Day 23

“I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment…”  — JOHN 16:7-8

There are two different people concerned with talking to us about our sin. One is the Holy Spirit and the other Satan. Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit comes, he will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. That is, without apology, the Holy Spirit’s work involves the bringing of conviction of sin. 

But the devil has another role. He is described as being ‘the accuser of our brothers’, (Revelation 12:10) whose task is not to convict but to condemn. He stands before God, accusing us day and night with his objective being to blacken our motives and condemn our characters. A good illustration is found in Job 1:9-11, where Satan subtly accuses Job by negative innuendo. “Does Job fear God for nothing?” he asks. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? In other words, “No wonder Job worships you. You protect everything he has”. “But take that all away,” Satan adds, “and he will surely curse you to your face.” Just as Satan accused Job, he will certainly accuse us.

There is a big difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the condemnation of Satan. Condemnation throws guilt upon us like a heavy blanket that we cannot move from under. Conviction makes us aware of our sin, but at the same time, gives us a way out with forgiveness readily offered. Our sin is exposed by the Spirit, not to accuse or condemn us, but always to cleanse us and liberate us.

If our awareness of sin leaves us feeling persistently hopeless and condemned, with no other prospect than to live with the guilt, we can be sure that the origin is satanic. Many of us are far more prepared and ready to hear Satan’s news than the good news of the Gospel. We hold an intrinsic attitude that tends to pounce on the wrong and accept the guilt, leaving us trapped under the weight of that blanket. How much more liberating it is to believe in the forgiveness of Christ and accept His righteousness as our own? That’s what Scripture teaches.

But by no means, does this undermine the seriousness of sin. Jesus died in our stead by the cruellest means possible, not so that we may continue in our old sinful nature, but by His indwelling Spirit, be made into His likeness.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for taking my sin upon You and dying in my place. I can’t imagine anything greater for me than being made into your likeness, and I ask that You continue your good work in me. Thank You, Lord, for your indwelling Spirit that makes that possible.

TO REFLECT UPON: Has the condemnation of Satan weighed me down with guilt? How does that affect me and do I now realize how liberating the forgiveness of Christ is and that it sets me free of guilt?