Tuesday, May 31, 2005
John 15:8-10 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more."
CONVICTED OF RIGHTEOUSNESS?
If it is not possible for mankind deceived by sin to recognize, apart from the conviction of the Holy Spirit, that the one great sin that continues to separate him from God is unbelief, then it is not at all surprising that we could not recognize or know true righteousness apart from the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, once we understand what this righteousness is, it is incredible that the Holy Spirit could ever convict us of being righteous.
In comparison to this conviction of righteousness, the conviction of the sin of unbelief is an easy matter. For whenever I view my life through God's law I quickly see a root of doubt, unbelief and indifference. But when I look for righteousness, I cannot find it. When God blesses my life beyond measure, I begin to find a heart growing secure in itself and indifferent to the blessings of my Savior. When God withdraws His blessings and sends His trials, I find a heart filled with doubt, despair, impatience, anger. Where is this righteousness of which the Holy Spirit convicts me?
The righteousness of which I am convicted has nothing to do with me. It is the righteousness of Christ. And if I want to see that righteousness, I must look into the heart of Christ's and not mine. I must find it in Christ's word of forgiveness. Having earned forgiveness, righteousness, and holiness for all, Jesus ascended into heaven, and He took that forgiveness and righteousness with him. Now He dispenses that righteousness through the preaching of the gospel and the creating of faith by the working of the Holy Spirit. And yet I cannot see that righteousness. I cannot feel it. When I look at my heart, my mind, my thoughts, I see all manner of sin and evil. And yet I am 100 times more certain that I am righteous than that I am a sinner. For the Jesus has sent his Holy Spirit, and He has convicted me of the righteousness of Christ. What a blessing to be so convicted by the Holy Spirit.
