00.2. Introduction

Introduction The apostle John’s writings contain an abundance of revelations on the Holy Spirit: His divine Person, His presence, His attributes and His operations. Such teachings complement in a marvellous way those of the apostles Paul and Peter. Paul reveals the Holy Spirit’s Baptism of the Assembly to be one body, the Unction of the Spirit, the Seal of the believer’s heavenly calling, the Earnest and the Firstfruits of his inheritance in Christ. Also, the Assembly (collectively) and the body of each christian (individually) are the Habitation of God by His Spirit. Finally, the Spirit’s gifts are sent upon earth by a glorified Christ for the edifying of the Assembly, His body. For his part, Peter reveals that the Old Testament prophets were directed by the Spirit to testify about the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow: David, the sons of Korah, Asaph, Hezechiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah and many others announced beforehand, through their own experiences, the great events of the great mystery of godliness concerning Christ: His Names (Son of God, Son of Man, King of Israel and Son of David), His coming in the world, His birth from the virgin, His death, His resurrection, His elevation in glory, His sitting at God’s right hand, His second coming and His future Kingdom. Further, the Christians, as living stones, are built up upon Christ, the foundation stone, to be a holy priesthood (in the likeness of Aaron’s) and a royal priesthood (after the order of Melchisedec). The manyfold aspects of the Holy Spirit given in John’s writings are different and worth close attention. Before reading the corresponding Scriptures, it would be appropriate to summarise the various points that can be distinguished in that respect. Six will be found in John’s gospel, three in John’s first epistle, and five more in the book of Revelation; fourteen in all. We would not venture to say that it makes a double fullness of revelation (twice seven), although it is complete in itself.

First, in the gospel:

(1) The baptism of the Holy Spirit by Christ; ch. 1.

(2) The gift of life and new birth by the Word and the Holy Spirit; ch. 3.

(3) The gift of the Spirit and worship in spirit and in truth; ch. 4.

(4) In ch. 7, the stream of living water flowing forth to others.

(5) In ch. 14-16, the Lord Jesus tells His disciples about the gift of another Comforter (the Lord Jesus is the Comforter while the Holy Spirit is the other Comforter) bearing witness to the world and to the believers.

(6) Finally, in ch. 20 the Lord Jesus, on the eve of the resurrection day, breathed forth the Spirit of the risen Christ into His disciples. The first epistle develops three more aspects of the Spirit.

(7) In the Cristian family (1 John 2:1-29), the unction of the Holy One is the key to access the knowledge of all spiritual things.

(8) The Spirit testifies that God dwells in us (1 John 3:24); He is the only criterion to distinguish spiritual things, whether they originate from the Spirit of truth or from the spirit of error. (1 John 4:1-21)

(9) Ch. 5 gives the testimony to the fact that eternal life is in God’s Son, and that whosoever has the Son has life, and he who does not have the Son does not have eternal life. The five aspects of the Spirit in the book of Revelation are (10) The Spirit takes John to see various prophetic scenes he will in turn reveal to us.

(11) The Spirit is seen outside of the church (considered as a responsible body on earth to carry God’s testimony), to give a judgment of appreciation upon its walk seven times; ch. 2 and 3

(12) The seven Spirits (ch. 4 and 5) are those of the Lord Jesus - much on Old Testament ground - as the spirit of wisdom, of prophecy and of glory.

(13) When saints, after having gone through the last tribulation, die in the Lord (ch. 14) the Spirit pronounces a blessing upon them and assures them of rest.

(14) Finally, the most touching mention, when the revelation is sealed, shows the Lord Jesus entering personally into the scene to present Himself as the bright and morning star to His church; then, the Spirit works in the believers’ and in the church’s heart to call upon the Lord’s return.