In John 16, Jesus is talking to his disciples and telling them that he is going away. He explains that he will no longer be with them, but that he will send the advocate, the Holy Spirit. Thus, after Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, he sent the Holy Spirit to continue his kingdom work and to bear witness to Jesus in the world. The Holy Spirit came in the world indwelling all followers of Christ and sealing us with a permanent seal. We are eternally secure in God and can never be separated from him, nothing can snatch us away. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39). The Holy Spirit gives us assurance of our salvation and everlasting life.

The Holy Spirit continually guides us into the light and life of Christ. We are being transformed into the likeness of Christ through the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we receive power and boldness to live our Christian lives. Thus, we should daily walk in his power and strength while partnering with him as he moves in the world enlightening people’s eyes to the knowledge of the love of God.

 Boa writes, “He empowers us to live a new quality of life, he purifies and purges us as we submit to his authority and control, and he equips us with spiritual gifts and opportunities to build up others in the faith.”[1] We are refined by the refiner’s fire and delivered from the evil and destruction that so easily hinder us. The Holy Spirit sets us free from our pain and suffering while lifting our burdens off our shoulders.  However, the Holy Spirit will not force this upon us, but rather as we open our hearts and lives to him, he will move with redeeming and restorative power.  This transforming movement by the Holy Spirit is not just for our benefit but also for the sake of others.  As we move in the world as resurrection people, who proclaim salvation through Jesus Christ, people will be drawn by the Holy Spirit to the loving embrace of the good Shepard and the eternal Father.

[1] Kenneth Boa. Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation (Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2001)