Grace Fellowship Grace Fellowship ChurchChurch

Pastor/TeacherPastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Jim Rickard

Sunday, May 8, 2011Sunday, May 8, 2011

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

John 16:7-11John 16:7-11The Office of the Holy Spirit - The Office of the Holy Spirit -

to convict or convince the to convict or convince the world that it needs a Savior. world that it needs a Savior.

First He convinces the First He convinces the unbeliever of his need for a unbeliever of his need for a Savior, vs. 9-11, then He Savior, vs. 9-11, then He

comforts those that do comforts those that do believe, vs. 13-15 with believe, vs. 13-15 with Acts 9:31; 2 Cor 1:3-8.Acts 9:31; 2 Cor 1:3-8.

Acts 9:31, Acts 9:31, “So the church throughout all “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Lord and in the comfort of the

Holy Spirit,….”Holy Spirit,….”

““Sin” – HARMARTIA: Sin” – HARMARTIA: “Sin, failure, or missing the “Sin, failure, or missing the mark”, in the singular not mark”, in the singular not

plural. The sin in focus is the plural. The sin in focus is the lack of faith in Jesus Christ, lack of faith in Jesus Christ,

the sin of unbelief.the sin of unbelief.

In this verse sin is a failure for In this verse sin is a failure for which Christ did not and which Christ did not and

could not die on the Cross could not die on the Cross (i.e. rejection of the Cross).(i.e. rejection of the Cross).

When a person rejects the When a person rejects the Cross he stands on his own Cross he stands on his own human good which has not human good which has not

been judged yet but will be at been judged yet but will be at The Great White Throne The Great White Throne

Judgement of Rev 20:11-15. Judgement of Rev 20:11-15.

John 3:36, John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not eternal life; but he who does not

obey the Son (obey the Son (i.e., obey Jesus’ i.e., obey Jesus’ command to believe in Him, John command to believe in Him, John

3:163:16), will not see life, but the ), will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”wrath of God abides on him.”

When presenting the gospel it When presenting the gospel it must be made clear that the must be made clear that the issue in salvation is attitude issue in salvation is attitude toward Christ. To believe in toward Christ. To believe in Him is eternal life; to reject Him is eternal life; to reject

Him is eternal condemnation.Him is eternal condemnation.

HOTI OUK PISTEUO – HOTI OUK PISTEUO – “Because they do not believe!”“Because they do not believe!”

They habitually do not believe They habitually do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior.in Jesus Christ as their Savior.

John 16:9John 16:9, , ““Concerning sin Concerning sin

((the sin of unbeliefthe sin of unbelief), ), because they (because they (the worldthe world), ),

habitually or customarily habitually or customarily do do not believe in Menot believe in Me.”.”

Without this conviction such Without this conviction such men actually have a pride of men actually have a pride of

intellectual superiority in intellectual superiority in refusing to believe on Jesus as refusing to believe on Jesus as

their Savior.their Savior.Rom 1:18-25; 1 Cor 1:18-31; Rom 1:18-25; 1 Cor 1:18-31;

Eph 4:17-18Eph 4:17-18

The Spirit does not convict The Spirit does not convict the world of individual sins; the world of individual sins; the conscience must do this the conscience must do this

(see Acts 24:24-25). (see Acts 24:24-25).

The Spirit’s presence in the The Spirit’s presence in the world is proof that the world world is proof that the world does not believe on Christ; does not believe on Christ; otherwise Christ would be otherwise Christ would be

here in the world. here in the world.

The sin that condemns the The sin that condemns the soul is unbelief, the rejection soul is unbelief, the rejection of Christ (see John 3:18-21). of Christ (see John 3:18-21).

Compare with John 8:23-24; Compare with John 8:23-24; 12:47-50. 12:47-50.

The Sin of rejecting Christ is The Sin of rejecting Christ is the “unpardonable sin”, the the “unpardonable sin”, the

only sin which Jesus could not only sin which Jesus could not pay for at the Cross.pay for at the Cross.

When the Bible speaks of When the Bible speaks of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, blaspheming the Holy Spirit, it is saying that that person or it is saying that that person or

group has rejected the group has rejected the convicting ministry of the convicting ministry of the

Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit.

They have rejected His They have rejected His message of Christ crucified message of Christ crucified

for their sins. for their sins.

Mat 12:31-32Mat 12:31-32

Blasphemy is defined as: Blasphemy is defined as: 1) The act of claiming for 1) The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and oneself the attributes and

rights of God. rights of God.

Blasphemy is defined as: Blasphemy is defined as: 1) The act of claiming for 1) The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and oneself the attributes and

rights of God. rights of God. 2) Any word or deed meant to 2) Any word or deed meant to dishonor or revile the being or dishonor or revile the being or

the work of God.the work of God.

Mark 3:28-29, Mark 3:28-29, “Truly I say to you, all sins shall “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against but whoever blasphemes against

the Holy Spirit never has the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an forgiveness, but is guilty of an

eternal sin.”eternal sin.”

Luke 12:10, Luke 12:10, “And everyone who speaks a “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the who blasphemes against the

Holy Spirit, it will not be Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.”forgiven him.”

The Unpardonable Sin isThe Unpardonable Sin is::1. A sin of the heart, not the 1. A sin of the heart, not the

lips, Mat 12:34-35. The words lips, Mat 12:34-35. The words from the lips are the evidence from the lips are the evidence of the condition of the heart; of the condition of the heart;

and evil words indicate an evil and evil words indicate an evil heart.heart.

2. A sin committed in the light 2. A sin committed in the light of great evidence.of great evidence.

2. A sin committed in the light 2. A sin committed in the light of great evidence.of great evidence.

3. A sin of willful, persistent 3. A sin of willful, persistent unbelief and final rejection of unbelief and final rejection of

Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ.

The Spirit shall convince the The Spirit shall convince the world, of sin; not merely tell world, of sin; not merely tell them of it, and prove that all them of it, and prove that all

the world is guilty before the world is guilty before God. God.

There is no salvation without There is no salvation without Spirit led conviction, for the Spirit led conviction, for the Spirit uses believers and the Spirit uses believers and the Word to convict lost souls. Word to convict lost souls.

Eph 2:1-22Eph 2:1-22

Grace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchSunday, May 8, 2011

Tape # 11-054

Convicting Ministry of God the Holy SpiritUpper Room Discourse, Part 504

   John 16:8-9; Mat 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-29; Luke 12:10

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2011