Jesus is Essential
John 16:8–9: 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.
In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit in the world, He will convict the world of three things: sin, righteousness, and judgment. Our Lord explains for us what that sin means. “Sin, because they believe not on me.” What is the greatest sin in all the world? Murder? No. Who are the greatest sinners in this age? We’ve had some rascals, haven’t we? Every age has had rascals. We might point out Hitler, or Stalin, or Karl Marx, or the Mafia.
Well, who is the greatest sinner today? I want to say to you very carefully that you could be the greatest sinner living today. You may say, “Now wait a minute, preacher, you can’t say that about me! I’m no rascal; I’m a law–abiding citizen.” The question is this: Have you accepted Christ? Unbelief is a state and there is no remedy if you refuse to trust Christ. “Of sin, because they believe not on me.” If you do not trust Him, you are lost. It is just as simple as that. It is just as important as that. This is a decision that every man must make. The man today, if he is rejecting Jesus Christ, is, in the sight of God, the greatest sinner. Everyone who has ever heard the gospel is responsible for his decision concerning Jesus Christ. To reject Christ is sin. 1
Walking with Jesus
Conviction is a very good and purifying work of God. When was the last time you responded to the conviction of His Holy Spirit, and repented with sorrow and brokenness, and with a renewed commitment to forsake sin and live holy (and wholly), for Him?
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18
To reject His atonement for sin is to live for eternity with the vial effects of sin.
Praying
Lord, thank You for the continual conviction of your Holy Spirit upon my life.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (John 11-21) (electronic ed., Vol. 39). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
