In a world that demands life without any conviction, that does not see themselves as sinners, we see that it is the purpose of the Holy Spirit to convict the world in regard to sin, righteousness & judgment. The greatest sin is the state of unbelief in Jesus Christ because: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. We are responsible for belief in the gospel and faith in the Lord, which subtracts sin and adds righteousness; our sins upon Jesus and Christ’s righteousness upon us. Why should God let us into His heaven? The Holy Spirit convicts us that if Jesus Christ is not our Savior and Lord, then we reject Him and heaven by our unrepentant sin of unbelief. And without receiving His righteousness through His redeeming atonement by His blood, we would be just a pardoned criminal. Having righteousness credited to us restores our “right” standing before God in justification and restored relationship. Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven was the proof of God’s acceptance of and seal of approval on Christ’s propitiation for the sins of the world.
Romans 4:20-25 “Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”
We need to realize that, in this life, we are not on trial by God the Judge. We live in a judged and condemned guilty world already. “He who believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”- John 3:18 & Matthew 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” The defeat of Satan at the Cross was judgment, not just victory. God acts with justice because God is just in His essential character. Those who us who are not ashamed by their guilt revealed by the Holy Spirit in our conscious (God’s laws written upon our hearts) and the Holy Scriptures of the Bible (the inspired the Word of God) are lost sinners waiting on “death row”. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This conviction of the Holy Spirit is to drive us to the foot of the Cross for our justification and escape of judgment. We do not worship a book, but worship God (Father, Son & Holy Spirit), revealed in truth and spirit, who loves us and desires to restore us to an upright position: forgiven in justification, heaven-bound with eternal life by belief in Jesus Christ. This is the sure hope in faith and the true joy of our Salvation.
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
In Christ, Brian
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