THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN BE HARSH
The Best of Friends
Only the best of friends will tell you what you need to hear. Because not everyone is going to tell you that you look ridiculous in your new shoes so that you don’t embarrass yourself any longer; not everyone is going to confront you about that inappropriate comment you made because they are concerned about your reputation; not everyone is going to take the time sit down and talk with you about something you really should be doing because they truly care about your Christian life. Now there are plenty of people that might complain about your clothes or criticize your comments or question your actions, but only the best of friends will address those issues with you out of love.
It’s hard to find friends like that, isn’t it? Maybe someone you grew up with or a sibling that has been very close to you for years or a family member that you have a special bond with… but friends like that are few and far between. And it’s hard to be that kind of friend to others too. To confront someone with a sin or to address a problem that a friend is responsible for, not in a selfish way and not in a mean way, but in a caring, patient, kind, gentle, understanding way is difficult to do. Because sometimes that person won’t like what you have to say. Sometimes the topic at hand isn’t pleasant. Sometimes what you have to say, although loving, also has to be a little harsh. But that’s what good friends do.
The Holy Spirit’s Strange Work
In a way the Holy Spirit can be a very good friend because he can be a little harsh at times as well. He is always loving - there is no doubt about that - but that means he is also harsh sometimes too. And on this day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit’s Day, the celebration of that grand event in Jerusalem when the Spirit came down upon those disciples in a very special way so that they could proclaim the Word of God in different languages, the harshness of the Holy Spirit is also on display. Not because of who he is necessarily but because of what he had to say. And we are going to focus on that unique work of the Holy Spirit through the words of Jesus in the book of John. Because before Jesus left this earth he told his disciples about the Holy Spirit that he would send to them. And as he spoke to them about this special person of the Triune God, Jesus let them know about the harsh words that the Holy Spirit would be sent to speak.
“Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”
It’s an interesting section of Scripture for a day like today. Because on Pentecost we’re used to hearing about and thinking about the Holy Spirit spreading the gospel to the world - the wonderful message about Jesus winning our salvation. But right here, in the middle of the book of John, the Holy Spirit is said to be doing something a little bit different than we normally associate with Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is still described as spreading the Word of God, but not the “gospel” as we have come to know it, not the Good News about the Savior. Instead, the Holy Spirit is promised to convict sin and confront sinners. Here the Holy Spirit uses the law to show people that they fall far short of God’s standards and they can’t do anything to make it right. It’s not the usual work we pair with the Holy Spirit but it’s necessary work. And he will continue to do this work faithfully as long as this world exists because the eternal welfare of souls is on the line.
In fact, the Holy Spirit carried out this work on the day of Pentecost itself. After the disciples were blessed with that incredible gift to speak in different languages to all of those people in the city, Peter stood up to talk to the crowds that had gathered there. “Men of Israel,” Peter said, “listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross… Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:22-23,36-37). The Holy Spirit through the apostles Peter was harsh! He accused the crowds of serious crimes. He clearly pointed out their unchristian actions and did not sugar coat it in anyway. The Holy Spirit convicted them of their sins - so much so that “they were cut to the heart” and wanted to know what could be done to fix the problem. The Holy Spirit’s words worked. His law was effective. And those people were brought to repentance and faith in their Savior.
We aren’t Excluded
But the Holy Spirit’s work of convicting people of their sins is not just meant for unbelievers. It’s meant for you and it’s meant for me as well. And we have to say that out loud because sometimes we tend to separate ourselves from the unbelievers of this world: “They are out there and we’re in here. We aren’t included with the rest of this world because there is something special about us, something we have that they don’t have, something we know that they don’t know. And so we act differently and talk differently and live differently than those other people who don’t have Christ.” And in a way, that’s true. In a way Christians are different than unbelievers. At least, it should be true. It should be true that we act differently and talk differently and live differently than unbelievers, but is that always the case? Is there always a distinction between what you say and the words that come out of the mouth of the unbeliever down the street? Do you always separate your thoughts from the thoughts of someone who does not know Christ? This part of John’s gospel that we are using as the basis of our sermon today is certainly describing unbelievers being convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit, but we oftentimes fall into that same category. Not because there is something wrong with the faith that Jesus has given us to believe in him, but because there is something internally wrong with us. And so we need to be convicted of our sins on a regular basis as well; we need to be confronted with our faults each day; we need to be reminded of our failures just as often as unbelievers do. And so the Holy Spirit looks us in the eye and says to us: “You’re not that good. You’re not that nice. You’re not that loving. You aren’t the person you are supposed to be and you are riddled with spiritual stains and spots that you can’t wash away on your own. You are guilty. You are worthy of an eternal death sentence. You are a sinner - to the core.”
Does that have any effect on you anymore? Honestly, when something like that is said in a sermon or when something like that is read in Scripture, does that affect you in any way? Or are you like me and say to yourself way back in the secret places of your mind: “Well, that doesn’t really apply to me. I’m a believer, I’m a Christian, and so I don’t really need to listen to all of this law and guilt and sinner talk. That’s for someone else. That’s for someone out there.” No, it’s not. These words are meant for you. The Holy Spirit’s words of conviction are meant for you. The law is meant for you. Because that’s the only way you or I will ever be able to appreciate the second part of the Holy Spirit’s message: the sweet sounds of the gospel.
The Legal Advisor
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the “Counselor” in this part of the Bible. But don’t think of him as a social counselor or a school counselor or anyone who might sit down with a person and try to walk them through the personal issues that they have in this life. That’s not the kind of “counselor” the Holy Spirit is. The Holy Spirit acts as a legal counselor, someone who speaks to us with legal advice and direction and guidance. And the legal advice that the Holy Spirit relays to us directly from Christ is this: “Your life is inexcusable. There is no way to hide the fact that you are responsible for your crimes. Admit it. Confess it. Plead guilty on the stand. And believe that Jesus has already done everything to declare you innocent.” That’s good advice, isn’t it? It’s harsh advice but also refreshing advice. He convicts us so that he can then comfort us. He confronts us with our sins so that he can then call us to our Savior. He makes us uncomfortable and uneasy and maybe even a little angry at times for exposing us for who we are, but only because he loves us; only because he cares for us; only because he is the best of friends and wants us to see that faith in Jesus is the only way that we can be found innocent. Because think about this: why would we need to be pardoned if we didn’t know that we were being held accountable? Why would we want a reprieve if we didn’t know that we had been rightfully accused and condemned? And so the Holy Spirit takes the time and the effort every day through his Word to convict you of your sins and to convince you that these things are true, that these things are real, that these things have already been taken care of by Christ before you ever step into that courtroom. He cares about you that much. He loves you to that extent to keep coming back to you over and over again through the Bible in order to pull you into the shadow of Jesus’ cross. Because our Counselor doesn’t just give advice that we can take or leave. He also works on convincing our hearts that what he says matters and that what Jesus has done for us has worked.
This is what the Holy Spirit did on Pentecost: he convicted sin and convinced hearts. This is what the Holy Spirit does today. This is what the Holy Spirit does for you. And this is what the Holy Spirit does through you. You are his mouthpiece to the world, after all. Just like those original apostles on the first day of Pentecost, so you are his spokesperson. He wants to convict hearts and confront sinners and introduce a Savior to this world through you, but how is the Holy Spirit going to be heard if he is not given the chance to speak? How is the Holy Spirit ever going to show Jesus to lost souls if his Word is never read? And you have had the incredible privilege of already having heard the voice of the Holy Spirit through that powerful Word of God and so you know what others need. You know what others have to have in order to be declared innocent. And so let the Holy Spirit do his wonderful work. Share the message that Peter shared on Pentecost. Share the message that Jesus shared with his disciples. Share the message that the Holy Spirit has personally shared with you: you are guilty but you have already been declared innocent. The Holy Spirits harsh words of convicting and his refreshing words of convincing have worked on your heart. Give him a chance to work on others.
Amen.
“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” - 1 Cor. 6:11
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