“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Advocate [Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” - John 16:7
The Holy Spirit is fully and completely God, equal with the Father and the Son in all aspects of His deity. Furthermore, He has personal characteristics just as the Father and Son do. He is the 3rd Person of the Trinity and His role is to execute or carry out that which the Father wills and the Son has secured within creation (particularly in the lives of believers).
Throughout the Old Testament era, the Holy Spirit selectively came upon particular people, often temporarily and/or for a specific purpose. The Church Age began when the Spirit fell upon the apostles at Pentecost, and since then He permanently indwells all believers from the moment of their salvation until that of their physical death. Therefore, His presence is full and constant within the lives of those who are saved. Christians should understand that being filled with the Spirit means living under His influence and control.
This morning we will begin discussing several specific works of the Holy Spirit starting with how He deals with sin. We will consider how He reveals to various people the dangerous effects of sin and how He presently prevents sin from overwhelming the world. This message is titled, appropriately enough, “The Holy Spirit’s Dealings with Sin”.
I. CONVICTS THE LOST
Jesus stated that the Holy Spirit convicts “the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8-11). When the Holy Spirit's conviction comes upon a lost person, He impresses upon them the horror and gravity of their sin which often leads them to experience feelings of guilt and shame. Beyond their need for forgiveness, however, He also reveals their own depraved, carnal nature and desperate need to be made righteous. Finally, He shows them that apart from salvation in Christ Jesus they will face God’s just and deserved judgment and condemnation.
The Bible clearly teaches that no person can come to God on their own prerogative. In ancient cultures, no one was allowed access to or audience with the king without an invitation (Esther 4:11).In the same way, a fallen sinner cannot simply approach the King of kings whenever they choose. Jesus taught that no one could come to Him unless drawn by the Father (John 6:44). This drawing occurs when the Holy Spirit convicts a lost person. Holy Spirit conviction is the invitation that allows access to King Jesus.
There is no salvation apart from Holy Spirit conviction. Thus, the work of the Holy Spirit to convict lost people is absolutely critical in God’s redemptive plan. Many of His other works do not even begin until after a person repents of their sin and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. Moments of Holy Spirit conviction come and go in the lives of nonbelievers, and are only afforded as God allows. For this reason, when a lost person comes under Holy Spirit conviction they should not resist His stirring (Acts 7:51), but should rather seize the opportunity to receive salvation in Christ Jesus while it's being extended to them.
II. CONTINUES TO CONVICT CHRISTIANS
Even after a person accepts Christ, they continue to commit sins. The Apostle Paul spoke about this dilemma at length in his letter to the Romans (Romans 7:14-20). He struggled with doing the things he didn’t want to do while not doing those that he wanted to do. Beloved, despite being made right with God, a Christian still has to contend with their fleshly nature. Although they have been made new, that newness is not yet completely realized. As they mature in Christ, grow in His likeness, and increase in their knowledge and understanding of His will and Word, they will sin less, but will never reach perfection or sinlessness in this life.
Therefore, the Holy Spirit continues to convict believers of sin by making them aware of their transgressions and ongoing need to confess them. Scripture states that if Christians will confess their sin, the LORD will forgive them and cleanse them of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). In the model prayer, Jesus taught believers to regularly pray that their sins would be forgiven (Matthew 6:12), indicating that sin still persists after salvation.
When a Christian confesses sin, their fellowship with or closeness to God is restored. Their witness for God is strengthened and their fruitfulness increases. Unconfessed sin in the life of a believer renders them ineffectual and perhaps even detrimental to the cause of Christ. Thus, the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin in the lives of Christians is extremely important to their own spiritual well-being as well as to the larger congregation.
III. RESTRAINS THE MAN OF SIN
In the days of Noah, evil had grown so great and sin so prevalent on the earth that God decided to bring about widespread judgment upon mankind (Genesis 6:5-8). He sent a flood that wiped out all of sinful humanity, sparing only Noah and his immediate family. They were charged with repopulating the earth and starting over again. This global catastrophe occurred during the Old Testament, when the Holy Spirit was not indwelling believers in the same way that He is now.
The Bible teaches that God intends to judge the earth and its inhabitants again (2 Peter 3:7-10). Leading up to this judgment, the Antichrist will rise to power and establish dominion over the nations and peoples of the earth. He will display all sorts of supernatural abilities and powers, deceiving many into believing that He is the Christ. However, he will turn against God’s people and persecute them mercilessly until Jesus returns and the LORD’s judgment is poured out.
Although the world today is saturated with sin and iniquity as it was in Noah’s day, the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence within believers (ie, the New Testament Church) prevents it from being completely overwhelmed by evil. The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as the one who restrains the Antichrist, thereby preventing his ascension to power and delaying the judgment that will surely follow. However, when the Restrainer is taken out of the way, there will be no one on earth with the power to prevent sin’s dominance or postpone God’s judgment (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). I believe that this will take place at the Rapture, when the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence will depart as Christians are caught up to Heaven, ushering in the 7-year Tribulation and the rise of the Antichrist.
CONCLUSION
The Holy Spirit convicts lost people of their sin, providing them with opportunities to receive salvation. He also convicts believers, prompting them to confess their sins in order to restore and maintain their fellowship with God. Finally, He restrains the rise of the Antichrist and prevents sin from completely engulfing the world. Over the next few weeks we are going to explore more of the Holy Spirit’s work as it pertains to salvation.
Before we close today, I want you to consider how amazing these works are. We as sinful people would be eternally lost and completely without hope apart from the access we have to Christ through the Holy Spirit’s convicting power. Friends, this is a miraculous work that enables people to find eternal life in and through Jesus. It alone is more remarkable, profound, and eternally significant than any and all physical healings and/or natural miracles. The Holy Spirit’s greatest works are not necessarily seen with the eye.
The Holy Spirit is fully and completely God, equal with the Father and the Son in all aspects of His deity. Furthermore, He has personal characteristics just as the Father and Son do. He is the 3rd Person of the Trinity and His role is to execute or carry out that which the Father wills and the Son has secured within creation (particularly in the lives of believers).
Throughout the Old Testament era, the Holy Spirit selectively came upon particular people, often temporarily and/or for a specific purpose. The Church Age began when the Spirit fell upon the apostles at Pentecost, and since then He permanently indwells all believers from the moment of their salvation until that of their physical death. Therefore, His presence is full and constant within the lives of those who are saved. Christians should understand that being filled with the Spirit means living under His influence and control.
This morning we will begin discussing several specific works of the Holy Spirit starting with how He deals with sin. We will consider how He reveals to various people the dangerous effects of sin and how He presently prevents sin from overwhelming the world. This message is titled, appropriately enough, “The Holy Spirit’s Dealings with Sin”.
I. CONVICTS THE LOST
Jesus stated that the Holy Spirit convicts “the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8-11). When the Holy Spirit's conviction comes upon a lost person, He impresses upon them the horror and gravity of their sin which often leads them to experience feelings of guilt and shame. Beyond their need for forgiveness, however, He also reveals their own depraved, carnal nature and desperate need to be made righteous. Finally, He shows them that apart from salvation in Christ Jesus they will face God’s just and deserved judgment and condemnation.
The Bible clearly teaches that no person can come to God on their own prerogative. In ancient cultures, no one was allowed access to or audience with the king without an invitation (Esther 4:11).In the same way, a fallen sinner cannot simply approach the King of kings whenever they choose. Jesus taught that no one could come to Him unless drawn by the Father (John 6:44). This drawing occurs when the Holy Spirit convicts a lost person. Holy Spirit conviction is the invitation that allows access to King Jesus.
There is no salvation apart from Holy Spirit conviction. Thus, the work of the Holy Spirit to convict lost people is absolutely critical in God’s redemptive plan. Many of His other works do not even begin until after a person repents of their sin and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. Moments of Holy Spirit conviction come and go in the lives of nonbelievers, and are only afforded as God allows. For this reason, when a lost person comes under Holy Spirit conviction they should not resist His stirring (Acts 7:51), but should rather seize the opportunity to receive salvation in Christ Jesus while it's being extended to them.
II. CONTINUES TO CONVICT CHRISTIANS
Even after a person accepts Christ, they continue to commit sins. The Apostle Paul spoke about this dilemma at length in his letter to the Romans (Romans 7:14-20). He struggled with doing the things he didn’t want to do while not doing those that he wanted to do. Beloved, despite being made right with God, a Christian still has to contend with their fleshly nature. Although they have been made new, that newness is not yet completely realized. As they mature in Christ, grow in His likeness, and increase in their knowledge and understanding of His will and Word, they will sin less, but will never reach perfection or sinlessness in this life.
Therefore, the Holy Spirit continues to convict believers of sin by making them aware of their transgressions and ongoing need to confess them. Scripture states that if Christians will confess their sin, the LORD will forgive them and cleanse them of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). In the model prayer, Jesus taught believers to regularly pray that their sins would be forgiven (Matthew 6:12), indicating that sin still persists after salvation.
When a Christian confesses sin, their fellowship with or closeness to God is restored. Their witness for God is strengthened and their fruitfulness increases. Unconfessed sin in the life of a believer renders them ineffectual and perhaps even detrimental to the cause of Christ. Thus, the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin in the lives of Christians is extremely important to their own spiritual well-being as well as to the larger congregation.
III. RESTRAINS THE MAN OF SIN
In the days of Noah, evil had grown so great and sin so prevalent on the earth that God decided to bring about widespread judgment upon mankind (Genesis 6:5-8). He sent a flood that wiped out all of sinful humanity, sparing only Noah and his immediate family. They were charged with repopulating the earth and starting over again. This global catastrophe occurred during the Old Testament, when the Holy Spirit was not indwelling believers in the same way that He is now.
The Bible teaches that God intends to judge the earth and its inhabitants again (2 Peter 3:7-10). Leading up to this judgment, the Antichrist will rise to power and establish dominion over the nations and peoples of the earth. He will display all sorts of supernatural abilities and powers, deceiving many into believing that He is the Christ. However, he will turn against God’s people and persecute them mercilessly until Jesus returns and the LORD’s judgment is poured out.
Although the world today is saturated with sin and iniquity as it was in Noah’s day, the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence within believers (ie, the New Testament Church) prevents it from being completely overwhelmed by evil. The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as the one who restrains the Antichrist, thereby preventing his ascension to power and delaying the judgment that will surely follow. However, when the Restrainer is taken out of the way, there will be no one on earth with the power to prevent sin’s dominance or postpone God’s judgment (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). I believe that this will take place at the Rapture, when the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence will depart as Christians are caught up to Heaven, ushering in the 7-year Tribulation and the rise of the Antichrist.
CONCLUSION
The Holy Spirit convicts lost people of their sin, providing them with opportunities to receive salvation. He also convicts believers, prompting them to confess their sins in order to restore and maintain their fellowship with God. Finally, He restrains the rise of the Antichrist and prevents sin from completely engulfing the world. Over the next few weeks we are going to explore more of the Holy Spirit’s work as it pertains to salvation.
Before we close today, I want you to consider how amazing these works are. We as sinful people would be eternally lost and completely without hope apart from the access we have to Christ through the Holy Spirit’s convicting power. Friends, this is a miraculous work that enables people to find eternal life in and through Jesus. It alone is more remarkable, profound, and eternally significant than any and all physical healings and/or natural miracles. The Holy Spirit’s greatest works are not necessarily seen with the eye.