Mid Week Meditation

Mid Week Meditation - June 7, 2019

Based on Biblical Text: John 16:7-8  

“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:”

The fact is, we cannot be converted unless we are first convicted. Conviction is not the same as conversion, but the two go hand in hand.

Many folk wrestle with the question, “Why did Jesus have to die?” Interestingly the disciples wrestled with it too. Though necessary, the departure of Jesus for them was painful and difficult.

If Jesus was going to save us He had to atone for our sins. Jesus had to depart! If not, there would have been no gospel nor would we have had a glorified Lord to send us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works in three areas; righteousness, sin and judgment.

Unless exposed we seem content to wallow in. It appears sometimes we are comfortable to get into anything we want to get in to, as long as we feel unrestrained. Jesus knew we would not repent unless our sin was exposed. So Jesus laid the groundwork for our conversion, paying the price for the penalty of sin. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that works to convince and convict us of our desperate plight revealing for us the difference between righteousness and sin.

Sin is rebellion against God. Rebellion reached its climax with the crucifixion of Jesus. The greatest sin is failure to believe in Jesus Christ. The Bible reminds us that, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already” (John 3:18)

Jesus had to die in order to pay for our sins, and then to send the Holy Spirit, our Counselor, in His place. Jesus’ death defeated Satan, who Hebrews 2:14 says once held “the power of death.” His death and resurrection condemned Satan. Although Satan will still be trying to thwart our relationship with God, like a condemned criminal, his execution is coming. The Word says, “Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out!”( John 12:31) It’s only a matter of time.

The truth of the coming judgment is proclaimed! The maximum penalty for our sin is eternal death. The Holy Spirit convicts us and prepares us for salvation, revealing to us just who has “the power to judge.” We are admonished to take note of Satan’s defeat, and to fear the Lord, who holds all power to judge.

Our soul, created to spend eternity in heaven, would instead spend eternity in hell. However, Jesus stepped in as our Righteous Judge paying the penalty for our sin. Jesus warned, “for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” Jesus sent us a Comforter. Jesus converts us, and the Holy Spirit convicts us.