The Conclusion to Christ's Farewell Discourse (3): The Work of the Spirit of Truth (John 16:12-13) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. The Need for His Work
II. The Nature of His Work
III. The Manner of His Work
Herman Hanko: “The Spirit of truth is absolutely necessary for the existence of the church of Christ in the world. His presence with us is the only power by means of which we are able to hold firmly to the truth that has once for all been delivered to the saints. I must confess that at times the temptation to question the truth that we hold dear is strong. It is, after all, a truth that few believe. We are ridiculed and mocked for that truth for which we stand. We are reminded that almost the entire church world holds different ideas and that we are a small and insignificant minority. The question quite naturally arises: Can all the church of today be wrong and we, a few scattered believers, be right? But when I look back on the history of the church since Pentecost and see that the church, though constantly battered by heresies of every kind, nevertheless firmly confessed the truth, which is identical to what we believe today, then I am comforted. I far prefer to stand in the company of the great men of God from former days—Athanasius, Augustine, Gottschalk, Luther, Calvin and Hoeksema—than to be in the company of the theological pygmies in today’s world of insipid theologians. The truth into which the Spirit of truth has led the church of all ages is the bond that binds together the whole church from the beginning to the end of time in an unbreakable bond. Most have gone to join the company of just men made perfect, but the same Spirit that once dwelt in them and dwells in them now dwells in us as well. What a blessing that is” (The Work of the Holy Spirit, pp. 70-71).