Gospel of John [Joh 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 52. Eph 4:30; Rom 8:12-18; Heb 12:1-13.

Title: Gospel of John [JOH 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 52. EPH 4:30; ROM 8:12-18; HEB 12:1-13.

 

Announcements/opening prayer: 

 

 

Prevention of sin: the word of God and the indwelling Spirit.

 

I am writing these things that you may not sin. Walk in the light and enjoy the fellowship of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and the royal family of God.

 

The word of God is a protection when it is cherished in the heart.

 

PSA 119:11

Thy word I have treasured in my heart,

That I may not sin against Thee.

 

Not only is the word of God inevitably a power in preserving from sin, but it is a power in detecting sin within the life. The believer who attempts a course in Bible study and at the same time attempts to live a life in the world system in sin against God will eventually get uncomfortable with one or the other. You can't serve two masters, for you will eventually love the one and hate the other.

 

HEB 4:12

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 

2TI 3:16-17

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

 

The Holy Spirit is the resource from whom abundant ability to resist sin may be drawn. His presence is the basis for holy living.

 

ROM 8:12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — 

 

ROM 8:13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

 

By the Spirit - suppression of temptation as well as His power to lay aside sin that has been acknowledged and walk in the light.

 

ROM 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

 

ROM 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

 

ROM 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

 

By the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body, which are the dead works and sins of the old nature's habits. And we see that the Spirit constantly bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God; new creatures in Christ. Sons of God seek to please their Father by submitting to His will. And so the Spirit who communicates the word gives us the motivation, the power, the wisdom, and the counsel so that we suppress sin and evil in our lives.

 

ROM 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.

 

ROM 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 

It is the Spirit that reveals to us the exalted position to which we have been raised at salvation as He bears witness with the spirit of our minds that we are children of the very God. In this He also energizes us to will and to do that which is pleasing to God. This is the greatest retardant to the function of sin in a believer's life.

 

Breathe the fresh air of simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

 

The presence of sin in the life of the Christian constitutes a barrier to fellowship or communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As we have seen, fellowship is the same mind, love, spirit, and purpose.

 

The whole fact is based on the finished work of Christ and so acknowledgment of sin has a faith aspect so that the believer will not feel guilty, condemned, or have a mind towards some type of penance. When we have evaluated ourselves as grieving the Spirit we recover in the grace of God and move forward with the confidence that we have forever been forgiven and cleansed in Christ.

 

Knowing the will of God and recognizing when we are outside of that will and acknowledging the sinfulness of sin and claiming the cleansing power of the blood of Christ is in itself a sanctifying force.

 

In recognizing and laying aside sin and having a non-sinful anger towards sin, and fully relying on the finished work of Christ, the believer is far less likely to return to a lifestyle of sin or the manner of life of the habits of the old man. No one ever becomes sinless, but a lifestyle of sin is unlikely for such a believer. The believer who is apathetic towards sin or condones certain categories of sin is very likely to live a lifestyle of sin and cosmic thinking and so fail to experience the life that is Christ.

 

Homologeo and recovery are in effect an act of dependence upon God, a recognition of human weakness, and the need of divine power.

 

Our Advocate at the right hand of God is always there to comfort us in His finished work so that we live free, but we do not turn our freedom into an opportunity for the flesh.

 

Great Christians have suffered greatly with their sin natures because they have fought its habits and have not relented to its reign in their mortal bodies.

 

Believers who have allowed the sin nature to reign in their lives have suffered the effects of that nature but they know nothing of the suffering of the fight with that nature. These sufferings are different and have different effects.  

 

The problem of human suffering relates back to Adam's sin by which the human body was blighted, the human senses spoiled, the sin nature imparted, and all creation came under a curse. The introduction of salvation of the soul does not remove all these fundamental causes for suffering.

 

Because of the effects of Adam's sin, the chastening hand of the Lord has been upon every one of His children.

 

HEB 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin [singular - OSN] which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

 

HEB 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author [Prince Ruler] and perfecter [Completer] of faith, who for [instead of] the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

HEB 12:3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.

 

HEB 12:4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

 

This is certainly not condescending to sin or submitting to it or condoning it. Striving is the Greek word antagonizomai.

 

HEB 12:5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;

 

HEB 12:6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,

And He scourges every son whom He receives."

 

HEB 12:7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

 

HEB 12:8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

 

HEB 12:9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

 

HEB 12:10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness [separation from the world system and the sin nature].

 

HEB 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

 

HEB 12:12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

 

HEB 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

 

Through chastening experiences, the child of God is trained, sin is prevented, knowledge is gained, and the whole life made fit for greater usefulness. Great Christians have had great suffering.

 

The scriptures plainly warn the believer that it is dangerous to trifle with sin. Experience also bears witness to this. All believers can bear witness to the unprofitableness of forsaking God's will and continuing in sin.  Not only is there loss of the positive spiritual blessings that are afforded only by communion with God and the unhindered work of the Spirit within, but there is the added sorrow of heartache and trial which might well be avoided.

 

Peter knew all too well what the effects were of denying the Lord, so he could write with great conviction:

 

He wept bitterly over his succumbing to fear and the denial of any association with His Lord who was only a few feet away from him.

 

1PE 4:14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

 

1PE 4:15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

 

So we conclude our study on the grieving of the Holy. We have fully studied the negative commands to not quench the HS and to not grieve the Holy Spirit and now we turn to the positive command to walk by the Spirit.