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The Gospel of John VI - Lesson 7

                   A Message for Troubled Hearts                                 John 14:1-31                                                             (Continued)  

  1. THE MESSAGE OF A COMFORTER (John 14:15-31)
    1. The Promise of the Comforter (John 14:15-17)
      1. The requirements of the Son (John 14:15)
        1. Love the Son (John 8:42; John 16:27; John 21:15-17; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Ephesians 6:24; 1 Peter 1:7-8; 1 John 5:1).
        2. Keep the Son’s commandments (Matthew 28:20; John 13:34; John 15:10-12; Acts 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 11:23; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2; 1 Timothy 6:3; 1 John 3:23-24; 2 John 1:5-6).
        3. The connection between love and obedience (John 14:21-24; Deuteronomy 30:16; Matthew 6:24; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Galatians 5:6; 1 John 2:3-5; 1 John 5:2-3)
      2. The request made of the Father (John 14:16a; John 15:26; John 16:7; Acts 1:4)
      3. The reception of the Spirit (John 14:16b-17)
        1. The Spirit of comfort (John 14:16b)
          1. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter four times, all in the crucifixion week teaching of Christ as found in John (John 14:16, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7).
          2. Most Modern Bible versions change the title Comforter to something else.
            1. Comforter - ASV
            2. Helper – NKJV, NWT, NASV
            3. Counselor – NIV, RSV, NLT
            4. Advocate – NRSV, NAB
            5. Friend – NIRV
            6. Spirit who will help you (and other forms) – CEV
          3. A Comforter is One (-er) who comes alongside of another (Com-) and gives strength (-fort-) in times of need. The middle of the word (-fort-) is related to the words fort, fortress, and fortify. The prefix (Com-) means with or together and also acts to intensify the meaning of the base. That is, the Holy Ghost is One who comes alongside us and strengthens us, in fact, provides great strength to us. The picture of the Holy Ghost in this title is of One who goes with us wherever we go and provides a traveling fort of protection for the believer.
          4. Modern scholars argue against Comforter as the correct title in English. They argue that the Greek word paraklesi means to call to one’s side for either consolation or exhortation. But, strangely enough, that is exactly what Comforter means. Also notice that all of the titles used to replace Comforter in some way weaken the power of Comforter. A Helper gives aid; a Counselor gives advice; an Advocate pleads your cause; a Friend is there in time of need; but the Comforter is all of these together and more. Clearly, the King James Bible is the inspired word of God in English.
          5. Comparison of scripture with scripture also strengthens the use of Comforter.
            1. The world can find no comforter (Ecclesiastes 4:1; Psalm 69:20).
              1. Not among the oppressed
              2. Not among the oppressors
            2. The Father is a comfort to His people (Isaiah 40:1-2; Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 51:12; Isaiah 52:9; Zechariah 1:17).
            3. Jesus was a comfort to His disciples.
              1. During His earthly ministry (Matthew 9:22; Mark 10:49)
              2. He promised not to leave them comfortless (John 14:18).
            4. The Holy Ghost now comforts God’s people (Acts 9:31; Philippians 2:1; Romans 5:5; Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13).
          6. How scriptural comfort works
            1. By the speaking of words (Isaiah 40:2; Hosea 2:14; Zechariah 1:13)
            2. By the promises of scripture (Psalm 119:50; Romans 15:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:18)
            3. As a mother comforts her child (Isaiah 66:13; see 1 Thessalonians 2:11)
            4. By bringing joy to those who sorrow (Jeremiah 31:13)
            5. By giving strength in times of affliction (2 Corinthians 1:3-7; 2 Corinthians 7:6)
            6. By showing us His love (Philippians 2:1)
            7. By working in our hearts (Ephesians 6:22; Colossians 2:2; Colossians 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:17)
        2. The Spirit of truth (John 14:17; John 15:26; John 16:13; 1 John 4:6)
          1. We are to worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).
          2. The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6).
        3. The Spirit of believers (John 14:17; Romans 8:9)
        4. The indwelling Spirit (John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
    2. The Power of the Comforter (John 14:18-25)
      1. In the resurrection of Christ (John 14:18-20; 1 Peter 3:18)
        1. Christ will come again (John 14:18).
        2. Christ will live again (John 14:19; 1 Corinthians 15:14-17).
          1. The loss of the world – to see Him no more
          2. The presence of the Son – “ye see me.”
          3. The promise of resurrection – “ye shall live also.”
        3. Believers shall know Him (John 14:20).
          1. That the Son is in the Father (John 14:10)
          2. That the believers are in Christ (John 15:5, 7; Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 13:5)
          3. That Christ is in the believers (John 6:56; Romans 8:10; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27)
      2. In the obedience of men (John 14:21-25)
        1. The evidence of love (John 14:21; 1 John 5:3)
        2. The manifestation of God (John 14:22-23; Colossians 1:25-28)
        3. The confirmation of the word (John 14:24-25; 2 Corinthians 3:2-3)
    3. The Provisions of the Comforter (John 14:26-27)
      1. Truth (John 14:26a; 1 Corinthians 2:7-16)
      2. Remembrance (John 14:26b)
      3. Peace (John 14:27; Philippians 4:7)
    4. The Purpose of the Comforter (John 14:28-31)
      1. To glorify the Son (John 14:28)
      2. Note: the word greater means to be more than something else by some measurement of degree. When Christ was on the earth, the Father was greater than the Son:
        1. In height (John 3:16-17); though the Son was preparing to ascend back to heaven
          1. The Father in heaven (Matthew 6:9)
          2. The Son on earth (John 1:14)
        2. In glory; though the glory would soon return to the Son
          1. Past (John 17:5)
          2. Present (2 Corinthians 8:9)
        3. In position; though the Godhead would soon be rejoined (1 Corinthians 15:28).
          1. The humiliation of Christ (Acts 8:33; Philippians 2:5-8)
          2. The illustration of Joseph (Genesis 41:40)
          3. The example of Christ (John 13:16; Luke 22:24-27)
        4. While declaring the Father greater than Himself, the Son also declared Himself to be one with the Father (John 10:30). This passage in no way denies the deity of Christ.
      3. To strengthen the disciples (John 14:29; John 13:19)
      4. To bear witness to the world (John 14:30-31)
        1. In battle with the prince of this world (John 14:30; John 12:31; John 16:11; Ephesians 2:2)
        2. In expression of Christ’s love to the Father (John 14:31)
        3. In obedience to the commandment of the Father (John 14:31)
David Reagan and Andrew Ray

Daily Proverb

Proverbs 13:5

A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.