In John 14:16, Jesus said, "I will ask my Father, and He will give you another counselor (paraclete), and He will be with you forever." In the course of this simple sentence, Jesus affirms 1) the personhood of the Holy Spirit [He is the counselor], 2) His equality with the Son, who is Himself co-equal to the Father [He is "another" counselor, like but distinct from Jesus, who is also our counselor sent from the Father], and 3) His permanent indwelling in believers [He will be with them and in them forever, cf. v.17].The Spirit's role is to convict the world regarding sin and righteousness and judgment (16:7-11), through the apostolic proclamation of the truth (16:12-15; 17:20; 2Th.2:13-14; Eph.1:13; cf. Jas.1:18; 1Pe.1:23-25). In so doing, the Spirit regenerates the elect (Jn.3:3-8; 1Pe.1:1-2; Titus 3:5), through repentance and saving faith (1Th.1:4-5; Ac.11:15-18; 15:7-9; 16:14; etc.). This inexorably results in a permanent, Spirit-sealed union with Christ, in which we are justified, continually transformed, and ultimately conformed in glory to the image of God in Christ (Ro.8; Eph.1). In short, the complete redemption accomplished by Jesus once and for all on behalf of His Church is applied in full by the Spirit to the Church, in real space and real time - instantaneously, progressively, and perfectly. In so proving its efficacy, power and perfection in the flesh-and-blood lives of God's people, the Spirit displays and honors the glorious work of the Son for all to see.
In bringing salvation to the elect, from beginning (new birth) to end (resurrection-glory), the Holy Spirit is 'energized' entirely by the omnipotent life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Or rather, it is this energy - the energy of Christ who lives in us - which the Spirit communicates in full to the elect through faith. Thus He is "the Spirit of Christ." Because the Spirit is the agent of Christ, our paraclete (1Jn.2:1), He acts also as a paraclete, effectually applying Christ's redemptive work and power in our lives, establishing a fully realized reconciliation, such that we receive God's love into our hearts, and God graciously receives our fears, anxieties and longings through the Spirit's inarticulate groans on our behalf, too deep for words, and effective intercession on the basis of Jesus' shed blood.
We have a strong advocate in our battle with sin; a friend to sinners. We have a powerful agent of Christ's sovereign grace working within us, guaranteeing the completion of the good work He's already begun!
Praise God for both of our Advocates!
