The Holy Spirit Our Helper

John 3:5-8; Romans 8:26-28; Galatians 5:22-26

GOLDEN TEXT: “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”—Romans 8:14

THE first part of our lesson is a portion of the record of the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. The principal point of Nicodemus’ inquiry was with respect to the Kingdom of God which Jesus and His disciples were proclaiming. Evidently Nicodemus even at this time had a very real interest in and appreciation of Jesus’ teachings but was not thoroughly convinced as yet. Later he became a disciple and the record indicates that he was associated with Joseph of Aramathea in preparing the body of Jesus for burial.

While the conversation between the Lord and Nicodemus of John 3, is evidently only partially recorded, still enough is given to indicate the drift of the conversation and the main points in Jesus’ answer to his inquiries. Jesus had been proclaiming that the Kingdom of heaven was at hand, but as He had no army, nor wealth, nor influence, and the leaders of the people were rejecting His message, evidently Nicodemus wished to know more about how that Kingdom could be established.

Jesus’ reply was, “Except a man he begotten from above, he cannot see [know, or be acquainted with] the Kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus did not understand Jesus at first and inquired how could a man be born a second time. Then Jesus further explains, apparently referring to the baptism which John the Baptist preached, saying that in addition to the repentance which John preached and which he signified by baptism in water, it would also be necessary for a disciple to be begotten of the Spirit in order to understand His message about the Kingdom of God.

Jesus then gives that wonderful illustration of the great powers of spirit beings, saying, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and ye hear the sound thereof, but you cannot tell whither it cometh, nor whither it goeth, and so also are those who are born of the Spirit.” This picture of spirit life indicates the great powers which the spirit being would enjoy as superior to physical or human powers, and yet existing on a plane which was invisible to human sight. The force of Jesus’ explanation therefore was that the Kingdom He was proclaiming was to be an invisible Kingdom, and yet far more powerful than any kingdoms represented by merely physical strength, armies, etc.

The second section of our lesson, from the eighth chapter of Romans, describes some of the privileges and blessings that are enjoyed by the New Creation, those who are begotten of the Spirit, the class of which Jesus was telling Nicodemus. The statement of the apostle that “The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; and he that searcheth the heart, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,” is intended to convey to God’s people an understanding of the Heavenly Father’s love and care for them, but this has been greatly misunderstood by many.

The principal mistake is in supposing that it is God’s Spirit which supplicates. On the contrary, the spirit which maketh intercession for us is our own spirit, the spirit of the saint, which supplicates God’s and often fails to express itself fully. A glance at the text, with its connection, will make manifest the propriety of this interpretation. The renewed or transformed mind or spirit of a Christian, begotten of the Spirit, is now holy and spiritual; but the bodies of the saints are still human, and have the Adamic imperfections. Hence, as New Creatures, they are burdened by the flesh, and groan for the promised deliverance into Christ’s likeness in the first resurrection. The apostle explains that we may, by faith, reckon the earthly body dead, and think of ourselves as new Creatures, perfected, and thus realize ourselves saved now—“saved by hope.” God knows when our holy spirit [new mind] is willing and the flesh is weak, and He judges us not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. In other words, God is pleased to accept the heart desires of His people, both in prayer and in service, notwithstanding the imperfections of their flesh—their earthen vessels. And He does accept these heart desires.

The third section of our lesson refers to the “fruits of the Spirit;” which are to be found in every mature Christian, and are to be cultivated more and more that they may yield full, perfect fruitage of love to God, to each other, and the love of sympathy toward the world. These fruits are brought out in us in proportion as we come into harmony and obedience in thought and word and deed with the spirit of our Father, by which we are begotten, and by which, if obedient, we are having developed more and more of the fruits of holiness, or fruits of the Holy Spirit or disposition in the likeness of God’s dear Son, our Lord and Savior. Thus, under the ministration of the holy spirit of truth, the faithful are being fitted to be “born of the Spirit,” in the first resurrection, spirit beings, and thus perfected as spirit beings, the church will be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ our Lord.

QUESTIONS:

What was one of the main reasons why Nicodemus could not comprehend the full significance of what Jesus told him?

What spirit is it that maketh intercession for us at the throne of heavenly grace?

What is one of the main factors upon which the development of the fruits of the Spirit depends?

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