“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: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” (John 16:7-11 KJV)
The Holy Spirit reproves sin, righteousness, and judgment. Yesterday, we discussed how we thought that reproof came to people of the world. I think we all agreed that the Holy Spirit expects our light to shine brightly through His moving, to be a beacon for those who desire to come closer to Him. While ministries that evolve out of the harsh places of life are very effective for those who dwell there, they are for those who dwell there. In other words, when a person embraces God, Christians are given a new life, and removed from the profane gathering places of the world...every time. It is by choice that a Christian stays in a carnal environment. Sometimes, God moves them to go to that carnal environment for a specific ministry; however, that is probably rarer than you think.
One of the biggest problems that Christian leadership fails to address is the problem of the saved sinner. The lower down the "world chain" we go, the more apt Christianity becomes a focus on the past sin, rather than the forgiven hope. You end up with a Christian who continuously talks about how bad they were, and how good they are today in comparison. While that seems simple at first, it hinders Christian growth tremendously. Self-pride in how sinful they once were, and how clean they are now, causes a person to stay at that spiritual growth level forever. If you are not growing with the Spirit then you are giving up blessings of God that He is giving you to help you through this life.
Okay...back on point...
So the Holy Spirit convicts a worldly sinner of their sin as they walk toward the light of Jesus Christ. That's an easier one to understand than is the one we are going to study today...RIGHTEOUSNESS. Righteousness is exactly opposite of Sin! Why are both words used in the same concept? What does it mean?
Righteousness - 1343. dikaiosunh dikaiosune dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay; from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:— righteousness.
UP! UP! UP! Righteousness (as used in this context) means CHRISTIAN JUSTIFICATION!
Christian justification means ...
The LORD God's gracious and full acquittal based upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.
Hold up! So the Holy Spirit convicts a person of their sin, and then proves to them by His presence within the believer that they receive full forgiveness for that sin, and are able to enter into a peaceful and favored relationship with God!
Say What! That means that sinners who leave their environment after being convicted of their sins, are also moved into relationship with God, convinced that their past no longer matters! If that is the case, then why, oh, why do so many Christians talk about their sinful deeds of the past?
Its a good sign that they have not yet been baptized of the Holy Spirit, or its a good sign that they are attention getters and they have found a good schitick, or its a good sign that they had a bad Christian Leader that makes them think this is the way Christianity is expressed, or it is a good sign that their choosing to quench the Holy Spirit and stay where He found them, rather than go where He wants them to go.
Today, class, I want to talk about the second phase of the Holy Spirits tasks of reproof. Do you think that reproof of righteousness is for the new Christian, or the old one? How does this reproof help your own Christian faith and walk with Jesus Christ? What happens if this second stage of reproof is not embraced by a believer?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
David "Bucker" Becker
The Holy Spirit reproves sin, righteousness, and judgment. Yesterday, we discussed how we thought that reproof came to people of the world. I think we all agreed that the Holy Spirit expects our light to shine brightly through His moving, to be a beacon for those who desire to come closer to Him. While ministries that evolve out of the harsh places of life are very effective for those who dwell there, they are for those who dwell there. In other words, when a person embraces God, Christians are given a new life, and removed from the profane gathering places of the world...every time. It is by choice that a Christian stays in a carnal environment. Sometimes, God moves them to go to that carnal environment for a specific ministry; however, that is probably rarer than you think.
One of the biggest problems that Christian leadership fails to address is the problem of the saved sinner. The lower down the "world chain" we go, the more apt Christianity becomes a focus on the past sin, rather than the forgiven hope. You end up with a Christian who continuously talks about how bad they were, and how good they are today in comparison. While that seems simple at first, it hinders Christian growth tremendously. Self-pride in how sinful they once were, and how clean they are now, causes a person to stay at that spiritual growth level forever. If you are not growing with the Spirit then you are giving up blessings of God that He is giving you to help you through this life.
Okay...back on point...
So the Holy Spirit convicts a worldly sinner of their sin as they walk toward the light of Jesus Christ. That's an easier one to understand than is the one we are going to study today...RIGHTEOUSNESS. Righteousness is exactly opposite of Sin! Why are both words used in the same concept? What does it mean?
Righteousness - 1343. dikaiosunh dikaiosune dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay; from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:— righteousness.
UP! UP! UP! Righteousness (as used in this context) means CHRISTIAN JUSTIFICATION!
Christian justification means ...
The LORD God's gracious and full acquittal based upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.
Hold up! So the Holy Spirit convicts a person of their sin, and then proves to them by His presence within the believer that they receive full forgiveness for that sin, and are able to enter into a peaceful and favored relationship with God!
Say What! That means that sinners who leave their environment after being convicted of their sins, are also moved into relationship with God, convinced that their past no longer matters! If that is the case, then why, oh, why do so many Christians talk about their sinful deeds of the past?
Its a good sign that they have not yet been baptized of the Holy Spirit, or its a good sign that they are attention getters and they have found a good schitick, or its a good sign that they had a bad Christian Leader that makes them think this is the way Christianity is expressed, or it is a good sign that their choosing to quench the Holy Spirit and stay where He found them, rather than go where He wants them to go.
Today, class, I want to talk about the second phase of the Holy Spirits tasks of reproof. Do you think that reproof of righteousness is for the new Christian, or the old one? How does this reproof help your own Christian faith and walk with Jesus Christ? What happens if this second stage of reproof is not embraced by a believer?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
David "Bucker" Becker
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Oooooops! I must not have taught this one as perfect as I wanted, because you got off a little bit! Interestingly, it is a place that most Christians get confused on, and I know why! There is a difference between the word reproof and rebuke and the word chasten, and there is a difference in who is doing it!
“Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:4-11 KJV)
Chastening means 3809. paideia paideia pahee-di’-ah; from 3811; tutorage, i.e. education or training; by implication, disciplinary correction:— chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.
Rebuke means 1651. elegcw elegcho el-eng’-kho; of uncertain affinity; to confute, admonish:— convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove.
Now, the rebukes are the same, but for mature believers that are corrected by the LORD God...when that happens...it is called "chastisement." Chastisement is like a rebuke, but with the teachings of the LORD God included. The example that you used when the LORD God sternly spoke to you and caused you to back down from your position, and as hard as it is to believe...tell you that you were actually wrong... :yes:, He chastised you.
Now, chastisement is a form of rebuke. We're not talking about rebuke, however, but reprove.
What's the difference? Look at the word reprove closely. In our English language, reprove and rebuke mean the same thing, and even in the Greek language they are similar. However, when we look at how the word is used throughout the Word of God, we get a sense of great difference between the words.
Rebuke is a negative tone that admonishes the receiver. In the case of chastisement from the LORD God, the rebuke seems severe and harsh, but is done in a loving and instructive fashion, to bring your growth forward toward Him, and correct a negative behavior that you have displayed.
The reproof of the Holy Spirit for sin, righteousness, and judgment is not a negative connotation, but rather a positive one. When the Holy Spirit reproves, He is PROVING ONCE AGAIN! Mankind knew sin once, but was blinded. When the Holy Spirit sees a man drawn toward God, he proves to that sinful man once again what a sin is. When the man accepts Jesus Christ as his savior, the Holy Spirit proves to the man that redemption is at hand.
Reprove and Rebuke are similar words which mean about the same thing...but one is more positive and one more negative.
As mature Christians, we sometimes are rebuked with a chastisement from the LORD God. As sinners walking toward God, we are reproved by the Holy Spirit, and that reproof continues forever in our Christian faith.
I know this is a slight difference, but it seems an important one to point out. Have I advanced learning in this issue, or just confused things beyond understanding?
David "Bucker" Becker
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