On Conviction & Condemnation-Lent 26, 2015

John 16:8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

This Counselor that Jesus keeps talking about–while the disciples are With Christ in the Upper Room–has a lot of work to do.  In fact His job description is three-fold:

He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.

In regard to sin, the Holy Spirit proves that sin exists and God hates it.

We will all be found guilty of it.  Only Jesus never sinned.  Condemnation would have been ours on Judgment Day but for one thing: Jesus did what He had to do to save us.

Therefore, those of us who believe in Jesus Christ are now convicted in our consciences; that is, we are known to God (and ourselves by way of conviction) as being guilty of sinning, but the Bible says believers in Jesus’ Name will also be deemed forgiven.

The Holy Spirit’s coming authenticates what Jesus did (die for sin) and how acceptable His sacrifice was (because Jesus asked the Father to send this Counselor to prove it).

If there was any other way to be saved than The Way (Jesus), why would God bother to send Jesus to die?  Jesus’ death affirms there is no other way.

The convicting job of the Holy Spirit is not the same as condemnation.

 Conviction brings about hope of deliverance and a wake-up call. 

Condemnation means that time’s up.  Game’s over.

Right now the Holy Spirit is convicting our consciences and we need to pay attention.

The convicting work of the Holy Spirit is not only sin-related, but also righteousness related.  It points out that we are not righteous on our own.  There’s no earning our way to heaven.  We need to be covered in Jesus’ righteousness.  It’s possible only because Jesus returned to the Father, where we can see Him no longer.

But the third job description is to convict the world in regard to judgment.  Judgment is coming and if we’re wise, we pay attention to the sin and righteousness part and wake up before it’s too late.  The coming of the Holy Spirit is evidence that Jesus did what He had to do and He did it perfectly!  When He returns, it’s Judgment Day.

To Jesus, the judgment of evil is already a done deal.  The prince of this world (our adversary, Satan) now stands condemned.  No forgiveness is even offered to Satan.  But the same world that judged Jesus,  yelled “Crucify!” back then, and sent Him to His death… is the same world that desperately needs the forgiveness He bought with His precious blood…before He judges us in the Last Day.

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Give it Up for Lent: Thinking you can earn your way to favor with God.

Put it On for Lent: The righteousness of Christ through faith in Him!

For further thought:

• Have you ever wondered whether you’re experiencing conviction or condemnation?
• Conviction is designed by God to bring about awareness of guilt for the purpose of repentance. Condemnation is earned by Satan and he uses it to bring about guilt for the purpose of shame.  If you’re experiencing an ongoing sense of shame but not a need to repent, God isn’t in charge of that one.
• Respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit by seeing Him as a guarantee that Jesus paid for your sins.  Repent and be forgiven.
• Romans 10:13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
• 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

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