John 16:7-15
‘If I don’t go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you…. When He the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth…. He will show you things to come…. He shall take of Mine, and shall show it to you!’ John 16:7-15.
Calvin comments: “Christ…explains…that the Holy Spirit could not be given to them in any other way, than by His leaving the world…. That presence of Christ by which He offers Himself to us through the grace and power of His Spirit, is far more useful and desirable than if He were present before our eyes!…
“He had promised His Spirit to the disciples…. The Spirit will not only rule, sustain and protect them individually — but will shed His power and efficacy more widely….
“When they had received the Spirit, they would be new and very different men…. The Spirit Whom Christ promised…, is said to be the perfect Master of Truth…. That same Spirit led them ‘into all truth’ — when they (the Apostles) committed to writing the substance of their teaching. Whoever thinks that anything ought to be added to their doctrine…, blasphemes against the Spirit!…
“The Spirit bestows in us nothing, apart from Christ…. He takes from Christ, what He sheds on us. We should think the same of His teaching…. The Spirit bestows on us no other riches than those of Christ, so that He may bring out His glory in all things….
“Christ…acknowledges that He has from the Father, all that He communicates to us by the Spirit…. When He says that all things belonging to the Father are His…, we must draw from His fullness…. He declares His riches, so that He may invite us to enjoy them — and reckons the Spirit among the gifts which we receive from the Father by His hand.”
Calvin also says in his Institutes I:9:1 & II:16:14 & III:25:3 & IV:8:13: “What kind of Spirit did our Saviour promise to send? One Who would…instil the truths which He Himself had delivered through the Word!… The office of the Spirit promised to us, is not to form new and unheard-of revelations….
“Our Lord Himself…declared to His disciples…, ‘If I go not away — the Comforter will not come to you!’ (John 16:7)…. He tells them that He will not leave them comfortless…. We see how much more abundantly His Spirit was poured out; how much more gloriously His Kingdom was advanced!… By sending the Holy Spirit, He gave a proof of Supreme Power…. Remember the use which God wishes to be derived from His Spirit! ‘When He…has come, He will guide you into all truth…. He shall bring to your remembrance all things whatsoever I have said to you’…. He forbade that anything should be added to His Word, and that anything should be taken from it. This is the inviolable decree of God and the Holy Spirit!”
It’s better for believers, that Jesus went away! So the Spirit might come! To you too?
