Sin, Righteousness, Judgment and Salvation : John 16:8-11 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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Sin, Righteousness, Judgment and Salvation - John 16:8-11

"When the Helper comes, he will prove to the people of the world the truth about these things: about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. The Helper will prove that people have sin, because they don't believe in me. He will prove to them about {my} being right with God, because I am going to the Father. You will not see me then. And the Helper will prove to the world the truth about judgment, because the ruler of this world (the devil) is already judged." (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

Jesus' promise to his disciples was powerfully illustrated on the day of Pentecost after his resurrection (Acts 2). Peter and the apostles were filled with the Spirit and boldly spoke the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People were convicted in their hearts and believed that Jesus was Lord and Christ and were baptized. They were forgiven of their sins, received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and began a new life of righteousness. The Spirit brought conviction of sin and judgment, showed them the way of righteousness, and led them to salvation! The Spirit still does the same today. Let's ask that God empower us and our words through his Holy Spirit so the lost around us can know the truth of Jesus!

Today's Prayer

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Holy and righteous Father, as your child, I know that your Holy Spirit lives in me. I ask, dear Father, that you empower my influence and my words by your Spirit so that they will be appropriate and powerful as I try to lead my friends to your salvation in Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

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Today's Verses in Context

"I have told you these things so that people will not be able to destroy your faith. People will make you leave their synagogues. Yes, a time is coming when people will think that killing you would be doing service for God. People will do these things because they have not known the Father, and they have not known me. I have told you these things now. So when the time comes for these things to happen, you will remember that I warned you. "I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you then. Now I am going back to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' You are filled with sadness because I have told you these things. But I tell you the truth. It is better for you that I go away. Why? Because when I go away I will send the Helper to you. But if I did not go away, then the Helper would not come. When the Helper comes, he will prove to the people of the world the truth about these things: about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. The Helper will prove that people have sin, because they don't believe in me. He will prove to them about {my} being right with God, because I am going to the Father. You will not see me then. And the Helper will prove to the world the truth about judgment, because the ruler of this world (the devil) is already judged. "I have many more things to say to you. But those things are too much for you to accept now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth. The Spirit of truth will not speak his own words. He will speak only what he hears. He will tell you the things that will happen. The Spirit of truth will bring glory to me. How? He will get things from me and tell them to you. All the things that the Father has are mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will get things from me and tell them to you.

— John 16:1-15 (ERV)

Comments on "Sin, Righteousness, Judgment and Salvation":

We teach wisdom to people that are mature. But this wisdom we teach is not from this world. It is not the wisdom of the rulers of this world. Those rulers are losing their power. But we speak God's secret wisdom. This wisdom has been hidden {from people}. God planned this wisdom for our glory. He planned it before the world began. None of the rulers of this world understood this wisdom. If they had understood it, then they would not have killed our glorious Lord on a cross. But like the Scriptures say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no person has imagined what God has prepared for those people that love him." But God has shown us these things through the Spirit. The Spirit knows all things. The Spirit even knows the deep secrets of God.
1 Corinthians 2:6-10 (ERV)

So Jesus is the One God raised from death, {not David}! We are all witnesses of this. We saw him! Jesus was lifted up to heaven. Now Jesus is with God, at God's right side. The Father (God) has now given the Holy Spirit to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is what God promised to give. So now Jesus is pouring out (giving) that Spirit. This is what you see and hear. "So, all the Jewish people should know this truly: God has made Jesus to be Lord and Christ. He is the man you nailed to the cross!" When the people heard this, they felt very, very sorry. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter said to them, "Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Then God will forgive your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you. It is also for your children and for the people that are far away. It is for every person that the Lord our God calls to himself."
Acts 2:32-33, 36-39 (ERV)

"I tell you the truth. If a person hears what I say and believes in the One (God) who sent me, that person has life forever. That person will not be judged guilty. He has already left death and has entered into life. I tell you the truth. An {important} time is coming. That time is already here. People that are dead {in sin} will hear the voice of the Son of God. And the people that {accept the things they} hear {from the Son} will have life {forever}. Life comes from the Father (God) himself. So the Father has also allowed the Son (Jesus) to give life. And the Father has given the Son the power to judge all people. Why? Because that Son is the Son of Man. Don't be surprised at this. A time is coming when all people that are dead and in their graves will hear his voice. Then they will come out of their graves. The people that did good in this life will rise and have life forever. But the people that did evil will rise to be judged guilty. "I can do nothing alone. I judge only the way I am told. So my judgment is right. Why? Because I don't try to please myself. But I want to please the One (God) who sent me.
John 5:24-30 (ERV)

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