The Spiritual Condition of the Disciples
Before their Spiritual Baptism at Pentecost
What the Disciples WERE
(1) They were clean
Jn. 13:10 Jesus said to him, “The man who has taken a bath needs only to wash his feet, but he is clean all over. Likewise, you are clean, but not all of you.”
Jn. 15:3 You are already clean through the word that I have spoken to you;
(2) They were not of the world
Jn. 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would be friendly to its own, but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.
(3) They were chosen and ordained
Jn. 15:16 You have not chosen me for yourselves, but I have chosen you for myself, and I have ordained you.
(4) They believed
Jn. 14:1 You believe in God; believe also in me.
Jn. 17:8 they truly do know I that came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.
(5) They loved Jesus
Jn. 16:27 The Father Himself loves (phileo) you because you have loved (phileo) me.
(6) They belonged to God
Jn. 17:6a They were yours, and you gave them to me.
(7) They knew that Jesus came from God
Jn. 17:25 Righteous Father, although the world does not know you, I know you, and these men know that you sent me.
(8) They had obeyed God
Jn. 17:6b [Jesus to God] They have obeyed your word.
What the Disciples WERE NOT
(1) They were not sanctified
Jn. 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Jn. 17:19 and for them, I consecrate myself so that they may be sanctified by the truth.
(2) They were not in Christ, nor was he in them
Jn. 17:21 ...that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.
(3) They had never asked God for anything in Jesus’ name
Jn. 16:24 Until now, you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive so that your joy may be full.
Jn. 16:26 In that day, you shall ask in my name, and I am not saying to you that I will ask the Father for you.
(4) They did not believe
Jn. 14:29 And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.
(5) The love of God was not in them
Jn. 17:26 I have made your name known to them, and I will make it known so that the love with which you loved me may be in them. (Rom 5:5!)
(6) They did not have the Spirit
Jn. 14:17 The Spirit of truth. . . . You understand it because it is with you, but it shall be in you.
(7) They did not know Jesus
Jn 14:7-9 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. And from now on, you know Him and have seen Him.
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, Have I spent so much time with you, Philip, and yet you do not know me?
(8) They could not bear to hear the truth
Jn. 16:12 I still have much to tell you, but you are not now able to bear it.
The Spiritual Condition of the Disciples
Before their Spiritual Baptism
Summary
Based on what Jesus himself said about his disciples before they received the holy ghost baptism on the day of Pentecost,
1. They were clean (Jn. 13:10; 15:3),
but they were not sanctified (Jn. 17:17, 19).
2. They were not of the world (Jn. 15:19)
but they were not in Christ, nor was he in them (Jn. 17:11, 21-23).
3. They were chosen and ordained (Jn. 15:16)
but they had never asked God anything in Jesus’ name (Jn. 16:24, 26).
4. They believed in God (Jn. 14:1; 17:8)
but they did not believe (Jn. 14:12, 29; 16:29-33; 11:11-15).
5. They loved Jesus (Jn. 16:27)
but the love of God was not in them (Jn. 17:26).
6. They belonged to God (Jn. 17:6a)
but they did not have the Spirit of God within them (Jn. 14:17).
7. They knew that Jesus came from God (Jn. 17:25)
but they did not know Jesus (Jn. 14:7-9).
8. They had obeyed God (Jn. 17:6b)
but there was truth that they could not bear to hear (Jn. 16:12).
The disciples, spiritually speaking, were as unborn children, nearing the hour of the birth (Jn. 16:20-22).
