John 14:25-26 These things have I spoken to you, being yet present with you.… I. ITS DISTINCTION FROM THAT OF JESUS CHRIST. Both Christ and the Spirit were sent by the Father, and were sent to teach; but they differed in respect of — 1. Character. Christ had been sent in the Father's name as the Father's representative; the Spirit was come in Christ's name as Christ's representative. 2. Purpose. Christ had been sent to furnish men with an objective image of God; the Spirit to give an inward apprehension of the same. 3. Duration. Christ came for a season; the Spirit forever. 4. Results. Christ's mission was imperfectly realized so far as it related to the enlightenment of men; that of the Spirit would attain complete success both in instructing and sanctifying. II. ITS FULFILMENT IS THE CASE OF CHRIST'S APOSTLES. 1. Scripture illumination. A wonderful light began to shine on the Old Testament, which enabled them to see its references to Christ which had previously been hidden (cf. Psalm 16:8-11 with Acts 2:25-28; Acts 13:35; Psalm 110:1 with Acts 2:34; Psalm 2:1, 2 with Acts 4:25; Psalm 2:7 with Acts 13:33; Amos 9:11 with Acts 15:16; Zechariah 9:9 with John 12:16). 2. Quickened recollection. A lively recollection of forgotten words of Jesus began to show itself. Examples: John 2:22; Luke 24:8; Acts 11:16; Acts 20:35. In particular, Christ's utterances concerning His relation with the Father (John 8:28). 3. Further revelation. A gradual disclosure of truths which had been concealed in Christ's teaching but not developed as, e.g., the doctrines of — (1) His Divinity (Acts 1:36). (2) His atoning death (Acts 3:19). (3) His exclusive Mediatorship (Acts 4:12). (4) Justification by faith (Acts 13:39; Romans 1:16, 17; Romans 3:21-26; Romans 5:1). (5) The Catholicity of the New Testament Church (Acts 11:17; Romans 1:6-7; Romans 2:11; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:14-16). In short, out of this flowed the New Testament. III. ITS RELATION TO THE GENERAL BODY OF BELIEVERS. 1. Negatively. It does not warrant the expectation that new revelations will be imparted to either the Church or individual — a pretension advanced by Rome, which places tradition on a level with the writings of apostles. 2. Positively. Christ's language implies that the Church and the individual have today, as the apostles had, a Teacher qualified to lead them into all religious truth (1 John 2:20).Learn: 1. The high esteem in which the Holy Spirit should be held as the Father's Commissioner, the Saviour's Expositor, the apostles' Remembrancer, the Church's Teacher, the saints' Comforter. 2. The great confidence which should be placed in the Holy Spirit, possessing as He does the two-fold stamp and seal of the Father and the Son. 3. The sincere gratitude with which the Holy Spirit should be welcomed, since without His assistance the revealed Christ cannot be understood. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.WEB: I have said these things to you, while still living with you. |
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