Sin, Righteousness and Judgment (John 16:5-15) 260607
Recently, there was a news about a 17 years old boy died after triathlon race. The parents were interviewed over the television news program. I was impressed and surprised by their calmness and composure. I was sure that they were very upset about the death of their beloved son. But what caused them to take it so positively. According to the press, there were no medical coverage at the finishing point of the race, and hence there was no immediate medical aid when the boy collapsed. The parents could have complaint and even lodge a lawsuit against the organizer, but they commented that they will not hold it against the organizer. What a forgiving and gracious act!
From the television news, I gathered that this family is a Christian family, and I was quick to jump into the conclusion that because they were Christians, they were able to see death as hope and were able to be forgiving. Maybe I am over bias in this matter, but the I really hope that it is the Spirit of God whom has cause this family to response in such a positive manner.
I am also reading a book on family and marriage counseling, and the focus is on hope. It is because of what Jesus had promised in this passage (John 16:5-15), I am convinced and convicted that the Holy Spirit will be able to help us, the children of God to stay hopeful in all things. And when we have hope, we will have faith and we will be able to work out our lives according to the truth of God.
In this passage, Jesus mentioned three things that the Holy Spirit will do, that is to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (v8). Jesus went on to explain that the world is sinful simply because they do not believe in Him (v9). This may sounded a bit egocentric, but the truth is that sin is simply not giving God His rightful place in our lives, which is the Lord of our lives. God has to be our only priority, and others are merely God-given responsibilities. Are we putting God as our priority? Or His is only one of many priorities in our lives? Or maybe God is merely a responsibility!
Jesus is the only way to righteousness (v10), because of what He had done on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins so that we might be made righteous if we receive in Him in faith. There in no other way to made right with God. There is no way that we can even try to eliminate our sins unless we are reconciled with God. God longs for a relationship, not just merely religious practices. God does not need to hear us singing unless we are worshiping Him in Spirit and in Truth. God does not require us to meet together unless we want to love the people regardless lovable or unlovable. God also doesn’t require us to be Biblical scholars, unless our lives are deeply impacted and transformed by His words. What is your relationship with your Lord? Is Jesus your Lord or only your Savior?
And lastly, Jesus explained about judgment (v11). It is simple and clear that He is the Creator and the Ruler of the world, and hence He has the right to judge the world. His Sovereignty is the basis of our confident and hope that every things are in the control of our God. Nothing will escape His knowledge, and nothing will happen without His approval. Do you have the confident to trust God as you deny yourselves and take up the Cross and follow Him daily, He will guide you and help you?
For many of us, it is not easy to put God as our only priority or even trust God to take care of all our needs. It is because we have been brought up in a society which promotes self reliance and we are given too many responsibilities. Can we trust God to provide for us if we have to quit our job today so that we can realign our lives with God? Can trust God to heal and deliver us from our sickness and impossible situations?
I know that life is not going to be easy to go against the norm of the society, but this what we are called to do, to have faith in God as we dare to be different and to make a difference to the world!
