Alliance Church Pastor David Welch
“The Spirit and the World” John 16:7-15
I. Public Teaching and Ministry of Jesus 2-12
II. Private Teaching and Ministry of Jesus 13-17
A. Forgive as Jesus forgives
B. Love as Jesus loves
C. Practice pertinent truths that soothe the troubled soul 14:1-31
D. Stay connected to the True Vine to bear lasting fruit 15: 1-8
E. Receive and reciprocate God’s love
F. Deal wisely with the World
1. Understand the nature of the “world”
2. Understand the various relationships with the world
a) The World toward Jesus
b) The World toward us
c) Jesus toward the world
d) Us toward the World
e) The Holy Spirit and the World John 16:7-11
Jesus outlines the ministry or work of the Holy Spirit with regard to the world. Jesus instructs his followers not to fret about the hostile world, because when the Holy Spirit comes he will do the necessary work regarding the world. The Holy Spirit communicates three basic truths to those in the world.
He brings believers into all truth. The Holy Spirit will stick to three basic points when dealing with the world that we would do well to follow in our conversation with others. They are stated here and expanded in the next three verses. Sin, righteousness, judgment.
The Word translated convict.
"CONVICT” a legal term at the bar of justice is defined and fixed. The Holy Spirit does not merely accuse men of sin; he brings them to an inescapable sense of guilt so that they realize their shame and helplessness before God. The Holy Spirit will act as divine prosecutor regarding guilt regarding the follow three factors. Out of all the theological and moral issues to argue with the world, there are only three issues that count in regard to the world’s guilt before God. These are the factors that the Holy Spirit uses to refute the philosophies protected and perpetuated by the devil-directed world system. I believe that at sometime in every person’s life, the Holy Spirit causes one to realize the truth of these three things and provides an opportunity to respond. On the basis of these factors the Holy Spirit either brings one to repentance or confirms their condemnation before God. Every person born into this world must make one of two choices.
1) Harden their heart to what they have heard.
2) Repent and turn to God
(1) THE SIN FACTOR
John 16:9 "concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;"
The Holy Spirit focuses on the issue of SIN. It is the world sin (singular) not sins (plural). The Holy Spirit convicts of the principle of sin not the results of sins. Sin is the problem sins are the consequence. The fundamental issue regarding sin is unbelief; a refusal to trust God. The foundation of sin is unbelief therefore the Holy Spirit convicts of sin because or “inasmuch as” they do not believe in Him. The natural consequence of unbelief is behavior that violates God’s way of doing things. We were born as children of wrath because we lived according to the course of this world, (which is hostile to God) and can do nothing of ourselves to immigrate to the heavenly kingdom or escape his wrath for being citizens of the worldly kingdom.
Restored faith in God and in Jesus is the only remedy for SIN. Hebrews 9:22ff
There is no other means to God but through the means God has directed.
To reject Jesus is to reject pardon for sin against God.
To reject Jesus is to refuse the only way to God.
To reject Jesus is to stand before God accountable for your own sin.
Whether we think we have sinned or not is not the question.
The issue is how God sees it. He emphatically states how He feels in Romans 3:10-23
The sin of the world is to reject Jesus and the Father who sent Him. Many try to convince the world they are sinners on the basis of deeds. The foundational issue is that people have rejected God and the proof of that is that they don’t do what he said and do what he said not to do. The world walks around with a hidden terminal disease called sin that may or may not have obvious external symptoms. It is terminal nonetheless and the Holy Spirit came to demonstrate that fact. The Holy Spirit came to convict a world hostile to Jesus that He is the only remedy for their rebellion against God.
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:3
Acts 4:12 ""And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.""
I can tell you right now from God’s own Word that without believe in Jesus they won’t make it. He will not grade on the curve. He will not balance their life with the good and the bad. If we sin in one point we sin in all. If we only sinned once we are condemned and He is right to send us to an eternity in hell. The soul that sins must die. Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Failure to reconcile with a Holy God is the issue. You may have been pretty good to others and lived a “good life, but if you neglect relationship with God, you have spit in his face and are guilty of nailing Jesus to the Cross. God will not overlook sin. He does not take rejection lightly. There is not life apart from restored relationship with God. The wages of sin is death, eternal death, and separation from all that is genuine life. You have a debt that is impossible to pay. Either you accept the divine remedy freely offered or die. The Holy Spirit comes to convince of sin inasmuch as you have not believed in Him.
Those who do believe? John 6:47.”John 1:11-12 John 3:16
The way to eternal life has to do with sinlessness.
The way to eternal life has also to do with righteousness.
(2) THE RIGHTEOUSNESS FACTOR
John 16:10 "and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me;"
The issue here is the credentials and character necessary for reconciliation with God. It is very clear how God views our deeds apart from Him. Not only have all sinned but all have fallen short of the mark. Not only have we all practiced evil. There is none righteous.
Even if we never sinned we would still have to have a righteousness that measures up to the absolute holiness and goodness of God. Jesus taught and lived that standard. The proof that He lived the standard laid down by God is that He is now acquitted and gloriously, enthusiastically received by the Father. Unless we have a righteousness that meets that standard, we cannot hope to see God. It is the pure I heart that will see God.
We have all woefully missed the mark. The target is the moon and we have pole vaulted 8 feet three inches toward the goal. Not only are we in debt, but also the payment necessary for passage to eternal life is completely beyond our ability to meet. The checks we write turn up insufficient funds to book passage. No matter how much we want it. Our “righteousness” account contains insufficient funds.
The Holy Spirit is here today to let you know that our account does not and will never have the necessary righteousness to stand before a Holy God other than for judgment.
In Christ there is hope.
2 Cor 5:21 "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Rom 3:21-26 Rom 4:23-25 Rom 5:1-2
Without a righteousness equal to that of Jesus, we cannot know God or enjoy eternal life.
With Jesus, we are declared righteous. In Jesus God deposits all His righteousness to our bank account. He died to pay the debt and rose again to deposit His divinely approved and tested righteousness into our accounts thus cover all the necessary requirements for reconciliation with a Holy God. When you embrace the Son you get it all.
The whole issue of works and human morality and good works of man is not the issue. The problem is not obtaining the righteousness of Jesus that is the only credentials accepted by the Father demonstrated by the fact that He enthusiastically accepted his Him. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of not having the righteousness necessary to enter into relationship with God.
(3) THE IDENTIFICATION FACTOR
John 16:11 "and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged."
“concerning JUDGMENT.”
The issue here has to do with identification. Where is our citizenship? Whose team are we on? Who do we embrace as lord and ruler? If we refuse to identify with Christ "the King of Heaven and prince of peace", we, by default, identify with the "prince of this World, the prince of darkness." In as much as condemnation has already been passed down to Satan, any who are identified (actively or passively) with him, those who identify with him stand condemned along with Him.
It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment. Hebrews 9:27
The identification factor cuts through all the “all roads lead to heaven” arguments. The Holy Spirit works to convince concerning the truth that God will hold men guilty by reason of their connection to the enemy. Refusing to actively identify with Christ aligns one by default with the evil one. Only by turning to Christ can we transfer out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Having been separated from God we can be brought near through Christ.
We are no longer aliens and strangers but fellow citizens with the saints and are of God’s household with whom we wait for a savior and the full realization of our redemption and eternal inheritance. How does the world get this message from the Holy Spirit?
It is through people that the Holy Spirit speaks to men.
Peter’s sermon in Acts revolves around these factors. He did not appeal to them to come to Jesus to find relief from their circumstances but deliverance from their sin against God.
Peter spoke of sin regarding their response to Jesus Acts 2:22-23
Peter spoke of the Father’s acceptance of Jesus into heaven.. Acts 2:32-33
Peter also spoke of judgment Acts 2:34-36
Response was varied as it is today. Some repented and cried what shall we do to be saved. It is obvious that others did not “receive his word.”
Heavenly Court in Session
Judge -- The Honorable Holy One of Israel, the Ancient of Days presiding.
Case -- Divine Creator VS Defiant Creature
Attorneys
Attorney for the Prosecution -- the Holy Spirit.
Defense attorney for those who believe -- Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Judge
Defense attorney for those who don’t believe – stand in their own defense
Charges
1 – Failure to accept the Creator’s personal representative
2 -- Insufficient funds “not enough righteousness to cover the cost of Eternal Life”
3 -- Accessory to the works of an already convicted enemy of Heaven
Defense for those who believe in Jesus
1 -- They believed in Me and I paid the penalty for those sins by my death on the Cross.
2 -- I have imputed My righteousness on their behalf.
3 -- They have severed all relationships with the enemy and identify with My kingdom.
Defense for those who do not believe
1 – Failure to believe and embrace Jesus? “Nolo condendre” No contest, no defense
2 -- Insufficient funds? “No contest”
3 – Identification with a known felon? “No contest”
Verdict
Believers -- “not guilty on all counts” (justified). Released to pursue and enjoy continued relationship with the Creator beyond imagination.
Unbelievers
1 -- Sin? Guilty!
2 -- Insufficient funds? Guilty!
3 -- Accessory? Guilty as charged
Sentence
Unbelievers
Wages of sin is death.
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:31-46
And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:10-15
Believers
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Rev. 21:1-8
Think it over
I am convinced that if you are not a believer, the Holy Spirit has communicated this truth at one time or another.
Listen, don’t harden your heart!
Respond to His voice!
Experience for the first time relationship with the resurrected Christ from a new perspective
Identify with Christ this morning!
Receive Him as Lord of your life!
Be reconciled to God!
When you try to share Christ in the world remember the basis on which the Holy Spirit works with the world.
The Holy Spirit brings the world to make a choice.
• Self or Jesus
• Insufficient personal righteousness or the eternal righteousness of Jesus
• Align with Satan or with Jesus
