The sermon teaches that the Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force or source of new doctrine, but Christ’s promised Comforter, Teacher, and Advocate. He brings Christ’s words to remembrance, illumines sinners, exposes self-righteousness, and applies Christ’s righteousness and grace. Spurgeon insists that justification and sanctification cannot be separated: those whom God saves He also transforms. The sermon closes with a forceful evangelistic appeal that every sinner who believes in Jesus will receive complete forgiveness, while unbelief leads to judgment.
Theological center: The Holy Spirit is the personal continuation of Christ’s ministry, applying the completed Gospel through illumination, conviction, comfort, and sanctification.
Applications: Test your reception of the Gospel · Let conscience examine you · Believe in Jesus Christ · Understand the Spirit’s ministry
Primary texts: John 14:26 · John 14:16 · Mark 16:16
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26 GOOD old Simeon called Jesus the consolation of Israel, and so He was. Before His actual appearance, His name was the Day-Star—cheering the darkness and prophetic of the rising sun. To Him they looked with the same hope which cheers the nightly watcher, when from the lonely castle top he sees the fairest of the stars, and hails her as the usher of the morn. When He was on earth, He must have been the consolation of all those who were privileged to be His companions. We can imagine how readily the disciples would run to Christ to tell Him of their griefs, and how sweetly with that matchless i…