Spirit does so at the behest of God the Father (1Pe 1:3; Eph 2:4-5) at the command of Jesus Christ (Joh 5:21; Joh 5:25).
   3. When the Holy Spirit regenerates the dead spirit of the elect, He also indwells them (Eze 36:26-27; Rom 8:9-11).
3. Sanctification of the elect
   1. God’s children are elected through sanctification of the Spirit (1Pe 1:2; 2Th 2:13).
      1. Sanctification – 1. a. The action of the Holy Spirit in sanctifying or making holy the believer, by the implanting within him of the Christian graces and the destruction of sinful affections. Also, the condition or process of being so sanctified.
      2. Sanctify – 1. trans. To set apart religiously for an office or function; to consecrate (a king, etc.). 5. a. To make (a person) holy, to purify or free from sin; to cause to undergo sanctification. 1526 Tindale 1 Cor. vi. 11 Ye are wesshed: ye are sanctified: ye are iustified [etc.].
   2. The elect are sanctified by the Spirit of our God (1Co 6:11).
   3. Jesus Christ perfected forever them that are sanctified (Heb 10:14).
4. Baptism
   1. Baptism by the Holy Spirit.
      1. When the preacher is baptizing a person in water which outwardly adds him to the church, the Holy Spirit is spiritually baptizing him into the body of Christ (1Co 12:13).
         1. The body of Christ in context is the local church (1Co 12:14-27).
         2. This is the gift of the Holy Ghost (the gift the Holy Ghost gives) (Act 2:38).
         3. Being made to drink into one Spirit (1Co 12:13) is receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is what Jesus referred to when He said If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink (Joh 7:37-39).