Note 27 at Jn. 14:17: Jesus' statement here that the world cannot receive the Holy Spirit is very important. This means that until a person is born again (see note 2 at Jn. 3:3, p. 48), he cannot receive the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers cannot receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit (see note 28 at this verse, below). Peter used this as a proof of salvation in Acts 11:15-17.

Note 28 at Jn. 14:17: Man, apart from the quickening of the Holy Spirit, cannot believe what he cannot see. In 1 Corinthians 2:14, Paul said, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." This is why a lost man cannot receive the Holy Spirit (see note 27 at this verse, above).

Note 29 at Jn. 14:17: Jesus made a clear distinction between the Holy Spirit being with the disciples and being in them. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is always involved in all of God's dealings with man (see note 28 at this verse, above). This was certainly true of the Lord's revelation to the disciples of who Jesus was. However, the Holy Spirit had only been with them but He would be in them.

Likewise, today, some may claim that they have the Holy Spirit because of the fact that no man can come to Jesus except through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 6:44), but it is only through the baptism of the Holy Spirit that He actually comes and lives in the heart of the believer.