
I. The Mystery of the Trinity and the Promise of the Helper, the Holy Spirit
Pastor David Jang, speaking from John 14:15–26, has repeatedly emphasized how astonishing the gracious plan of salvation by the Triune God truly is, especially in Jesus Christ’s farewell discourse where He promises the Holy Spirit, the Helper (Paraclete). In the passage, Jesus says in His farewell sermon, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments,” and continues, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever.” This is the promise that after the Son, Jesus Christ, departs, He will not leave His disciples as orphans but will send them the Holy Spirit. At this point, Pastor David Jang proclaims the Triune God’s work of salvation, emphasizing again and again that the core doctrine of Christianity—believing in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three distinct persons yet one essence—is the true truth.
Jesus tells His disciples not to be troubled. On what basis? First, because God the Father, the Creator, is alive and active; second, because Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life, remains with them; and third, because the Lord will send the Holy Spirit, the Helper. Thus, within the Trinity, the roles and works of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are united. Particularly in John 14, the Holy Spirit is introduced as the “Spirit of truth,” referred to by the Greek term Paraklētos (“Paraclete,” often rendered “Helper” or “Advocate”). According to Pastor David Jang, this Spirit of truth remains hidden from those who belong to the world, but is revealed as a special grace to those who love Jesus, keep His Word, and believe. Those of the world neither receive nor know the Spirit, but believers encounter the Holy Spirit through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
In the text, Jesus explicitly says, “He dwells with you and will be in you.” The Holy Spirit is not bound by space or time and, even after the Lord’s resurrection and ascension, continues to be with all believers across the world. Pastor David Jang describes this as the inauguration of the “great era of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit works on the foundation of Christ’s finished work of redemption, dwelling in believers’ hearts, comforting them, protecting them, opening their eyes to truth, and empowering them with strength and capability. Although humans are bound by the chains of sin, through Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice and the Holy Spirit sent through Him, we are set free and can walk the path of new life.
The Lord’s promise—“I will not leave you as orphans”—applied not only to the disciples of that day but also to all of us today. The disciples experienced firsthand the sufferings of the cross, Jesus’s death, and resurrection, yet they were afraid as they confronted the reality of Jesus’s physical departure. But Jesus did not “leave” them; rather, He declared, “I will come to you,” confirming a new history through the coming of the Holy Spirit after His resurrection. Pastor David Jang highlights Christ’s absolute confidence in this moment. Even as He faced the extremity of the cross and death, the Lord declared, “Because I live, you also will live,” showing how fully He was certain of the resurrection. Jesus knew that death was only temporary and that the power of the grave could not hold Him. In that sense, He was already in a place of victory.
Pastor David Jang repeatedly affirms the importance of the doctrine of the Trinity. The Triune God cannot be explained away by Monarchianism or Modalism; rather, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are independent persons yet co-equal as God. If Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit were subordinated as if they were mere “creations of God the Father,” it would be difficult to say that the redemption accomplished on the cross was truly God’s work. But Jesus Christ, being truly God (of the same essence as God), came to us and carried out atoning salvation, and the Holy Spirit, also truly God, journeys with us in our path of salvation.
Some may question why the doctrine of the Trinity is necessary, asking, “Why isn’t believing in just one God enough?” However, the reason Christianity believes in the Trinity is that in order to know God fully, one must understand that the Father, the Son who reveals the Father’s love, and the Holy Spirit who helps us recall all Jesus’s words and shapes our lives, work together as one. Pastor David Jang says, “We came to know who God is through Jesus Christ.” Because humankind is finite, we cannot know the infinite God on our own; but God revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, who came in human form, and showed us how great God’s love is through the cross—His death and resurrection. Moreover, the One who applies the way of Jesus to each one of us today and enlightens us to understand it is the Holy Spirit. Hence, the Triune God is one God in three persons, completing our entire journey of salvation and sanctification.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fuLEttN1gs
By the grace of Jesus Christ, we are counted as righteous. And through the “fellowship of the Holy Spirit,” we continue to grow in holiness. That is the reason the Trinitarian benediction says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.” Through the grace of Jesus Christ, we enter into God’s love, and by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, we remain in that love. According to Pastor David Jang, “The salvation completed on the cross is applied to each individual by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit leads us so that this applied salvation bears concrete fruit.”
If the Old Testament era was a time in which the rule, covenant, and law of God the Father revealed our sins and limitations, the New Testament era witnessed the ministry of God the Son, Jesus Christ, who came in the flesh. After Jesus opened the path of redemption through His death, resurrection, and ascension, the age of the Holy Spirit has now dawned. Acts chapter 2, where the Holy Spirit descends at Pentecost, is the scene in which the astounding declaration, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” becomes a reality. No longer does the Holy Spirit rest solely on particular prophets, as in the Old Testament; instead, men and women, old and young—even children—who believe in Jesus Christ now receive the Holy Spirit. Pastor David Jang calls this the universal love promised by God and the true joy we experience when walking with the Spirit of truth.
In John 14:26, the Lord says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” “Whom the Father will send in My name” indicates that the Holy Spirit is sent through the redemptive work of Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascension. The Holy Spirit is not granted without cost; rather, by virtue of Jesus’s atoning death which opened the door of salvation and grace, the Holy Spirit is given. Pastor David Jang sums it up by saying, “Without the cross, there is no Holy Spirit.” Since it is upon the atoning work of Jesus Christ that the problem of sin is ultimately resolved, we receive the Holy Spirit “in the name of Jesus.”
The Holy Spirit illuminates the truth in our lives and brings to mind all that Jesus has spoken. This is not merely a process of memorizing knowledge; it is a remembrance and guidance that transforms our lives with power. When we fall into sin or become submerged in human desires, the Holy Spirit within us says, “Return to the Lord’s way—this is sin.” And in that process of repentance, the Spirit protects, comforts, and brings us to a deeper understanding of the righteousness of Christ, leading us to sing songs of thanksgiving. Pastor David Jang calls this “the path to true freedom.” The world mistakenly equates freedom with indulgence or doing whatever one wants, but in reality, only after we receive forgiveness of sins through the redemption of Jesus Christ and live in the Holy Spirit do we enter genuine freedom.
Many people say that John chapter 14 should be read on Pentecost Sunday. This is because Jesus says, “Even if I leave you, there is no need to be troubled, because the Holy Spirit, the Helper, will come, and He will be with you forever.” For believers, there is no greater comfort than this. During Jesus’s time, some disciples directly witnessed His resurrection, but those born in later generations cannot experience Jesus’s physical presence. However, because the Holy Spirit comes, anyone who believes in Jesus, transcending time and space, can experience the same grace. The Holy Spirit is that “other Helper” promised by Jesus, and signals the start of the “new age” God has prepared for us.
The Greek word Paraklētos—translated “Helper” or “Advocate”—carries meanings such as one who helps from alongside, a supporter, comforter, defender, counselor, or encourager. In English, it is rendered Comforter, Advocate, or Counselor. Pastor David Jang explains that the Latin root of “comfort” (com + fortis) means “to give strength together,” stressing that the Holy Spirit not only consoles us but also pours in spiritual power and courage. The boldness with which believers bear witness to the gospel in the world comes from the Spirit’s power. After Jesus’s resurrection, when the disciples gathered and prayed in the Upper Room, the Holy Spirit descended, and finally they began to preach the gospel fearlessly, undeterred by death. It was this fundamental power that enabled the gospel to spread, even amid fierce persecution.
The Holy Spirit continually reminds us of all the truths Jesus taught, instructing us and guiding us to follow Christ’s path by faith. Pastor David Jang emphasizes, “It is precisely through this indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we can meet the Lord anytime, anywhere, beyond the limits of time and space.” When we become the temple of the Holy Spirit, our faith is no longer limited to knowledge or institutional frameworks. Instead, we seek the Spirit’s guidance in every moment of life, striving to avoid sin and remain in the truth. This signifies a shift in our inner motivation, as we are no longer driven by external demands of the law or religious duty, but are voluntarily transformed in the Holy Spirit.
Thus, John chapter 14 is saturated with the profound mystery of the Triune God. The Father plans salvation; the Son, Jesus, accomplishes it; and the Holy Spirit applies it to each believer and brings forth fruit. Without understanding this doctrine, one could see the church merely as a human-made religious institution. But once we grasp the economy of the Trinity, we realize the church is a “community where the Holy Spirit dwells.” And we ourselves become “the temples of the Holy Spirit,” filled with hope as we taste the glory of heaven here on earth.
Pastor David Jang says, “The Holy Spirit is the One who builds the church and at the same time tends to and transforms our souls.” When the Helper, the Holy Spirit, comes, we can hold fast to the covenant of Jesus Christ, keeping our faith unwavering until the end times. Even if we stumble or sin, because the Holy Spirit dwells within, we can return to the path of repentance and holiness. Moreover, from a gospel perspective, the numerous conflicts and wounds of our era can be healed and comforted by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit opens the way to reconciliation and love for those whose hearts have hardened and who harbor hatred. The Spirit grants freedom and joy to those weighed down by sin.
Jesus’s departure, coupled with the promise that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, would come and remain in us forever, is no small consolation. No matter where one may be on the globe or to which generation one belongs, anyone who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and yearns for His Word is equally able to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is the hallmark of the children of God’s community, and what Pastor David Jang persistently calls “the universality of the church.” This universality is ultimately realized because the Holy Spirit is poured out on all people. Within the church, differences in position, age, gender, or social status do not serve as grounds for discrimination. The Holy Spirit bestows diverse gifts upon different individuals, yet unites them into one body to bear witness to Christ. Thus, we form a community where members with various gifts cooperate and serve one another.
Because the Holy Spirit is also the “Spirit of truth,” falsehood, darkness, hatred, and violence cannot easily take root. The world sees endless conflict driven by profit, power, and selfish desire, but within a Spirit-led community, believers strive to serve and forgive one another, growing in love. That is the vision Jesus Christ’s church must pursue. Though the church is not perfect, when it relies on the Holy Spirit and practices truth and love step by step, the world sees the true light through the church. Pastor David Jang describes this process as “the expansion of God’s kingdom.” The church is distinguished from the world by its holiness, yet it also serves within the world, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers through the power of the Spirit to proclaim the gospel.
Pastor David Jang has repeatedly stressed through John 14 that a new age of the Spirit has dawned on the foundation of the Triune God’s promise of salvation and the Helper, the Holy Spirit. Believing that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, though three persons, are indeed one God acting in the work of salvation, is the essence of Christian faith. No matter what forces attempt to undermine Christian doctrine, the Trinitarian faith, grounded in the Scriptures, will not be shaken. And those who embody and experience this Trinitarian faith can boldly go into the world with the power of the Holy Spirit burning within their hearts.
There is only one way to become children of God—through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. When we comprehend that fact and receive Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to help us break free from entrenched sins. Repentant and regenerated hearts are clothed anew in the Spirit, gradually conforming to the character of Christ. Consequently, within the church community we learn to love and serve one another, reflecting the fragrance of Christ out in the world as well. This is the power of the gospel, and the One who makes it possible is none other than the Holy Spirit, the Helper. Although the church has faced persecution, setbacks, and failures since John chapter 14, it has remained until now through the Middle Ages, the modern era, and into the present day because the Holy Spirit never leaves true believers. His work continues in our time as well, and Pastor David Jang confidently urges, “Let us praise our Triune God!”
II. Life in the Age of the Holy Spirit and the Fulfillment of Salvation
Building on the foundation of Trinitarian faith, Pastor David Jang has offered specific teachings on how believers should live in this age of the Holy Spirit. To receive the Holy Spirit is to experience the salvation of Jesus Christ as a “present reality” and to gain freedom from sin, along with the power to live in holiness. Salvation is not merely a past event; it embraces the present and continues until its completion. Once a believer trusts in Christ, he or she is declared righteous, yet simultaneously begins the lifelong process of sanctification, shedding old habits and sinful natures. This sanctification cannot be achieved by human will or effort alone; the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance are indispensable.
Pastor David Jang calls Romans 8 the quintessential “Holy Spirit chapter.” From Romans 1 to 7, the Apostle Paul shows how deeply humanity is entrenched in sin, how Christ’s cross makes atonement for that sin, and how believers are justified by faith. Then in chapter 8, Paul unfolds his teaching on the Holy Spirit, proclaiming the freedom the believer enjoys in the Spirit. He declares, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” and that “the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Thus, in the Holy Spirit, we are no longer condemned but can approach the Father boldly as His children.
When the Holy Spirit works, our salvation transcends mere intellectual declaration and manifests power in real life. Galatians 5 lists the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—vividly illustrating this transformation. If you profess salvation yet your life shows no real change, it may be that you have not yet fully embraced the genuine work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit plows the field of our hearts, driving out deceit, greed, lust, and hatred so that we become more like Christ. Therefore, Pastor David Jang continually encourages believers during Pentecost services and other church gatherings to “yearn for the fullness of the Holy Spirit.” No matter how excellent the preaching or how thorough the teaching, if individuals do not yearn for the Spirit’s fullness, deep spiritual transformation will be difficult to achieve.
Pastor David Jang calls the Book of Acts the “Acts of the Holy Spirit,” though the official title is “Acts of the Apostles.” Reading it reveals that the core narrative is not about the individual strengths of the apostles, but about where the Holy Spirit led them and how the gospel spread among different cities and peoples. After the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, Peter preached boldly, and three thousand people repented and received Christ in a single day. The gospel then spread beyond Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, transforming the entire world through its power. This astonishing work was not due to the apostles’ innate abilities. In fact, they were fearful and scattered when Jesus was arrested. Yet once the Holy Spirit came upon them, they proclaimed the gospel boldly, even unafraid of death.
Such is the power of the Holy Spirit: changing individuals, building up the church, and shaking the world to expand God’s kingdom. The church is a community that partakes in the Spirit’s work, and the Christian life is a journey walking in step with the Spirit. Persecution and trials naturally arise in this process. In John 15 and 16, following chapter 14, Jesus warns that the world will hate His disciples. This hatred stems from the reality that people love darkness rather than light (John 3:19). Instead of repenting and confessing sin once it is exposed by the light, many reject repentance, seeking to assert their own righteousness. Yet believers, by the Holy Spirit, continually repent, obey the Word, and follow Christ’s path.
The age of the Holy Spirit is not one in which we are “left as orphans,” but one in which the Helper, the Holy Spirit, comforts, defends, and instructs us. Pastor David Jang addresses this from multiple angles. First, the Spirit is our Comforter, tending to our wounded hearts. Second, the Spirit is our Advocate, ensuring that when Satan accuses us of weakness and sin, we do not stand condemned but are protected by the merit of Christ. Third, the Spirit is our Helper, giving us tangible wisdom and power for righteous living. Fourth, the Spirit is our Counselor, guiding us when we lack knowledge and clarity, reminding us of Jesus’s words. All of these ministries occur through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor David Jang further preaches that since the outpouring of the Spirit, both women and men, both slaves and free persons—all can receive the Spirit. In the Old Testament, the Spirit mainly came upon a select few, such as prophets or kings, but now the promise of Joel (Joel 2:28–29) that the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh is fulfilled. Quoting Joel, Peter interpreted the dramatic descent of the Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2. This event demolished barriers of social status and cultural background, revealing the path the church must follow. The church became a new community bound together, transcending differences of language, gender, race, or position. Even today, church congregations comprise people of varied backgrounds and social strata, yet they worship together and serve one another because the Holy Spirit unites them as one.
When the Holy Spirit comes, He bestows diverse gifts on each person. Some receive the word of wisdom or the word of knowledge, enabling them to teach and interpret Scripture. Others receive faith, healing, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, or the interpretation of tongues (see 1 Corinthians 12). Yet the crucial point is that “all gifts come from the one Holy Spirit,” who gives them so that the church may be built up, neighbors served, and God ultimately glorified. Pastor David Jang emphasizes that no single gift is inherently superior to another, and the church should maintain a balance of diverse gifts. Some churches erroneously teach that you are not saved if you have not spoken in tongues, which departs from the balanced scriptural view. Whether tongues or prophecy, all gifts are distributed “as the Spirit wills.” Our responsibility is to desire the gifts while avoiding pride or contempt for others, serving one another in love.
In addition to gifting the church, the Holy Spirit also promotes personal holiness. Each time we sin, it is as if our holy garments become stained, and thus we need repentance and cleansing. Overcoming entrenched sin is not simple. The Apostle Paul laments in Romans 7, “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” But in Romans 8 he proclaims, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” and “the law of the Spirit of life has set you free.” This shows that victory is possible in the Holy Spirit. No matter how deep the addiction or how severe the sinful habit, if we turn to the Holy Spirit, the Lord gives us strength to conquer it. Pastor David Jang calls the Holy Spirit “the Spirit of inner freedom and liberation.” It is through the Spirit that we break chains we cannot break by our own will, and thereby live as new creations.
Another key work of the Holy Spirit is “continually prompting us to pray.” Paul says, “We do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26–27). Many believers struggle to pray for extended periods; their thoughts scatter, and they lose focus after a few minutes. Yet if they receive the gift of tongues, the Spirit can guide their prayers beyond the limits of the intellect, enabling them to pray for a longer time. Tongues is a gift that edifies the individual, whereas prophecy edifies others (1 Corinthians 14). Not having the gift of tongues does not mean one is unsaved. Still, if the Spirit permits, one should earnestly desire tongues or prophecy or any other gift. Such a posture of sincere desire is necessary, Pastor David Jang advises.
Thus, the Holy Spirit produces abundant fruit and bestows various gifts in the church. Looking back at church history, significant revivals have occurred whenever the Holy Spirit moved in great power. From the outpouring at Pentecost in Acts leading to the rapid growth of the early church, through the Reformation in the late Middle Ages, the Great Awakening in the modern era, and the worldwide missionary expansion in more recent times—all these were the result of the Spirit’s work. Therefore, when the church declines and fails to serve as salt and light, it is often because the Holy Spirit’s fire has cooled. Pastor David Jang emphasizes that the church must be continually renewed in the Holy Spirit. “Without the Holy Spirit, a church may repetitively engage in mechanical religious activities without manifesting any distinctiveness from the world.” But when a church is filled with the Spirit, it overflows with God’s life, capturing people’s hearts and compelling real change.
Trinitarian faith teaches that God the Father sent His only Son into the world, that God the Son, Jesus Christ, fulfilled the Father’s sending by obediently dying on the cross to complete salvation, and now God the Holy Spirit applies this salvation to each individual and expands it through the church. Though salvation will be consummated at Christ’s return, the Holy Spirit is with us every moment until that day, guiding and sanctifying us. Pastor David Jang teaches, “The Holy Spirit’s goal is to form disciples who resemble Jesus and to adorn the church as the Bride, ready for Christ’s return.” Thus, personal godliness and communal growth are two sides of the same coin. The Spirit not only sanctifies individuals but also uses relationships within the church community—where we confess our sins to one another and intercede for each other—to fortify holiness.
Scripture prophesies that in the new heaven and new earth, God’s people will praise Him forever (Revelation 21). Until that day, the Holy Spirit cares for the saints in every era. Pastor David Jang describes this as “the Holy Spirit defending us until the final judgment.” Because we are forgiven of sin through the blood of Jesus and our names are recorded in the Book of Life, the Holy Spirit continually assures our consciences of that truth. No matter how chaotic the world becomes—or how much division and conflict arise in the church—the true church of Christ will never vanish as long as the Holy Spirit remains. The Spirit grieves over wrongdoing, urges repentance, and provides ways to break through times of stagnation and crisis.
Life in the era of the Holy Spirit means daily participation in the Triune God’s saving work. We have become children of God under the love of the Father, by the grace of the Son, and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Through the cross of Jesus Christ, we have received forgiveness and justification. Now, by the Holy Spirit, we walk the path of holiness. Though we are not perfect, every small step forward in reliance on the Holy Spirit diminishes our old self and reveals the image of Christ in us. Pastor David Jang summarizes this process as “the kingdom of God expanding in me, in the church, and in the world.” As believers become increasingly distinct from the world, the world, in turn, begins to open its doors to the gospel.
The promise of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, and the Trinitarian plan of salvation evident in John 14 represents the core of Christian faith. It has sustained the church from the time of the early Christians until now. Pastor David Jang declares, “While guarding this inheritance of faith, we should become a church that experiences ever more powerfully the present reality of the Holy Spirit.” For individuals, that means longing daily for the indwelling of the Spirit, communing with Him through Scripture and prayer, resisting sin, and growing in the knowledge of Christ. At the corporate level, the church should unite the varied spiritual gifts the Spirit grants to each member into a single body, complementing one another’s weaknesses and advancing a positive gospel witness in society.
At the heart of all these ministries stands “Jesus Christ, who revealed God’s love,” and “the Holy Spirit, who impresses that Word and love upon our hearts so it bears fruit.” And behind it all is the eternal plan and providence of the Father. In the economy of the Triune God, we are never forsaken nor lost. The Helper, the Holy Spirit, still leads us, empowers us, convicts us, and moves us to pray. Those who believe and cling to this will find no tribulation or persecution too great to overcome. Beyond death itself lies resurrection, for the victory Christ secured is ours as well. Those who enter that pathway of victory are renewed daily in the Spirit, bearing the abundant fruit of love, joy, and peace.
Pastor David Jang shows that the promise of the Holy Spirit in John 14 is realized throughout the New Testament—in Joel 2, Acts 2, Romans 8, Galatians 5, 1 Corinthians 12–14, and beyond—and that this promise constitutes the essential power of the New Testament church. And since that same Holy Spirit is still given to us today, we need only to receive it by faith. This demonstrates that the church is not a mere religious institution but a living community under the love and power of the Triune God, guided by the Holy Spirit.
We are invited in this age of the Spirit to experience the power of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, and to worship and commune more deeply with our Triune God. After Jesus ascended, we were not left as orphans. The Holy Spirit teaches us all truth and reminds us of the Father’s will, which we receive through the salvation of Jesus Christ. In this era of grace, the Holy Spirit is no longer poured out on just a few prophets, as in the Old Testament; anyone who calls on the name of the Lord receives the gift of the Spirit. In the Spirit, we share various gifts, testify of Jesus, and spread His love and truth in the world. This, Pastor David Jang asserts, is “the core of the gospel that the age of the Spirit has begun.” We worship the one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and in Him we will dwell forever.

