The Baptism of the Holy Spirit — Major Ian Thomas

The Disciples’ New Joy, Bible, and Message

In their rediscovery of the Lord Jesus, in the power of his resurrection, a new joy. Joy unspeakable, Peter said, and full of glory. A new Bible. For the Lord Jesus opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures.

And the written word and the living word were brought together and dovetailed, and they reckoned in the person of the Lord Jesus as the living word, the one who had fulfilled. The written word, the substance of the shadow, added to their new joy, the new Bible, and then added to their new Bible, the new message.

Not now, just as we saw last evening, repentance period, telling wicked people to be sorry, but repentance and remission of sins. They were now in a position on the grounds of his redemptive transaction, not only to tell people to be sorry, but to tell sorry people how to be saved.

So a new joy, a new Bible, a new message, and then you will remember the Lord Jesus said, I'm now going to lift the prohibition that I placed upon you. When then, as we have seen, Matthew 16, Matthew 17, he forbade them under any circumstances to tell anybody that he, Jesus, was the Christ.

He said, I'm removing the ban, and now you are going to be my witnesses, beginning at Jerusalem, and then in Judea, and then in Galilee, and then to the uttermost ends of the earth. New joy, new Bible, new message, and the new responsibility.

Then we had to conclude last evening, but you will remember there was one more thing, imperative to the discharge of their new responsibility. The new enabling. Terry said, the Lord Jesus, in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high.

The new enabling. And it's at that point tonight, we're going to pick up the threads of our exploration into what it was that took place that brought these disciples out of Matthew 16 into Acts chapter 5.

Where daily, in the temple, and from house to house, they were teaching and preaching precisely what the Lord Jesus, earlier, Matthew 16, had categorically forbidden them to do. So, turn back with me now to the first chapter of the book of the Acts, Acts and chapter 1.

This is, if you will remember, where we began. At the worship hour on Sunday morning. The former treatise, Have I Made O Theophilus? Of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach. And we reminded ourselves then that this, the book of the Acts, is a continuation of the story, what the Lord Jesus continued to do, and what he continued to teach.

And the only essential difference, the humanity with which he clothed his divine activity. And we're going to discover this evening, how it was that the Father God in heaven presented to the Lord Jesus his new body on earth.

In the second verse, until the day in which he was taken up after that he threw the Holy Ghost, had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen. To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs being seen of them forty days.

And throughout those forty days the Lord Jesus conducted a short term non-vocational Bible school. Speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. That's what the Lord Jesus was talking about.

Jesus’ Teaching About the Kingdom of God

The kingdom of God. Now please don't imagine that he was talking about that place that he was going so soon to prepare for them and for us. In John 14 you will remember he said in my father's house are many mansions.

If it were not so I would have told you, and I go to prepare a place for you that where I am there you may be also. But this isn't what he talked to them about when he talked to them about the kingdom of God.

He was really talking to them about the things that so soon were to happen in their experience that would equip them for the discharge of their new responsibilities as those now whom he had commissioned.

To be his witnesses. The kingdom of God. For you see the kingdom of God isn't a destination. The kingdom of God isn't heaven. The kingdom of God isn't something towards which you and I have the right legitimately to look forward.

It's something far more wonderful than that. And keeping the place there, in Acts chapter 1 in parenthesis as it were, let's look for a moment at the gospel of Luke. And the 17th chapter. 20th verse. For when the Lord Jesus was demanded of the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should come, this is what he said.

Luke 17 and verse 20. The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. That means to say with outward show. You can't point down the road and say there it is. Because you see that piece of real estate with a spire that rings bells on Sunday.

There's the kingdom of God. It isn't that piece of real estate over there that represents the headquarters of some ecclesiastical hierarchy. It isn't represented by people walking down the road swinging incense or dressed in a certain way.

He said the kingdom of God doesn't come by observation. You can't say, said he, here it is or there it is. For behold, he said, end of verse 21. The kingdom of God is within you. That's the kingdom of God.

And this is what the Lord Jesus was talking about. In those 40 days, the kingdom of God, said he which is within you. Well, if the kingdom of God is within you, where ought the king to be? In his kingdom.

What should the king in his kingdom be doing in his kingdom? Exercising his total jurisdiction. The one who at all times and in every circumstance exclusively is to be consulted. The king in his kingdom.

In other words, God back in the man. The Lord Jesus in the Christian putting deity back into man's humanity. The king in his kingdom. That is the kingdom of God. And in preparation for those events that so soon were to take place.

The Lord Jesus for 40 days prepared them. As he explained the nature of the kingdom. How he had so created man with a body and a soul and a spirit. That God the creator by the Holy Spirit. Could indwell man by the Holy Spirit's presence within the human spirit.

That he might exercise the divine prerogative. Exercise total jurisdiction. Gaining access from within the human spirit to the human soul. So that he God in the man Christ in the Christian. Would have the absolute unchallengeable right.

To teach his mind. Control his emotions. And so direct his will. That he king in his kingdom would govern his behavior. That's what the Lord Jesus was talking about. Not heaven one day. But the reality of being a Christian.

24 hours a day. On earth. On the way to heaven. Man restored to his true humanity. With God back where he belongs. The creator within the creature. In other words how to be a Christian. Not how to become one.

Redemption, Regeneration, and the Life of Christ

He'd already explained to them how they would have become Christians. Thus it behove Christ. To suffer and rise again from the third day. That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name.

That's how you become a Christian. Because you see a Christian is simply a forgiven sinner. In the first instance. That's why if I'm talking to someone tonight who is not a sinner. I'm talking to somebody who will never ever become a Christian.

Because you can't become a Christian if you're not a sinner. Because a sinner begins. To become a Christian. When he becomes a forgiven sinner. But the Lord Jesus in those 40 days wasn't talking about how to become a Christian.

He was talking about the kingdom. And the king restored to his rightful place as king in the kingdom. In other words he was talking about new birth. He was talking about a spiritual regeneration. Not redemption.

He'd already dealt Luke 24 with redemption on the grounds of his atoning death. And his triumphant resurrection by which we are justified. He's now talking about that resurrection. That takes place. When the Holy Spirit God himself reinvades the human spirit.

And the creator. Once more takes up residence. Within the creature. That's why you see because the kingdom of God is within you. You cannot enter the kingdom. Without becoming part of it. Not one day when you get to heaven.

But right here. With your two feet on the ground. On earth. He wasn't talking about reconciliation to God. He was talking about being saved. By his life. Because as I'm sure I don't have to tell you folks here tonight.

It isn't the death of the Lord Jesus that saves us. It's the life of the Lord Jesus that saves us. In a very limited sense of course. His death does save us from the punitive consequence of our guilt.

It gets us out of hell. And gets us on our way to heaven. But that isn't salvation. Again before we turn back to the first chapter of the book of the Acts. In parenthesis. Turn to the fifth chapter of the epistle to the Romans.

Romans in chapter five. If when we were enemies. When were we enemies? Well by birth. By that natural birth. That animal natural birth. That physical birth. Whereby you and I became the natural physical children of our natural animal physical parents.

That's when we were enemies. Because you and I without exception were born into this world. Alienated from the life of God. Dead in trespasses and sins. You and I were born into this world the seed of a fallen Adam.

Destitute of the divine content. Physically alive. Soulishly active. But the human spirit totally empty of the Holy Spirit. With the soul invaded by and dominated by. A sin principle of satanic origin.

Which is called in the second chapter of the epistle to the Ephesians. Which is that spirit that works now in the children of disobedience. That can only abuse, misuse and prostitute your humanity. That's when we were enemies.

But he's not talking now in this fifth chapter of the epistle to the Romans. To those who are still enemies. He's talking to them in the past tense. He says when you were enemies. If when we were enemies.

We were reconciled to God. Something that has already been accomplished. How does reconciliation take place? Well it tells you. If when we were enemies. Past tense. We were reconciled to God. Past tense.

By the death of his son. That's what takes place through the death of the Lord Jesus. Guilty sinners cleansed in his shed blood. Are reconciled to God. Whom for his dear sake who died in their place. He forgives.

They are acquitted. He says I have blotted out your transgressions. Like a thick cloud. I have buried them in the depths of the sea. I have put them as far away as the east is from the west. And I will remember your sins no more.

Reconciled. Having peace with God. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. What did it take for you and for me to be reconciled to God? The death of his son. But that isn't salvation. That's the threshold of salvation.

That's the door through which you enter. And there is no other door. Jesus the way. With a nail print still in his hands and feet. What does it then go on to say? In that verse. If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son.

Much more. Much more. Being reconciled. The redemptive transaction having already been enacted. Peace having been established between you and God. On the grounds of forgiveness. Much more. Being reconciled.

We shall be saved. By what? His life. So what does the Bible teach you about salvation? By what are you saved? The life of Christ. The restoration of the king to his kingdom. The restoration to the redeemed sinner.

Of that life that is imperative to his humanity. God's life. For the simple reason that God engineered man in such a way. That the presence of his maker in the man is indispensable to his humanity. So reconciliation through the death of Jesus Christ.

Though it would have saved us from the punitive consequence of our guilt. Though it would have got us out of hell and into heaven. Would have left us of course pathetically abysmally. Inadequate. For that purpose.

For which God the father sent his son into this world. In restoring man to his true function. That he might so live on earth and on the way to heaven and in heaven. In such a way. That the likeness of his creator would be reflected.

In his character. Saved by his life. So if you only know the Lord Jesus is the one who reconciled you to God by his death. You're still on the threshold. You'll get to heaven. But you'll remain pathetically unfit for earth on the way to heaven.

You see we need not only what he did because of what we have done. But we have to recognize that everything we do is the result of what we are. That's why we need not only what he did redemptively. We need who he is regeneratively.

What he did because of what we've done. And who he is to take the place of what we are. The king back in his kingdom. Now that's what the Lord Jesus was talking about for 40 days. To those who at last, at last had understood the redemptive efficacy of his atoning death.

He then spent 40 days explaining why it was he died for. So that he now risen from the dead might come and live in them. Something he says that hasn't happened yet. That's why I am telling you though I am giving you a new responsibility.

You are under no circumstances to leave the city of Jerusalem and embark upon your new duties. Until that has happened which my father promised. And that could only be implemented on the basis of what I have already accomplished in dying for you.

So that I risen from the dead might then give myself to you. But it hasn't happened yet. Alright back in Acts chapter 1. Being assembled it says verse 4 of chapter 1. Being assembled together with them he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem.

But wait for the promise of the father which says he you've heard of me. In other words although they now had come to understand the redemptive purpose of his dying upon the cross. They had not yet received that for which he died.

The restoration by the gift to them of the Holy Ghost of his indwelling resurrection life. And because they had not yet received by the gift to them of his Holy Spirit through whom alone. They could share his life on earth clothe with their humanity.

As the Lord Jesus as some of us saw this morning. By the same Holy Spirit shared the life of his father on earth clothe with his humanity. Because they had not yet entered into the good of that for which they had been reconciled.

They were still completely inadequate for the new responsibility that had been imposed upon. You see had they at this stage without waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit to invade their humanity. Embarked upon those new responsibilities.

They could only have done so in the energy of that old Adamic nature that they still possessed though redeemed. They could only have tried to mobilize their carnal resources to accomplish spiritual ends.

And that of course would be an exercise in futility. You see the fact that you know that your sins have been forgiven because Christ died for you. Doesn't give you the moral capacity to live a different kind of life.

The fact that you know for his dear sake who shed his blood upon the cross that you've been reconciled to God. Does that change the nature of that old Adamic principle that is called the carnal mind. Which is admitted to God.

Well of course not. Well of course not. That's why of course if you try very sincerely and there are countless people who so desire. If you try to live the Christian life before redemption. In the energy of the flesh you cannot but fail.

Because that old Adamic nature is by nature hostile at enmity with God. It isn't subject to the law of God neither indeed can be. But supposing you're then redeemed you recognize your need of forgiveness.

But all you know is that you've been forgiven because Jesus died for you 2000 years ago. But you don't know that he died for you then so that he might live in you now. Supposing you're ignorant still of that fact.

All you know is I've been converted. So because you don't know that something marvelous has happened. Whereby the divine nature has been imparted to you in the gift of the Holy Ghost. But you still now want to try to live the Christian life after redemption.

But continue so to do in the energy of the flesh. As you failed before redemption in the energy of the flesh to live the Christian life. So you will continue to fail in the energy of the flesh after redemption to live the Christian life.

Well what's the difference? Well only one. Before redemption in the energy of the flesh if you try to live the Christian life you'll fail on the way to hell. After redemption if you try to live the Christian life in the energy of the flesh you'll fail on the way to heaven.

That's the only difference. And you see there are hundreds of thousands of genuinely born again Christians who don't know what it means to be born again. They equate it with being redeemed. They think it's one and the same thing.

They relegate it back to a date in history when 3 months, 3 years or 30 years ago. They were redeemed by claiming Christ as their savior who died for them historically on the cross 2 ,000 years ago. They still completely miss the point that he died for us then to put his life in us now.

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit and Waiting for Pentecost

So said the Lord Jesus you're not yet fit for the John. John he said truly baptized with water. But he shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Something which hasn't happened yet. Not many days hence. Now this as I indicated last evening is where there is so much confusion today.

A confusion which is totally unnecessary. It's quite obvious that so far as these disciples were concerned. That they had entered into the redemptive efficacy of Christ's death. In that at last opening their understanding.

That they might understand the scriptures. They recognize the need for what he did because of what they've done. But they had not yet at this stage received that for which they have been forgiven. The restoration to them of that life that was lost in Adam in the day that man died.

So there was a time lag between their redemption through the shed blood of Christ. And their regeneration or new birth through the coming of the Holy Spirit. Who had presence within them the life of Christ.

Now that time lag no longer exists. It did then because this you see was the interim period between the Old Testament and the New Testament. This is with the Old Covenant was done away in the New Covenant.

So there was a time lag. It's called the baptism with the Holy Spirit. How are we going to discover what is involved in being baptized with the Holy Ghost? Well it's very simple to me. Being assembled together verse 4 with them.

He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem. But wait for the promise of the Father which said he you've heard of me. And this fulfillment of the promise of the Father which said he you have heard of me.

Would take place not many days hence. Well if we want to know therefore. What took place? In that which calling it the baptism with the Holy Ghost. The Lord Jesus equated with the fulfillment of the promise of the Father.

All we need do is turn the page back. And discover what the Lord Jesus had told them. What they had heard of him concerning this promise. Then we'll know what took place on that day of Pentecost. When they were baptized with the Holy Ghost.

For the Lord Jesus equates the baptism with the Holy Spirit. With the fulfillment of the promise of the Father. So I thought that was the most objective thing to do tonight. And we're going to turn the page back.

And discover what it was that the Lord Jesus foreshadowed would take place. To be fulfilled at Pentecost. Still at this stage. Acts 1 5. Not yet accomplished in the experience of these disciples. Turn to John chapter 7.

In the 37th verse in the last day that great day of the feast. Jesus stood and cried saying. If any man thirst. Let him come unto me. And drink. Of course. He's speaking of this in its spiritual connotation.

He said I personally am the only one who can quench your thirst. Come to me. He that believeth on me. Believing there of course in the biblical sense of exercising a disposition toward the Lord Jesus called faith.

That making him the object of your faith. Allows him in faithfulness to move into your experience. He that believeth on me. As the scripture has said. Out of his innermost being. The human spirit. Shall flow rivers of living water.

There's going to be a flow. From the inner man. Now just in case there were. Any ambiguity. In your understanding of what the Lord Jesus. Then meant. In parenthesis inspired by the Holy Spirit. The apostle John goes on to say this.

But this. Speaking of the rivers of living water. Flowing out of our innermost being. This. Spake he. Of the spirit. The Holy Spirit. God. The Holy Spirit. Whom. They that believe on him. Should receive.

For. He continues to explain. This person. God. The Holy Ghost. Was not yet given. Why not? Well because the Lord Jesus was not yet glorified. When was the Lord Jesus glorified? After his death and resurrection.

From the Mount of Olives. The Lord Jesus. Returned. To be with his father. There to claim that glory. With the father and the Holy Spirit. That had always been his. In the eternal ages of the past. As he reminds the father in his prayer.

In the 17th of John. The Lord Jesus was not glorified. Until his mission accomplished. From the Mount of Olives. After that short term Bible school of 40 days. He ascended. And was received back into the presence.

Of the father. And the Holy Ghost was not yet given. Because Jesus was not yet glorified. And quite obviously so. Because it was when sin came in. In Adam. That the life went out. As by one man. Romans 5 .12.

As by one man. Adam. Sin came into the world. A change of disposition. That traded dependence on God. And the obedience to God. That derives from dependence on God. Traded that for independence of God.

And the disobedience to God. That derives from independence of God. In that day. As by one man. Sin entered in the world. And death. By sin. How does death occur? Death occurs. When pre-existent life is forfeited.

Now it's quite obvious. That Adam in that day. Didn't forfeit physical life. But he died that day. God said in the day. You eat thereof. You will surely die. What life did he lose? When death occurred.

Sin, Death, and the Need for New Birth

In Adam. That life for which man was made. God's life. The Holy Spirit was withdrawn. From the human spirit. And all that survived. Was the animal part of man. His body and his soul. And he remained functional.

But godless. He remained functional. But alienated from the life of God. Dead in trespasses and sins. And you and I. Are the fallen heirs of that fallen Adam. And without exception. You and I. Are born into this world.

Spiritually destitute. Dead. That's why no boy. Girl. Man or woman. Born since Adam fell. Can. Has. Or ever will die for their sins. Did you know that? No boy. Girl. Man or woman. Ever born into this world.

Since Adam fell. Can. Has. Or ever will die for their sins. For a very simple reason. It's too late. It's already happened. In Adam. How many died? All died. Were you born into this world. Physically alive.

Spiritually alive. Or spiritually dead? The Bible tells us. Categorically. That you and I. Are born into this world. Alienated from the life of God. Cut off. Detached. From that divine content. For which man was made.

The presence of God. Within his creature. And if there's one thing you can know. About the dead. It's this. The dead can't die. Only two things can happen to the dead. What are they? Stay dead. Or. Come alive.

That's why the Lord Jesus said. I am come. That you might have what? Forgiveness. Is that what he said? No. I am come. That you might have heaven. Instead of hell. Is that what he said? No. He said. I am come.

That you might have exactly. What dead men need. What's that? Life. The only thing. That will abolish death. The restoration. To man. Of that life. That was forfeited in Adam. It's called in the Bible.

New birth. It's called in the Bible. Regeneration. It's nothing more. Nor less. Than resurrection. For the same mighty power. That God wrought in Christ. Is that mighty power. That he exercises in us.

When he raised him from the dead. That's why. In the first verse. Of the second chapter. Of the epistle to the Ephesians. Paul says. And you have. He quickened. Who? We're dead. In trespasses and sins.

He says. You've been raised from the dead. You were dead. You've come alive. Because you exercise the option. That's why we saw. In Acts chapter five. The angel telling the apostles. When he let them out of jail.

Go and tell them. All the words of this life. Tell dead men. Dead women. Dead boys. Dead girls. That they can come alive. Tell them. On the grounds of redemption. Cleansed in the blood of Jesus. They can claim the restoration.

To them. Of that life. That was lost in Adam. But the restoration. Of that life. The Holy Ghost. Restored to the human spirit. Could not take place. Until to God's holy satisfaction. That redemptive transaction.

Had taken place. That allowed a holy God. Without doing violence. To his own righteousness. To accept back to himself. In the beloved. Those. Who through his shed blood. Had been cleansed. And reconciled.

So the Holy Ghost. Was not yet given. Because Jesus was not yet. Glorified. The Old Testament saints. Were covered by the blood. Of lambs. And of bulls. And of goats. Which the Bible tells us. Could never take away sin.

And had the Lord Jesus. Never come to implement. As the substance. That which in the Old Testament. Was only but the shadow. They with us. Would be of all men. Most miserable. The blood of Abel's lamb.

Didn't cleanse him from sin. Or reconcile him to God. That only foreshadowed. The one. Who would implement. The promise. It was the check. In the Old Testament. The Lord Jesus paid cash. You and I don't bring today.

A sacrifice. For he made one sacrifice. For sins forever. But now that. That sacrifice. Has been accomplished. We may receive now. Instantly. That for which. They had to wait. Until the Lord Jesus. Was glorified.

Jesus’ Promise of the Indwelling Comforter

All right. Turn to John 14. John chapter 14. A passage. To which we have already. Referred considerably. In our morning sessions. You'll remember. How Philippians. It suffices. And the Lord. Jesus said.

Have I been so long time. With you. And hast thou not known me Philip. He that has seen me. Has seen the father. Because though the creator. I'm playing the role. Of creature. Though I'm the God. Who made man.

I'm playing the role. Of the man. Whom I as God made. And I as God. Made man. In such a way. That he should be inhabited. By deity. And reflect the glory. And I'm allowing my father. By the same Holy Spirit.

With whom one day. I will impart to you. That life. That was lost in Adam. I'm allowing. My father. By his Holy Spirit. So to monopolize. My personality. So. Totally. To fill me. With himself. That when you look at me.

You see him. Because what I do. Is what he does. What I say. Is what he says. What I am. Is what he is. See me. See him. Don't you believe. Verse ten. Of that chapter. Said the Lord Jesus. Don't you believe.

That a unique relationship exists. Between me as man on earth. And my father as God in heaven. Don't you believe. That I am in the father. And the father is in me. The words that I speak unto you. I speak not of myself.

I articulate. The words. And you hear me. Say them. But it's God who's speaking. My father in me. Clothed with my humanity. The father. That dwells in me. He does the work. My office as man. Is to be.

It's my office. It's my father's office. As God to act. So I present my body to him. So that he may. Clothe. His divine activity. With me. Incarnate. And he that believeth on me. Verse twelve. The one who's prepared to adopt that disposition.

Toward me. That I'm now prepared to adopt. Toward my father. The works that I do. Shall he do. Also and greater works. Than these. Not qualitatively. But quantitatively. Because my father's activity. Is confined at this moment.

To the narrow limits. Of my available humanity. But in the day. That I have accomplished. The redemptive transaction. And have been redeemed. To my father. And come in the person. Of the Holy Spirit. To invade your humanity.

My divine activity. Will be clothed. With your humanity. To the uttermost ends. Of the earth. I'll have a new body. Corporate. Called the church. The works that I do. Shall he do. Also and greater works.

Than these. Why? Well because I'm going. What a strange thing to say. Because I'm going. Where are you going? Back to the place. In which I came. Back to the one. From whom I came. My father. And because I am going.

Back to my father. The day will soon dawn. When I. Indwelling you. By the same Holy Spirit. Through whom my father. Now indwells me. I will do through you. The things that my father. Has been doing through me.

Because verse sixteen. I will pray the father. And he shall give you. Another comfort. Another comfort. When you say another. What does that involve? What does it presuppose? If I ask you. To have another cup of coffee.

What does it mean? Well you've already had one. If you hadn't had one. I asked you whether you'd like another. You'd say pardon me. I'd like the first. The Lord Jesus said. My father. Is going to send another comforter.

Who was the first comforter. That they had had. The Lord Jesus himself. The word comforter. There is the same word. As translated advocate. In the second chapter. John's first epistle. If you sin. We have an.

Advocate. With the father. Exactly the same word. But says the Lord Jesus. Having had one comforter. I'm going to ask the father. To send you another comforter. That this other comforter. May abide with you for how long?

Forever. I'm not going to remain in this form. With you on earth forever. Very soon. I'm going to die. Upon a Roman gallows. The third day. I will rise again from the dead. You will see me. For a short period of time.

And then I'm going back. To be with my father. And I will not be here. In that way. But in the person. Of another comforter. He will be with you. Forever. Who is it? Even the spirit of truth. Hasn't happened yet.

Said the Lord Jesus. Hasn't happened yet. The spirit of truth. Whom the world cannot receive. Because it seeth him not. Neither knoweth him. But you know him. Though you don't even know. That you know him.

For he dwelleth with you. Emmanuel. God with us. How did the Holy Ghost. Dwell with them? In whose person? The Lord Jesus. To whom the father had given. As some of us saw this morning. John 3 .34. The Holy Spirit.

Without measure. Who is man on earth. In the perfection. And innocence. Of his humanity. Had presented himself. Through the same Holy Spirit. To God without spot. He said the Lord Jesus. Is with you. But I got good news for you.

He dwelleth with you. But he shall be. That's future tense. Where? In you. And when he. The Holy Spirit. Who is with you. In me. As I allow my father. To be king now. In me. His kingdom. So through him.

Who will be in you. I as king. Will be king in my king. Verse 18. I'm not going to leave you. Comfortless. Without a comforter. The word literally translated. As all of you know. Is orphans. I'm not going to do my thing.

On the cross. Shed my blood. And then go back to heaven. And peek through the clouds. And see you sweated out. As though the only way. You could live the Christian life. Was by rules and regulations. Mobilizing your old.

Adamic nature. To try to behave. Like a good evangelical. Jesus Christ. I wouldn't be so cruel. I wouldn't die for your sins. So that you might be forgiven. So that you might struggle on. With an old.

Adamic nature. That's hostile. To every demand. That I will make upon you. Without restoring to you. What it takes to be man. As I as God. Intended man to be. That would to be mocking. That would be to mock you.

Can you imagine a Christ. Who simply died for us. Two thousand years ago. And then goes to heaven. And leaves you and me. With the only resources. That we had. Before we were redeemed. To try and live the Christian life.

And honor God. He said I'm not going to leave you. Comfortless. I will come to you. I will come to you. That isn't eschatology. That isn't the return of the Lord Jesus. Vindicated in deity. Whose appearing.

We momentarily anticipate. Oh no. This is Pentecost. I will come to you. I'm going to be to you as God. By the same Holy Ghost. That indwells my humanity. All that my father. Is to me. By that Holy Spirit.

Yet a little while. The world sees me no more. But you'll see me. I'm going to appear to you. I'm going to teach you for forty days. All about the kingdom. What it means to have the king. Back in his kingdom.