Done, Not Do: How the Spirit Reveals Jesus’ Truth
John 15:26-27
"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning."
The "Helper," the Holy Spirit, is sent by Jesus from the Father as the Spirit of truth. And he comes to "help". But how? Jesus told his disciples, and by default us, that he was sent by Jesus from the Father to bear witness about Him. The Greek term for Helper, Parakletos, means one who comes alongside to advocate, comfort, guide, and strengthen.
But how?
Well first off he reveals truth for us. And oh boy, there's a lot of baggage in that idea. I mean, mostly everyone believes "truth" is subjective or relative, or maybe both. And yet Jesus sends the Spirit OF truth.
The Greek word Jesus uses for truth, alētheia, refers to reality, certainty, and divine revelation, something objective and grounded in God’s character, not in human perception. And oh boy, perception gets so many people mixed up. In John’s Gospel, truth is inseparable from Jesus Himself, who declares, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). The Spirit of truth, therefore, is the divine presence who reveals and testifies to the reality of Jesus and God’s kingdom, countering the world’s distorted or relativistic views of truth.
Jesus couched his proclamation about the Spirit by stating that his disciples along with The Spirit would bear witness of him because they were with him from the beginning of his ministry. This testimony is not abstract but rooted in the objective truth of who Jesus is, the incarnate Son of God. I mean, they literally discussed with Jesus this whole question about who he is. The disciples, having been with Jesus "from the beginning" of His ministry, are uniquely equipped to complement the Spirit’s witness with their firsthand experience. Their prolonged exposure to Jesus’ words and deeds gave them intimate knowledge of His character and mission, making their testimony credible and authoritative. This historical grounding is critical. Their witness isn’t based on hearsay or subjective perception but on lived experience, which the Spirit of truth amplifies and authenticates.
The Spirit and the disciples work in tandem to testify to Jesus, countering the world’s relativistic or distorted views of truth:
By illuminating Jesus' teachings, confirming His miracles, and testifying to His resurrection (John 16:13-14). The world’s tendency to treat truth as subjective or perception-driven is challenged by the Spirit’s objective revelation of Jesus as the alētheia. The disciples lived experience reinforces this, offering a tangible, historical basis for faith.
By countering humanity and its “mixed-up” perceptions, by convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11); together, the Spirit and disciples confront the "baggage" of relativism, pointing to Jesus as the unchanging standard of truth, rooted in God’s character and revealed through divine and human testimony.
And by internally guiding the believers’ hearts and externally empowering their testimony and proclamation, The Spirit is ensuring the truth about Jesus is clear and compelling. The Spirit reveals Jesus as the truth, while the disciples’ testimony grounds that truth in historical reality. Together, they call us to live as witnesses in a world confused by relativism.
In Christianity, truth (alētheia) is objective, personal, revelatory, and universal. In Hinduism, Hindu truth is impersonal (Brahman) and realized through self-discovery, whereas Christian truth is personal (Jesus) and revealed by the Spirit. Hinduism’s pluralistic paths to truth contrast with Christianity’s exclusive claim that Jesus is "the truth." With Buddhism, Truth is experiential, Truth is less about a divine being and more about insight into reality’s nature. Buddhism’s ignorance of impermanence parallels the world’s relativistic views. Both address distorted perceptions.
Truth in Islam is Al-Haqq, one of Allah’s 99 names, meaning "the Truth" or "the Real." Truth is absolute, rooted in Allah’s oneness (Tawhid) and His divine will. Truth is revealed through the Qur’an and the Sunnah (teachings and the practices of Prophet Muhammad). Believers access truth by studying these sources, prayer, and obedience to Allah’s law (Sharia). There’s no equivalent to the Spirit as a personal guide. Truth is accessed through texts and rigid obedience, not an indwelling presence. Christianity’s relational truth contrasts here with Islam’s strong emphasis on submission.
With Judaism truth is associated with God Himself. Psalm 119:160 says, "The sum of your word is truth." Whereas with Christianity, the church is truth because of the indwelling Spirit of Truth. With Judaism Truth is accessed through study, prayer, and in the observance of mitzvot (commandments). Both see truth as objective, eternal, and rooted in God’s character. However, Christianity’s truth is uniquely tied to Jesus as "the truth," revealed by the Spirit, while Judaism centers on the Torah and God’s covenant, not a divine person.
And so, we can see that the primary difference is Jesus. Christianity’s claim that Jesus is "the truth" (John 14:6) contrasts with pluralistic approaches (Hinduism’s many paths, Buddhism’s experiential truth) or alternative revelations (Islam’s Qur’an, Judaism’s Torah). All worldly religions challenge subjective perceptions to some degree, but Christianity’s "Truth", anchored in Jesus and the Spirit’s testimony, offers a personal, relational and divine counterpoint to the world’s distortions, distinct from these other frameworks. While these other religions offer profound insights into reality, Christianity’s emphasis on truth as a person (Jesus), revealed by a divine Helper (the Spirit), sets it apart.
For believers, followers of Jesus Christ, regular meditation and study of the scriptures help to clarify Jesus’ teachings and its relevance today. When encountering pluralistic views ("all paths lead to God" ), they should pray for the Spirit to highlight Scriptures that affirm Jesus’ unique role (Acts 4:12). Before engaging in a conversation about faith, pray, "Spirit of truth, guide me to Scriptures that reveal Jesus clearly." In this way they are tapping into the Spirit which anchors them in the Bible’s testimony to Jesus, ensuring their discernment is rooted in divine revelation. The Spirit grants them wisdom to discern truths from falsehoods (1 Corinthians 2:10-14). He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8), helping them see through and beyond cultural relativism or syncretism.
When faced with moral or theological ambiguity ("truth is subjective" ), the believers ask the Spirit to reveal God’s objective standard, as seen in Jesus’ life and teachings. They pray, creating a space to hear the Spirit’s gentle promptings. They pray specifically for discernment when exposed to diverse beliefs, asking, "Holy Spirit, show me what aligns with Jesus’ truth and what doesn’t."
If you were to sum up all the other religions of the world in one word, it would be "do". Do something they prescribe for you to get into heaven. In Christianity the one word would be "done". Access to the Holy has already been done for you. This is the unique grace of the gospel.
Many world religions emphasize human effort to achieve spiritual goals, whether liberation (Moksha in Hinduism), enlightenment (Nirvana in Buddhism), paradise (Islam), covenant faithfulness (Judaism), or unity with God (Sikhism). Truth in these systems is often accessed through prescribed actions: rituals, ethical living, meditation, or obedience to sacremental laws. In contrast, Christianity teaches that access to God is already accomplished through Jesus’ finished work on the cross. The Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of truth, testifies to this completed work (John 15:26), revealing Jesus as the one who has “done” what was necessary to reconcile humanity to God. Jesus canceled sin and lies (untruth).
This "do" versus "done" distinction underscores why the Spirit’s role is so vital in a pluralistic world. While other religions call for striving toward truth, the Spirit points believers to the truth already accomplished in Jesus. In a "do" world, where truth is tied to works or self-realization, the Spirit’s illumination of "done" frees believers from the burden of striving and clarifies Jesus’ exclusive role amidst all the world's syncretism.
The Spirit exposes the inadequacy of relativistic or works-based systems.
1 Corinthians 2:10-14
"These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
When faced with moral or theological ambiguity, pray, "Holy Spirit, show me what aligns with Jesus’ truth and what doesn’t." For instance, if someone argues that good deeds alone suffice for salvation (a "do" perspective), which exists even among Christian people, the Spirit may prompt you to recall Romans 3:23-24, which emphasizes justification by grace through faith in Christ’s finished work.
Why It Matters:
The Spirit’s conviction helps believers see beyond the "do" mentality of other practices, affirming that Jesus has already fulfilled the law and opened up access to God (Hebrews 10:19-20). The Spirit produces fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) that reflects the freedom and joy of "done," making our lives a testimony to Jesus’ truth. A life marked by the Spirit’s fruit stands out in a "do" world, demonstrating that Jesus’ truth not only saves but transforms hearts and minds, inviting others to explore the gospel.
Prayer:
Spirit of truth, thank You for revealing Jesus’ finished work, the Truth that sets me free. Guide me to discern Your truth amidst pluralistic "do" beliefs, illuminating Scriptures that affirm Jesus’ unique role. Grant me wisdom to see through relativism and give me a boldness to share the "done" gospel with love. Transform my life to reflect Your grace, drawing others to Christ. Amen.