Tuesday, November 8

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Tuesday

But I tell you the truth: 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: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.   – John 16:6-11

In this passage Jesus says that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.  Everything is going to start, Jesus declares, with an inwardly transformed people. That is the first step in his strategy. It is easy to miss what Jesus is really saying when you read this passage. Most of us read the sentence, "When he comes he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment," as though it is a ministry which the Spirit directly performs upon the unbelieving society. But that is not what Jesus is saying.  As Jesus points out in just two chapters earlier, the Spirit does not come to the world.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  – John 14:16-17

So, if the world does not accept or know the Holy Spirit, then how will the Holy Spirit convict the world of its need for a savior?  Jesus is telling His disciples (and us) that the Holy Spirit is going to reach the world through the transformed lives of those who believe in and follow Jesus.  This does not mean that the Holy Spirit has no direct ministry to unbelievers at all, but His primary method of convincing the world is you and I!  Perhaps you are thinking to yourself, “God should have come up with a better plan than me.”  Well, who are you to question God’s plan?

What is the Spirit going to do in the Church? To put it more personally, what is He going to do to you that will impact the world?  This is a question worth taking some time to reflect on – What is the Holy Spirit doing in your life that is going to convince or convict anybody of anything that God’s Word says?

The Greek word that is translated “convict” can also be translated convince or reprove.  It means to persuade or to convince by argument.  I have known many Christians believe that the way to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment is to get really good at arguing and debating. 

I knew a young man years ago who was exceptionally bright.  He was on the debate team in college, he was very articulate and a quick thinker, and he loved to argue with anyone about anything.  He was especially interested in engaging atheists or skeptics in debates about the truth of Christianity.  He became kind of famous (or infamous) on his campus for his impromptu debates and arguments.  Once, when he was home on semester break, we got together for a cup of coffee to catch up.  He told me about how many times he had “destroyed” some skeptic in debate, and about how he had yet to find someone who could match his arguments.  I asked him if he had ever known anyone who decided to trust and follow Jesus as result of debating with him.  After a long pause he said no, not that he was aware of.  I asked him how many of the people he debated did he develop friendships with – after another long pause he said, none. 

Now don’t misunderstand me here, I think it is good for Christians to be able to defend their faith.  We are told in Scripture that we should always be ready to give an answer for the hope we have in Christ.  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect  - 1 Peter 3:15

It was the gentleness and respect part that my young friend was missing.  He had developed an arrogant and prideful heart that was undermining his message.  In all my years of ministry I have yet to meet someone who was argued into heaven.  But I have met many who have been drawn by the Holy Spirit-filled lives of those who follow Jesus.  What good is an argument if it is not backed up by a transformed life?  Your best argument is the Holy Spirit’s work in your life!

Jeff Frazier