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 16:7-8,
"It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment..."
As Jesus tells his disciples about his coming death and ascension into heaven, they are "filled with grief". As an encouragement to them he tells them about how he will send the Holy Spirit when he gets to heaven and about the Holy Spirit's activity in the world. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of guilt. This guilt will be a three-fold conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment.
The importance of this cannot be overstated. In John 12:32 Jesus said, "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." Jesus Christ wants all to come to him. He presents himself as the atoning sacrifice of all mankind, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2. Additionally, he sends the Holy Spirit into the world to bring the conviction that all in the world are in need of this atoning sacrifice. Mankind is sinful, lacking righteousness and stands under the judgment of God - facing a lake of fire for all eternity.
After all, who would reach out for a life vest unless they were convinced they needed it? So, the Holy Spirit convicts unsaved man of sin, of unsaved man's need for a savior. All that anyone could possibly need to be brought into God's family has been provided by him! What a wonderful God who has gone to great lengths to bring us all into his family!
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.
"It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment..."
As Jesus tells his disciples about his coming death and ascension into heaven, they are "filled with grief". As an encouragement to them he tells them about how he will send the Holy Spirit when he gets to heaven and about the Holy Spirit's activity in the world. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of guilt. This guilt will be a three-fold conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment.
The importance of this cannot be overstated. In John 12:32 Jesus said, "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." Jesus Christ wants all to come to him. He presents himself as the atoning sacrifice of all mankind, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2. Additionally, he sends the Holy Spirit into the world to bring the conviction that all in the world are in need of this atoning sacrifice. Mankind is sinful, lacking righteousness and stands under the judgment of God - facing a lake of fire for all eternity.
After all, who would reach out for a life vest unless they were convinced they needed it? So, the Holy Spirit convicts unsaved man of sin, of unsaved man's need for a savior. All that anyone could possibly need to be brought into God's family has been provided by him! What a wonderful God who has gone to great lengths to bring us all into his family!
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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