Nougat 10

Although we’ve looked at the role of God’s Spirit, we may not have a clear sense of the promise attached? Today’s Holy Nougat provides clarity.

“And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” ‭‭John‬ ‭16:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We often consider conviction in relation to criminal activity. But to convict is also about convincing a person beyond the shadow of doubt, or to be wholly persuaded from a political or religious perspective. In preparing them for what was forthcoming, Jesus assured the disciples that God’s Spirit would replace Him in their lives and be their Source of comfort in the face of trials.

Although they had heard of God’s Spirit previously (they all heard Jesus quote Isaiah!), the general consensus was that God’s Spirit rested only on special persons and usually, for a season, especially if they were not of the priestly order. A promise of accompaniment by God’s Spirit therefore required detailed explanation. Hence, Jesus’ qualifier of conviction.

As this promise applies to God’s Spirit’s role and function, it is a promise that I believe holds true for us all.

This means that once God’s Spirit has arrived, we also can be convicted:

of Sin

Sin – hamartia – is the act of being guilty, or of missing God’s mark (standard) of acceptable living. It occurs when we opt (consciously or otherwise) to pursue our own path or that of others, instead of seeking and thus following God’s plan. It is also the case if we choose to deny Christ’s existence despite evidence to the contrary (remember Saul-Paul?). To be convicted of sin suggests that we are conscious that our actions and thoughts are not aligned to God’s will or plans. On the whole, most of us are very familiar with what we deem as ‘Big Sins’, particularly those mentioned in Exodus 20, and we try to ‘keep’ faith with them. Yet if the Ten Commandments are summed up in two (Matthew 22; Mark 12; Luke 10), we realize that sin can also be not loving. Not Loving God above all, not loving ourselves or not loving our neighbours. Could it be that God’s Spirit has come and is already convicting us about the change (metanoia) required in our relationships?

of God’s Righteouesness

We are also promised that God’s Spirit will convict us of God’s righteousness. Here, Righteousness speaks to the holiness and judgement of God; i.e. there is a consequence to our decisions/choices, as there is also approval and grace for the believer. This is sometimes a hard pill for many of us to swallow, as we prefer to think that God is only loving and merciful and there is no consequence for our actions. God IS merciful and God IS loving; that’s why we don’t die immediately for our sins.

But it then also means that when we are wronged, others will be convicted that their actions are not acceptable before God. And yes, they may choose to ignore God’s Spirit, but they would have been appraised. May our lives reflect the love and mercy of God to the extent that we do not seek to exact retribution or ‘justice’ on others, but allow God’s grace to be extended yet again – that is seeking after God’s righteousness.

of the Coming Judgement

Our faith tells us that the choice Adam and Eve made back in the Garden of Eden was the starting point of sin (see Genesis 3). It wasn’t the very second that they sinned that the consequences came however; they came afterwards. The Truth is – we each must give an accounting of how we lived. Grace will abound (and continues to be present) and so will accountability. For those who choose not to believe, who limit our expressions of Love – to God, self and neighbour – God’s Spirit is gently reminding us that there is another way. It is not a natural way, it is Supernatural! By God’s Spirit, and because of God’s Love manifested through Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, we can be convicted – fully convinced, and attuned to the need for transformation.

It may seem like a dire promise, but because God’s Spirit acts in our now, there is hope. We can be transformed whenever we allow God’s Spirit to guide us into God’s way. And that’s the promise that comforts and sustains.

I pray that each of us will be convicted of the Truths which come from God’s Spirit at work in our lives today, tomorrow and until Christ’s return.

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May all we seek be found in Christ