The Age of the Spirit

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 9:1-2
• Hymn — Wholehearted Thanksgiving
• Prayer of Invocation
• Prayer of Confession
• Assurance of Pardon — Ephesians 2:4-5
• Scripture Reading — Joshua 7:1-15
• Hymn — All You That Fear Jehovah's Name
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Prayer of Dedication
• Hymn — Breathe on Me, Breath of God
• Sermon
• Hymn — God Is Known Among His People
• Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14

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Sermon Title: The Age of the Spirit

Scripture: John 16:5-15

I. The Holy Spirit Is a Spirit of Conviction

A. The "Helper" (Greek: Paraclete) was introduced in John 14:16 and 14:26 as a witness-advocate in a court of law

B. The Spirit convicts the world in three areas (John 16:8-11)

1. Concerning sin — specifically the sin of unbelief in Christ
2. Concerning righteousness — established by Christ's ascension to the Father's right hand
3. Concerning judgment — the defeat of Satan at the cross

C. The primary Redemptive-historical fulfillment is the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:22-24)

1. All Jews and God-fearing Gentiles gathered in Jerusalem for the pilgrimage festival
2. Peter's sermon cuts them to the heart; ~3,000 souls are added to the church
3. Contrast: at Passover the crowd condemned Christ; at Pentecost the Spirit convicted the crowd concerning Christ

D. Application: the Spirit's conviction comes through the inscripturated Word

1. John 20:30-31 — the Gospel of John is itself a Spirit-inspired witness to produce belief
2. The witness language in John is used more than anywhere else in the New Testament
3. It is through the reading and preaching of Scripture that the Spirit convicts us of sin and reveals our need for Christ's alien righteousness

II. The Holy Spirit Is a Spirit of Clarity

A. Jesus has more to say but the disciples cannot bear it yet (John 16:12-13)

1. The Spirit of truth will guide them into all truth, speaking not on his own authority but Christ's
2. Understanding the things of Christ's kingdom requires a heavenly birth — John 3 — because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2)

B. Redemptive history has reached its age of maturity (Galatians 4:4-6)

1. Before Pentecost, mankind was in the unclear, muddy waters of anticipation
2. With Christ and the Spirit, the mysteries hidden for ages are now revealed

C. The Spirit's role in creation mirrors his role in new creation

1. Genesis 1:2 — the Spirit hovers over the formless void, ready to bring order, light, and beauty
2. At the resurrection, the Spirit is unleashed again to bring clarity and the knowledge of God to new creation hearts
3. The age of the Spirit is the age of clarity — Christians are called to activate and invest their minds in the things of God

III. The Holy Spirit Is the Spirit of Christ

A. The Spirit's guidance is not vague or mystical — it is bound to the glory of the Son (John 16:14)

1. Just as the Son came to glorify the Father, the Spirit comes to glorify the Son
2. Everything the Spirit does in guiding believers is directed toward the honor and glory of Christ

B. The Gnostic error — then and now — separates the Spirit from the objective person and work of Christ

1. Paul addresses this in Colossians regarding asceticism, which has the appearance of godliness but is ungodly
2. Treating the Spirit as an impersonal force (rather than a person) leads to this error

C. The Paraclete as Christ's closest confidant (John 15:26-27)

1. The Spirit's credentials as witness are the same as the disciples' — he has been with Christ from the beginning
2. The Spirit was present with Christ at his conception, baptism, temptation, miracles, the cross, and the empty tomb
3. Romans 8:9-10 — to have the Spirit is to have Christ; Paul uses the two interchangeably

D. Christ gives us his closest friend and Confidant

1. The Spirit who helped, comforted, and sustained Christ through his earthly ministry is now given to believers
2. The Spirit that glorified the Son in his life, death, and resurrection now indwells us so that we might glorify the Son — in life, in death, and in resurrection