Therefore, "whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." (John 14:13-14)
From earlier blogs written on the subject of conviction, we read that Jesus said, "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."
Similarly, we learned that "conviction" is a necessity if unbelievers or the ungodly are to realize that they must have a personal relationship with Jesus first, and seek His righteousness, in order to be part of His Church. But before this, unbelievers need to be convicted in their hearts and conscience to understand that one cannot inherit eternal life until they have personally accepted the Saviour. No one can do it for us. But the good news is that once we have repented of our sin, continuing steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine, which includes being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, the Comforter does come. (Acts 2:38-42)
And when the Comforter comes, He teaches us wisdom and knowledge and truth. He comforts us in our darkest moments, pointing our hearts to the light of the world -- Jesus. Indeed, He does NOT condemn us (as some today proclaim) because as we know from Romans 8:1-39: "[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." NO CONDEMNATION.
So, if the Comforter does not come to condemn us, what purpose does the Holy Ghost serve? Good question.
Jesus elaborates. "If you continue in My Word, then you are My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. But those listening answered Him, saying, "We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man. How sayest Thou, Ye shall be made free?" Jesus answered them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you -- whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house forever; but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:31-36)
As well, Jesus said, "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him, but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS. I WILL COME TO YOU ... the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:17-26)
Shortly after, Jesus said, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me." (John 15:26)
And later again, Jesus said, "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, [that] shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come." (John 16:13)
For those who have not heard whether there be a Holy Ghost, like those in Acts 19:2-8, please note this verse because it is intended for you. "Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (II Corinthians 3:17)
Moreover, be blessed because our Lord God and Saviour does not condemn those who seek Jesus and His righteousness. He already paid that price for us on the cross. Even before we were formed in our mother's womb, the Lord God loved us. And He loved us enough to become a man and shed His precious blood so that we would never again have to walk alone.
So "According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him ... That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.(Ephesians 3:11-21)
Other verses? "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world." (I John 4:4) But as it is written, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." (I Corinthians 2:9-13)
And just in case there is still questions, there are many more scriptural references indicating that we are no longer under the Law, whereby we can be convicted, but under grace, because before we even knew Jesus, He loved us.
"Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, [even] thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." (Hebrews 1:9) "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." (Romans 8:16) So rejoice and be glad in this day that the Lord hath made. He did not send the Comforter to torment us -- to make us toss and turn at night over our transgressions. Instead, the Comforter -- our Lord God who willingly became our Saviour came to give us His joy. His peace. His love. "He who knew no sin became sin for us."
There is more to come. Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment