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The sermon emphasizes the distinct but inseparable saving work of Christ for sinners and the Holy Spirit in sinners. Because fallen humanity is spiritually dead and unable to know God by intellect or education alone, the Spirit must regenerate, convict, illuminate, and awaken faith. His teaching is sovereign in its subjects, timing, methods, and degree, yet it leads believers into practical obedience, prayer, assurance, and deeper knowledge of Christ. The hearer is therefore urged not to resist mercy but to believe in Jesus Christ and live.
Theological center: The Holy Spirit sovereignly regenerates sinners and applies Christ’s saving work by illuminating truth, producing faith, and teaching believers to live as God’s children.
Applications: Believe in Christ · Yield to the Spirit’s work · Consider human helplessness · Reflect on divine sovereignty
Primary texts: John 14:26 · 1 Corinthians 2:10 · John 6:63
“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 THERE are many choice gifts comprehended in the covenant of grace, but the first and richest of them are these twain—the gift of Jesus Christ for us and the gift of the Holy Ghost to us. The first of these I trust we are not likely to undervalue. We delight to hear of that “unspeakable gift”—the Son of God, who bare our sins, and carried our sorrows, and endured our punishment in His own body on the tree. There is something so tangible in the cross, the nails, the vinegar, the spear, that we are not able to forget the Master, especially when so often we enjoy the delightful privilege of assembling around His table and breaking bread in remembrance of Him. But the second great gift, by no means inferior to the first—the gift of the Holy Spirit to us—is so spiritual and we are so carnal, is so mysterious and we are so material, that we are very apt to forget its value, ay, and even to forget the gift altogether. And yet, my brethren, let us ever remember that Christ on the cross is of no value to us apart from the Holy Spirit in us. In vain that blood is flowing, unless the finger of the Spirit applies the blood to our conscience, in vain is that garment of righteousness wrought out, a garment without seam, woven from the top throughout, unless the Holy Spirit wraps it around us, and arrays us in its costly folds. The river of the water of life cannot quench our thirst till the Spirit presents the goblet and lifts it to our lip. All the things that are in the paradise of God itself could never be blissful to us so long as we are dead souls, and dead souls we are until that heavenly wind comes from the four corners of the earth and breathes upon us slain, that we may live. We do not hesitate to say that we owe as much to God the Holy Ghost as we do to God the Son. Indeed, it were a high sin and misdemeanor to attempt to put one person of the Divine Trinity before another. Thou, O Father, art the source of all grace, all love and mercy towards us. Thou, O Son, art the channel of Thy Father’s mercy, and without Thee Thy Father’s love could never flow to us. And Thou, O Spirit—Thou art He who enables us to receive that divine virtue which flows from the fountainhead, the Father, through Christ the channel, and by Thy means enters into our spirit, and there abides and brings forth its glorious fruit. Magnify, then, the Spirit, you who are partakers of it, praise,…