Jesus knew there would be those who do not accept Him and He has told His followers that this would be so. He also gave His promise to those who follow Him to be given the great gift of His Holy Spirit. This promise is still in operation today. Do you know Jesus? Perhaps you know about Him, but do you know Him?

(NASB) John 14:16-17 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”

Jesus has defined the Holy Spirit as a Person. God the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. He is God and He cannot lie. What a promise from God the Son: “you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”

Jesus is honest and states plainly that there will be people who will not be able to receive the Spirit of truth. Why? The Spirit of truth will not be given because there are those who refuse to acknowledge their need for Jesus to be their Savior and Lord. Those who reject Jesus are rejecting God.

Jesus is the focal point of belief…it is Jesus Who has died in our place for our sins”¦when we try to circumvent God”™s way we will never be given His Holy Spirit and we will never be welcomed into heaven. Think about this, when we know Jesus, really know Him, He sends His Holy Spirit to live with us and even more astounding”¦He lives within us.

“Whoever” is a key word in the following verses:

(NASB) John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

17 “˜For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Jesus came to save all who receive Him, putting their faith in His death and resurrection, putting their faith in Him and His word that is true. We need to choose to believe in what Jesus has done on the cross for us”¦otherwise we cannot receive the Holy Spirit, for He will not be given. Salvation is but the beginning of our lives with the Lord Jesus.

Have you received Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? If so, you have been given the Holy Spirit of God! And there is so much more to learn about this Son of Man and Son of God.

To be a follower of Christ,

we must believe His words, for they are truth.

To be a follower of Christ is to love Him more as we know Him better.