Daily Bread - 06/16/07

John 16:10 - About righteousness because I now go to my Father and you no longer see me.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is condensed into three main topics in this passage of scripture. The one topic that we will concern ourselves with here, in brief, is His work of convincing the world of righteousness. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of righteousness who is influencing every dimension of the saints emotions, passions, attitudes, thoughts and behaviors (John 14:17; 16:13-15; 7:38-39; Romans 8:4,9-10,14,29; Titus 3:5).

First and foremost the the Holy Spirit is the one who convinces the world that Jesus is the righteous servant of God that makes many righteous (Isaiah 53:11; John 8:28; 14:20; 1 Timothy 3:16). John made it clear that anyone who knows that Jesus is righteous will also know that everyone who does righteousness has been born of Him (1 John 2:29). John further unites the righteousness of Jesus and the believer by saying " let no one deceive you everyone who does righteousness is righteous even as He is righteous" (John 3:7; John 14:20; 17:22). Through the revelation of the righteousness of Jesus the Holy Spirit reveals to the world a whole new standard of righteousness, one that reaches far beyond the Law. Secondly, He convinces us that God has made us righteous for, "Who shall lay any charge to God's elect for it is God who makes righteous" (Romans 8:33; 5:1). The Holy Spirit is the one who has brought grace into our hearts so that we can believe unto righteousness (Romans 10:10; Titus 2:11-12).The work of the Holy Spirit centers around these three things: to glorify Jesus, to make Him known and to bring new life and power to the believer.

What did it mean for Jesus to go to the Father? It meant first of all that the work of redemption was complete. He would go to the Father by way of the resurrection which would declare His victory and power over death hell and the devil (John 12:31; Hebrews 2:14; Colossians 2:15; Revelation 1:18; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57). When we believe with our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead we are also believing that the power of sin was destroyed and that righteousness has come to reign in our hearts (Romans 6:3-4; 10:1-10; Colossians 3:1). Secondly, it meant that He would be exalted to the right hand of the Father and reign supremely over all principalities and powers and every name that is named both in this world and in the world to come (Ephesians 1:21;Philippians 2:9-10; Colossians 2:10). Thirdly, it meant that He would send the Holy Spirit to be with us and in us (Acts 2:33; John 7:38-39; John 14:17). Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit the rivers of Gods life would flow out of our inner most beings and our lives would be as the life of Christ Jesus in this world (1 John 4:17; Romans 8:29). The Holy Spirit is presently convincing the world that there is no other righteousness for men than the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 1:17; 3:22; 10:3; Philippians 3:9).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org