Our Comforter:
Jesus promised to send us a most precious gift after his glorification. He said. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7)(See also John 7:39).
“The comforter which is the holy spirit”(John 14:26) was not sent until Jesus was glorified. However in John 14 Jesus speaks of this comforter. Jesus said:
Joh 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Eventhe Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Jesus when speaking of the comforter said “he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Here we find a seeming contradiction since the comforter could not be sent until Jesus Christ was glorified. We just read in John 16 that the comforter’s coming was dependent on Jesus going away.
How is it that the comforter who was yet to be sent “dwelleth with them” in John 14? This passage explains itself. Jesus didn’t leave off in verse 17. He continues in the next verse by saying:
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Christ was dwelling with them and he was going to come back as the comforter and dwell in them. Christ is the comforter himself.
The greek word for comforter is “parakletos”. John uses this word 5 times in scripture. The 5th time it is used is 1 John 2:1. It is translated “Advocate”
1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Christ is the “parakletos”.
But Christ said “another“ so doesn’t that indicate he is speaking of someone else?:
The same greek word for “another” is used of Saul in the Old Testament. Notice what it says:
1Sa 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned intoanother man
Saul was about to be turned into another man. Saul had been through an experience. He had received the Holy Spirit which also was available to those in the Old Testament. That spirit was Jesus Christ living inside of Saul.
1Pe 1:10-11 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Saul was still Saul, but yet after his experience he was now “another” man.
In the same sense the Holy Spirit was still the holy spirit, but yet it was now after Christ’s glorification called “another” comforter. Jesus had to first endure an experience in order that he was much more able to say “I have been there, I have done that”.
Let’s say that you had just been through an experience. Your family just died in a plane crash. Your wife and your beautiful children. And I came to you and said “Well brother, I know exactly what you are going through” even though I had never been through that experience. That wouldn’t be very comforting would it?
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor(help) them that are tempted.
The bible says that now that Jesus has been through the experience he can now say to you and me “I’ve been through it, I’ve been tempted in all points like you have and I will help you overcome, I will come to you, I will help you”.
There is only one being in this universe who can truly “comfort” us like that. Only one who is able to “succor” them that are tempted. It is a great comfort to me to know that Jesus himself will not leave me comfortless, but comes to me himself and dwells in me by his spirit whereby I can truly cry “abba, father”(Galations 4:6). Only a son can cry “Abba, father”.
1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Didn’t Jesus call the comforter a “he” and speak of the spirit in the third person?:
Yes, it was very common in those days to speak of yourself in that sense. Notice the following passage where Christ speaks of himself as “the son” and also calls himself “he, him, himself”.
Joh 5:19-23 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveththe Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
So it was very common for Jesus to speak of himself in the third person.
So who is the Holy Spirit?
The bible says “The comforter which is the holy spirit”(John 14:26) is that spirit. And we just learned that it is Jesus who said that he wouldn’t leave us comfortless, that he would come to us and comfort us. He says further in John 14:
Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
The father is the source of that spirit. When we look at the sanctuary in heaven we see that the father is the source of living water and all things come through his son Jesus.
Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Joh 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
That living water that flows from the throne of God is the spirit. It flows through his son Jesus Christ and out through all of the children of God. As Jesus said it will even proceed out of you. But the source is none other than the father.
1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
All things proceed from our “One God the father” and come by his son and our “Lord Jesus Christ”. And Paul says we have “One Lord”(Eph 4:5).
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Christ is that spirit and he has come to deliver the captives and give them liberty and freedom from the bondage and captivity to sin.
What is the spirit?:
Many today have come to believe that the spirit is a body less phantom or ghost that flies around and takes possession of others. This concept of the spirit however is not correct and is actually very deceptive. Gods children are given free will to accept his spirit and the only service that they will give is a willing service of love and not of forced will.
So what is the spirit? Let me ask you: If I said to you “Hi, my name is David, I’d like you to meet my spirit, he is standing over there, let me get him”. Would you think that I had an incorrect understanding of my spirit? Yes, right. My spirit is not someone else separate and distinct from me. My spirit is me, it’s my personality, my mind my character.
Same with God. God has a spirit. The bible calls it “the holy spirit of God”(Eph 4:30). His spirit is described by the adjective “Holy”. His spirit is not someone distinct and separate from him, his spirit is him, it is his personality, his mind, his character.
Notice the following verses:
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Isa 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
The words “spirit” and “mind” are often interchanged. Notice how the following verse from Ezekiel uses the same Hebrew word “Ruwach” but translates it in one instance “mind” and the next instance “spirit”.
“And the Spirit [Hebrew: j^Wr – ruwach #7307 in Strong’s Concordance] of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind [ruwach],every one of them.” (Ezekiel 11:5)
The holy spirit is the mind of Christ. We are to receive the mind of Christ. Look at the following passage and notice how it is speaking of the spirit, then finally closes with receiving the mind of Christ.
1Co 2:11-16 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Who hath known the spirit of the Lord? Who hath known the mind of the Lord? The same words and question as asked in the previous verses from Romans 11:34 and Isaiah 40:13 which we just read, however in this instance Paul clarifies that the “Spirit of the Lord” is the “mind of Christ”.
Now let me ask you. Would you say that the mind of Christ is a separate and distinct being from Christ himself. I don’t believe Christ will say to us when we meet him “I’d like you to meet my mind, he’s standing over there”.
Notice in the above passage from 1 Corinthians 2 that it compares God’s spirit to man’s spirit. Man has a spirit that is in him. In the same sense God has a spirit that is in him. Man is not divided into co-equal beings called the man and his spirit.
The spirit has personality:
Many people have come to the understanding that the spirit is someone other than Christ because it has characteristics and personality. For instance the spirit can be grieved.
Dan 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Daniel was grieved in his spirit in the midst of his body. Daniel was sorrowful. He had the spirit of Christ(1 Pet 1:11) which is also the spirit of God.(Romans 8:9). And he was grieved, but it was not someone else particularly, but it was he himself who was grieved in the midst of his body. Daniel’s spirit belongs to Daniel, just as Gods spirit belongs to God.
The spirit can perceive things.
Mar 2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Notice, Jesus perceived things in his spirit. Again Jesus is not perceiving things in someone else who is separate and distinct from him. His spirit is his mind.
The spirit can be troubled.
Dan 2:3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
Nebuchadnezzar’s spirit was troubled. This is not teaching us that someone else separate and distinct from Nebuchadnezzar was troubled. This is teaching us that he himself was troubled. If I said to you “meet Nebuchadnezzar, he has a wonderful spirit” you would not think that I was talking of someone separate and distinct from Nebuchadnezzar.
The spirit is the part of someone including God and Christ themselves that can be troubled, it can perceive things, it can be grieved and it has personality. The bible teaches us that “there is one spirit”(Eph 4:4). As we have learned that spirit is the mind of Christ. It is also the spirit of God. Notice how the “spirit of God” and the “spirit of Christ” are interchanged in the following passage. Also note that this spirit is actually “Christ in you”. That one spirit is the “Holy Spirit”.
Rom 8:9-10 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
“Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”(1 John 4:4). “It is…Christ who liveth in me…”(Gal 2:20) “..Christ in you, the hope of glory”(Col 1:27)
Jesus said in John 14 that it was “the father that dwelleth in me(Christ)”(John 14:10). He also said when speaking of his father “I speak not of myself”(John 14:10). Jesus is explaining that his father dwells in him by his spirit. He continues this chapter by saying that “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”(John 14:23).
Christ states that in the same sense that his father dwells in him, he and his father will come and dwell in us. They will come spiritually. The spirit of God is the spirit of Christ. And so the father and son share a kindred spirit. In the same sense we are to share of that spirit and be “partakers of the divine nature”(2 Pet 1:4).
The father anointed the son with his own spirit.(See Heb 1:9).
Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Now we understand that the father has a spirit. We also know that son has a spirit. Does the Holy spirit have a spirit? We know the father has a throne and also that the son has a throne, does the holy spirit have a throne? The Bible mentions several different types of Spirit. We read about “foul spirit,” “evil spirit,” “unclean spirit,” “dumb spirit,” “excellent spirit,” “humble spirit,” “wounded spirit,” “broken spirit,” “haughty spirit,” “faithful spirit,” “good spirit.” All these spirits are distinguishable by the adjective that describes them.
The father has a name. His name is “Jehovah” or “Yahweh”. The son has a name. His name is “Yahshua” or “Jesus”. What is the name of the Holy spirit?
The father and son alone are to be exalted:
Joh 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
In reading the bible we find many times where the father and son are exalted.
Php 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Every knee will confess that Christ is “Lord” to the glory of “God the father”. The bible speaks to us about “One God the father, and one Lord Jesus Christ”. In fact almost all of the epistle salutations start with a greeting similar to this:
Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Now why is it that only two beings are mentioned in this passage. One of which is called God and that is the father of Jesus Christ. There is no mention of any third divine being in any of the greetings whether it be Paul, Peter, James, John, or Jude.
John stated:
1Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
John knew only of the father and his son Jesus and he invites us to have fellowship with him and them. Surely he wouldn’t leave out the Holy Spirit if it was a third divine being. Jesus when speaking of those who could testify of him said:
Joh 8:17-18 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
Where in this passage is the mention of the Holy Spirit if the spirit is a separate and distinct divine being aside from God and Christ.
Regarding the cousel in heaven which took place before the foundations of the world it is written that there were two beings involved in this counsel of peace.
Zec 6:12-13 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
Jesus Christ is the only being who entered the counsels of God. He was equal with God and in all points like his father. When Jesus spoke of the Jews who hated him, he spoke also of his father.
Joh 15:23-24 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
If the spirit is a divine being why would Jesus leave him out here? Wouldn’t the Jews hate all three of them? Why does he only mention “both me and my father”.
Paul called all heaven to witness a solemn charge to Timothy.
1Ti 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
God is mentioned, Christ and the elect angels even, but yet no mention of a third divine being. The bible talks about the father and his love for us in giving his only begotten son having his beloved son torn from his bosom because we sinned. It also tells us of the love of Jesus Christ in counting it not a thing to be equal with his father, but giving this up and leaving this behind and being made in the likeness of men, in all points made like unto his brothers. But what does the bible mention of the Holy Spirit’s love?
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Interestingly, the bible tells us that the Holy Spirit purchased us with his own blood. The bible teaches us that we have “One Lord Jesus Christ”(1 Cor 8:6) and “The Lord is that spirit”(2 Cor 3:17). Christ is that spirit and he shed his own blood to purchase us at the cross of calvary.
The comforter is none other than Jesus Christ himself and Satan is doing everything he can to keep us from realizing our “hope of glory which is Christ in you”(Col 1:27).
Rev 3:20-22 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Jesus wants to come into you and comfort you. Hear what the spirit is saying to this seventh church in Laodicea. He wants to grant you the opportunity to sit on a throne with him even as he sits on a throne with his father.
See also:
Who is God?