If you've been in church for a while I am sure you've heard the term "Holy Spirit Conviction." What exactly is that? I've heard many say that "Holy Spirit conviction" is when a person is convicted of his or her sin.
Jesus, speaking of the Holy Spirit, said in John 16:7-11
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
The word "reprove" in this verse is the Greek word "Elegcho" which means, "To convict, refute, confute." Who is it that the Holy Spirit convicts? Let's look again . .
And when he is come, he will reprove the world . . .
What does the Holy Spirit reprove the world of?
Of sin . . .
Why does the Holy Spirit reprove the world of sin?
. . . because they believe not on me . . .
Jesus died for our sins. We enjoy the benefits of a relationship with God when we trust in Jesus and His finished work. The Holy Spirit reproves the world, in other words, the unbelievers of sin, and shows them their inability to measure up to the law of God. He convicts unbelievers of the fact that they have not trusted Christ and His sacrifice for the removal of their sins.
The Holy Spirit also reproves the world of righteousness and judgement. Let's look again . . .
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
So the Holy Spirit points people to a righteousness outside of themselves and their deeds. He testifies of Jesus' finished work. He speaks of judgement. The devil has been judged, defeated and destroyed in the work of the cross.
If you're a believer and you've been asking the Holy Spirit to reveal sin in your life, know this: You have been forgiven! Stop trying to find what Jesus has removed. Jesus has finished the work! Will the Holy Spirit lead you to the right behavior? Of course, but He will never accuse you of sin if you've trusted Jesus as your Savior - Jesus dealt with your sin once and for all. That was at the cross.
Paul Rupe has served as associate pastor as well as a number of other positions in his local fellowship. Paul currently is web administrator for Gracespirations Daily Devotion an outreach of Teleo Ministries.
You can visit Paul online at http://teleoministries.blogspot.com
The Spirit of God VS the Spirit of the World
One day Jesus was walking with His disciples. He was headed for Jerusalem. Jesus had sent messengers ahead into Samaria to reserve rooms for Him and his disciples. When those in Samaria heard that they were going to Jerusalem, they refused to give them rooms. The reason? The Jews and Samaritans ...
Another Message
Another message I got from you today. Echos of love, mercy and grace.
Founded since time began. Your are my mother my father and my friend.You have placed you spirit into my very soul. You are ancient of days, but never old.
I created an ego and wished that you had left. Looking to blame others all besides my self. Creating worlds that did not ex...
Unsophisticated and Common
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).It was beyond doubt that these unsophisticated and common men were friends of Jesus. Their words and acts proved it. What was it that finally convinced the authori...
Forever My God With Thee
Overwhelmed as I am by the cold, dark earth around me, I fear this death of mine has finally come. Yet in this darkness, in this absolute, everlasting, empty blackness, I have found for my soul a peace, a truly placid serenity, the likes of which I, as a person once of this earth, did never know, nay, could never have known.How cruel and unfair thi...
Captain Joshua Slocum, Navigating, and the Church and What It Has to Do With Me!
Captain Joshua Slocum left from Boston Harbor, MA on April 24, 1895, at the age of 51, in the rebuilt 37-foot sloop Spray. He returned, sailing into Newport, RI, on June 27, 1898 after single-handedly sailing around the world, a passage of 46,000 miles. This historic achievement made him the patron saint of small-boat voyagers, navigators and adven...
Cutting Off Limbs
[B]ecause the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in..." (Proverbs 3:12).Marcus Dods said, "The world is unintelligible except on the hypothesis that it is for our schooling, and that he that sows in tears is the likeliest to have sheaves worth gathering." We water these sheaves with our tears. We can hope and pray that...
The Otter Hunter And The Storm Spirit (As Told 5000 Years Ago In The Aleutian Islands)
Hunter: Come close. I have a story to tell about how the storm spirit tried to take me away.It was a clear cold day with just a slight breeze and some early morning fog hanging on the horizon. I left the warmth of my underground dwelling in Unalaska and walked down the rocky beach to the sea. I had with me what food I would need for the day and...
