The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 16:8-11,
"When he [the Advocate, the Holy Spirit] comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."
The Holy Spirit is called the "Advocate". For those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and becomes our advocate. More than just representing us in God's court as our advocate, he comes to us to strengthen us, to encourage us, to teach us, he comes alongside to help us. As far as representing us before the father, I am reminded of Romans 8:26-27, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God."
Of course, Jesus Christ does as well, "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Romans 8:34-35.
In John 16 Jesus said when the Holy Spirit came he would prove the world to be wrong about three things: sin, righteousness and judgement.
The Holy Spirit helps us see our sinful condition, he helps us sense our need for the Savior. In our lost and fallen condition we would never see ourselves as God does and the Holy Spirit helps us in that regard. This is my understanding of the one unpardonable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in denying him as he shows us our sinful condition.
The Holy Spirit also reveals to us that we are not right with God as sinners. We need to change our standing with God and that will not come about by us being "good enough". Our acceptable standing with God can only come about by us having Jesus Christ's own righteousness being credited to our account by embracing him in faith. That righteousness of Jesus Christ is proven by his resurrection from the dead and his ascension into heaven.
The Holy Spirit also brings a dread to non-believers about the looming judgment they may or may not be conscious of. I am reminded of Psalm 14:5, "But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous." Satan is already condemned in God's judgment as a fixed reality, and the horror of falling under God's judgment is seen in Satan's situation.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"When he [the Advocate, the Holy Spirit] comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."
The Holy Spirit is called the "Advocate". For those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and becomes our advocate. More than just representing us in God's court as our advocate, he comes to us to strengthen us, to encourage us, to teach us, he comes alongside to help us. As far as representing us before the father, I am reminded of Romans 8:26-27, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God."
Of course, Jesus Christ does as well, "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Romans 8:34-35.
In John 16 Jesus said when the Holy Spirit came he would prove the world to be wrong about three things: sin, righteousness and judgement.
The Holy Spirit helps us see our sinful condition, he helps us sense our need for the Savior. In our lost and fallen condition we would never see ourselves as God does and the Holy Spirit helps us in that regard. This is my understanding of the one unpardonable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in denying him as he shows us our sinful condition.
The Holy Spirit also reveals to us that we are not right with God as sinners. We need to change our standing with God and that will not come about by us being "good enough". Our acceptable standing with God can only come about by us having Jesus Christ's own righteousness being credited to our account by embracing him in faith. That righteousness of Jesus Christ is proven by his resurrection from the dead and his ascension into heaven.
The Holy Spirit also brings a dread to non-believers about the looming judgment they may or may not be conscious of. I am reminded of Psalm 14:5, "But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous." Satan is already condemned in God's judgment as a fixed reality, and the horror of falling under God's judgment is seen in Satan's situation.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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