Ps Dean leads Sandy and Glenys in today's (25/07/2021) bible study from the comfort and warmth of Sandy's lounge room.
Notes for today's study....
Jn 16:8 ESV And when he comes [“the Spirit of truth” – see Jn 15:26], he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment...
HELPS Word-studies: “Convict” – greek ‘elégxō’ – to convince with solid, compelling evidence, especially to expose.
The Holy Spirit creates inner conviction in those who don’t know God by acting upon their conscience to expose sin and guilt, bring conviction concerning judgement for ungodliness, and compelling them to seek righteousness.
This work of Grace by the Holy Spirit is intended to lead people to repentance so that they might be saved.
2 Pet 3:9 ESV The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
1 Tim 2:1-4 ESV First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, 4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Isaiah 55:7 ESV ... let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For the believer, the Holy Spirit will also bring conviction of sin to lead us to repentance, but He also gives us the inner conviction of righteousness – affirmation of being in right standing with God.
Romans 8:16 ESV The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God
Confidence Before God
1 Jn 3:19-24 ESV By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
The Voice of Conscience
2 Cor 1:12 ESV For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
Strong’s Concordance: “Testimony” – greek ‘marturion’ – “witness, evidence, testimony, proof”.
Sin Consciousness
Heb 10:1-2 ESV For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?
Seared Conscience
1 Tim 4:1-2 ESV Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared...
Good Conscience
1 Tim 1:5 AMPC Whereas the object and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a pure heart and a good (clear) conscience and sincere (unfeigned) faith.
1 Tim 1:18-19 ESV This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith...
“Good Conscience”: Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek, “The word [“good”] expresses in its use... that the thing spoken of is perfect in its kind, so as to produce pleasure, satisfaction, and a sense of well-being. The fundamental conception of the word is that of well-being, pleasure.”
1 Cor 4:3-
