Text: St. John 16:7-13
Theme: Look, Listen and Learn
Humanly speaking, we love simple principles. We love it when someone takes something highly complex, and makes it simple. We love how to seminars, books and videos. There is a problem when we want more “how to” without having the corresponding “want to.”
Today we will look at part 2 of our series on unapplied truth. What is it in life that gets us into more trouble than anything else?
What is the main reason that we get a speeding ticket?
Why do we never stick to our New Year’s diet?
Why is it that the government can not build prisons fast enough?
Why is it that people by the millions will live their life rejecting God only to face Him in Judgement?
All these question has the same answer. Unapplied truth. We get into the most trouble when we ignore to apply truth.
Old Testament Israel was guilty of rejecting God the Father
New Testament, during Jesus’ time they were guilty of rejection God the Son
Today we are guilty of rejecting the God Holy Spirit
This series is aimed at helping us not only to identify those blind spot areas of our lives, but also to begin eliminating these areas.
John 16:7-13 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. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged
As we look at God’s agent of truth, the Holy Spirit we will look at His working two classes of people. This week we will look at His ministry to the world vv8-11.
HIS MINISTRY TO THE WORLD
John 16:7-13 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. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
A. He will convict the world of SIN
John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Question 1 Why does He convict the world of sin? Without Jesus, this is where the world is
Convict – to expose one’s fault.
God’s word states that without Jesus Christ we are all sinners
Romans 5:6-9 When we were utterly helpless, with no way of escape, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners who had no use for him. 7 Even if we were good, we really wouldn’t expect anyone to die for us, though, of course, that might be barely possible. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since by his blood he did all this for us as sinners, how much more will he do for us now that he has declared us not guilty? Now he will save us from all of God’s wrath to come.
ILLUS How does a worm get inside an apple? Perhaps you think the worm burrows in from the outside. No, scientists have discovered that the worm comes from inside. But how does he get in there? Simple! An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats his way out. Sin, like the worn, begins in the heart and works out through a person’s thoughts, words, and actions.
Truth: The Holy Spirit comes show the world (people without Christ) where they are IN SIN
B. He will convict the world of RIGHTEOUSNESS
Question 2 Why does the Holy Spirit convict the world of righteousness? This is where the world should be.
The Bible states that righteousness or right standing with God comes only through the person of Jesus Christ. This is a hard concept for the world to grasp seeing that most of the world rejects the idea of a righteous moral God.
ILLUS James Engel summarized the belief system and the presuppositions that commonly prevail among what he calls modern man:
God, if He exists at all, is just an impersonal moral force.
Man basically has the capacity within himself to improve morally and make the right choices.
Happiness consists of unlimited material acquisition.
There really is no objective basis for right and wrong.
The supernatural is just a figment of someone’s imagination.
If a person lives a “good life,” the eternal destiny is assured.
The Bible is nothing other than a book written by man.
Romans 1:17 This Good News tells us that God makes us ready for heaven--makes us right in God’s sight--when we put our faith and trust in Christ to save us. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scripture says it, "The man who finds life will find it through trusting God."
Question 1 Why does He convict the world of sin? Without Jesus, this is where the world is
Question 2 Why does the Holy Spirit convict the world of righteousness? This is where the world should be.
C. He will convict the world of JUDGEMENT
John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Question 3 Why does the Holy Spirit convict the world of Judgement? When one refusus to break from sin vv 9, and turn to righteousness v10, the punishment at the end of life is judgement. The judgement of God will end in hell
Some Facts about hell
1. Hell is a place of DARKNESS
Jude 1:10-13 They are like clouds blowing over dry land without giving rain, promising much, but producing nothing. They are like fruit trees without any fruit at picking time. They are not only dead, but doubly dead, for they have been pulled out, roots and all, to be burned. 13 All they leave behind them is shame and disgrace like the dirty foam left along the beach by the wild waves. They wander around looking as bright as stars, but ahead of them is the everlasting gloom and darkness that God has prepared for them.
2. Hell is a place of TORMENT
Matthew 13:49-50 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 "and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
The lost will scream and gnash their teeth together from the intense pain and suffering. The flames will consume them and constantly burn their bodies.
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16) the rich man who is in hades/hell is told to "remember that in your lifetime . . ." Those in hell will be tormented by their own memories of joking about hell and not taking it seriously. They will remember the warning and opportunities they had been given to confess and believe in Jesus Christ. Those in hell will be reminded of every time they said “No” to the Holy Spirit.
3. Hell is ETERNAL
Matthew 25:46 "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
ILLUS The most terrifying aspect of hell is its length or duration. Hell is eternal! Hell will last forever and therefore the darkness, torment will be forever. Our minds cannot conceive eternity. "No mathematical equation or formula can explain it." (William C. Nichols, The Terrors of Hell)
Rev. 20:10-15 Then the devil who had betrayed them will again be thrown into the Lake of Fire burning with sulphur where the Creature and False Prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
4. Hell is FINAL
Rev. 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne and the one who sat upon it, from whose face the earth and sky fled away, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, great and small, standing before God; and The Books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in The Books, each according to the deeds he had done. 13 The oceans surrendered the bodies buried in them; and the earth and the underworld gave up the dead in them. Each was judged according to his deeds. 14 And Death and Hell were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the Second Death--the Lake of Fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.
ILLUS The following incident is vouched for by a Church of England clergyman who knew all the circumstances.
A young woman, who had been brought up in a Christian home and who had often had very serious convictions in regard to the importance of coming to Christ, chose instead to take the way of the world. Much against the wishes of her godly mother, she insisted on keeping company with a wild, hilarious crowd, who lived only for the passing moment and tried to forget the things of eternity. Again and again she was pleaded with to turn to Christ, but she persistently refused to heed the admonitions addressed to her.
Finally, she was taken with a very serious illness. All that medical science could do for her was done in order to bring about her recovery, but it soon became evident that the case was hopeless and death was staring her in the face. Still she was hard and stubborn when urged to turn to God in repentance. One night she awoke suddenly out of a sound sleep, a frightened look in her eyes, and asked excitedly, "Mother, what is Ezekiel 7:8 and 9?" Her mother said, "What do you mean, my dear?" She replied that she had had a most vivid dream. She thought there was a Presence in the room, who very solemnly said to her, "Read Ezekiel 7:8-9."
Not recalling the verses in question, the mother reached for a Bible. As she opened it, her heart sank as she saw the words, but she read them aloud to the dying girl:
"Now I will shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth."
The poor sufferer, with a look of horror on her face, sank back on the pillow, utterly exhausted, and in a few moments she was in eternity. Once more it had been demonstrated that grace rejected brings judgment at last. Illustrations of Bible Truth by H. A. Ironside, Moody Press, 1945, pp. 31-32
Question 1 Why does He convict the world of sin? Without Jesus, this is where the world is. Vv8
Question 2 Why does the Holy Spirit convict the world of righteousness? This is where the world should be. Vv 9
Question 3 Why does the Holy Spirit convict the world of Judgement? When one refusus to break from sin vv 9, and turn to righteousness v10, the punishment at the end of life is judgement. The judgement of God will end in hell.
Hebrews 3:7-12 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Applicatiion
As He convicts you of your sin turn to Him in righteousness. It is the only way to avoid judgement.
