What does John 14:24 mean?
Scripture does not teach that "good behavior" earns or keeps salvation (Titus 3:5; Romans 11:6). There is no valid scriptural argument that people must act in certain ways to merit a ticket to heaven (Isaiah 64:6; Galatians 2:21). The Bible also rejects the idea that Christians can expect to be perfectly sinless (1 John 1:9–10). We will fail, at times (James 3:2). However, Scripture is also clear that those who are saved through faith in Christ will demonstrate that salvation in their lives (John 14:15; 21, 23). Claims that someone is a true "Christian" are incompatible with a life lived in defiance of His teachings (1 John 2:4–6). Works are not required for salvation, but true salvation produces corresponding works (James 2:14–18).This verse reiterates that same idea. Jesus is God (John 14:9). To reject Jesus is to reject God (John 5:30; 12:49). Those who reject God are rejecting the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17), and that means they'll disobey the commands taught by Jesus. This is a sign of their lack of faith (John 8:39–40, 8:44).
John 14:15–31 contains a prediction about the Holy Spirit. Jesus refers to this as the Spirit of Truth, and promises that the Spirit will arrive to help the disciples carry on after Jesus is ascended to heaven. Throughout this section, a person's love for Christ, their obedience to His teachings, and the indwelling of the Spirit are intertwined. As in prior statements, Jesus is focused on comfort and encouragement. He will continue to highlight the need to maintain faith, based on all He has said and done so far. Later, after advance warnings about what Christians will face, Jesus will return to describing the work and purpose of the Holy Spirit under the new covenant.
Christ reassures His followers that faith in Him is faith in God. To know Christ is to know ''the way, and the truth, and the life'' (John 14:6). The words, actions, and miracles of Jesus should give Christians confidence to trust that He will make good on His promises. Among those are His guarantee that He is preparing to come for us, so we can be where He is. Jesus also predicts the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is only available to believers, and this Helper acts to guide, teach, and remind us. Both for the disciples, and for future Christians, these words are meant to be comforting during hard times. Since Christ knew, in advance, what would happen, we can be even more confident to trust Him.
