The
HOLY SPIRIT is often referred to as Advocate, Paraclete, Comforter,
Counselor, Helper, and Intercessor in the New Testament. JESUS first
introduces the HOLY SPIRIT to His disciples by saying:
“6 And
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to
help you and be with you forever— 17 the
Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it
neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with
you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17, NIV
“26
...but the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name, will teach you
everything and remind you of all I have said to you.” John 14:26,
NJB
“26 “But
when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the
Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of
Me.”John 15:26, NKJV
The
original word used here παράκλητος, paraklétos, means,
“counselor, intercessor, helper, one who encourages and comforts,”
(3875, Greek: The STRONGEST STRONG's Exhaustive Concordance of
the Bible written by James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D., fully revised and
corrected by John R. Kohlenberger III and James A. Swanson, published
by Zondervan, 2001: Grand Rapids, Michigan).
The HOLY SPIRIT, referred to as the
'Spirit of truth' in the verses above, testifies of the truth and
teaches us about the truth. What is truth, according to JESUS? Look
at his conversation with Pontius Pilate, “ 37 Pilate
therefore said to Him, 'Are You a king then?' Jesus
answered, 'You say rightly that I am a king.
For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the
world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of
the truth hears My voice.' 38 Pilate
said to Him, 'What is truth?'” John 18:37-38 NKJV.
The truth is that GOD is love (1 John
4:8), and that is why He sent His Only begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST
into the world to save us (John 3:16). We were created in the imago
Dei, the image of GOD (Genesis
1:27), to be in fellowship with Him. Sin came into the world, through
The Fall, in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), and ruptured our
relationship with GOD. The imago Dei
became defaced, but NOT effaced. GOD made a way, through the Blood of
JESUS, to redeem our broken lives and restore our relationship with
Him. JESUS' life, death and resurrection encompasses the truth of
humanity's existence, purpose and destiny. Redemption and restoration
will culminate in eternal, sweet fellowship with GOD, as originally
intended. This is the truth that the HOLY SPIRIT reveals to us. He
speaks to us, guides us, corrects us, encourages us and empowers us
as we read the Bible, pray, worship and live for GOD.
Knowledge
without experience is only half of reality, knowledge with experience
is the whole. The HOLY SPIRIT allows us to know and experience GOD
the Father and GOD the Son in the reality of who GOD is in His Triune
glory! He has a wonderful and mighty plan for our lives. Join us next
for more of the HOLY SPIRIT!
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