SANCTIFIER Paul wrote that in Christ we are more than conquerors (Rom. 8:37). The word he used was hypernikōmen, which in Latin is supervincemus—“superconquerors.” We cannot help but think of Nietzsche when we read that. He wanted conquerors. Well, true conquerors are those developed by the Holy Spirit. One of the key ways He strengthens us for confrontation with the world is with truth. Later in the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus said:   I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:12–15) We see here again that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to apply the w...

Related to this anticipation is the OT promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit and his empowering work in the new covenant era (Ezek 11:19–20; 36:25–27; Joel 2:28–32; cp. Num 11:27–29). Under the old covenant, the “tribal” structure of the covenant community meant that the Spirit was uniquely poured out on leaders. But what the prophets anticipate is a crucial change: the coming of the new covenant era would witness a universal distribution of the Spirit (see Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2). God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh, namely, all those within the covenant community. Thus, all those “under the new covenant” enjoy the promised gift of the eschatological Holy Spirit (see Eph 1:13–14).  In the NT, the Spirit is presented as the agent who not only gives us life but also enables us to follow God’s decrees and to keep God’s laws, thus making us covenant-keepers and not covenant-breakers. The role which Israel was supposed to play is now fulfilled in us, the church, by the Spirit...

         “In the world ye shall have tribulation.”           — John 16:33 Art thou asking the reason of this, believer? Look upward to thy heavenly Father, and behold him pure and holy. Dost thou know that thou art one day to be like him? Wilt thou easily be conformed to his image? Wilt thou not require much refining in the furnace of affliction to purify thee? Will it be an easy thing to get rid of thy corruptions, and make thee perfect even as thy Father which is in heaven is perfect? Next, Christian, turn thine eye downward. Dost thou know what foes thou hast beneath thy feet? Thou wast once a servant of Satan, and no king will willingly lose his subjects. Dost thou think that Satan will let thee alone? No, he will be always at thee, for he “goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  Expect trouble , therefore, Christian, when thou lookest beneath thee. Then look around thee. Where art thou? Thou ...

Finally, remember that it is the Gospel of John that outlines the Holy Spirit’s ministry of conviction toward the unbelieving world ( John 16:8–11 ). Of what does the Holy Spirit convict unbelievers? Of “sin, righteousness, and judgment” ( John 16:8 ). Wouldn’t it seem that the Holy Spirit’s ministry of convicting people of sin and its consequences has the specific purpose of laying the groundwork for repentance ? Repentance underlies all John’s writings. It is understood, not necessarily explicit. His readers were so familiar with the apostolic message that he didn’t need to dwell on the issue of repentance. John was emphasizing different facets of the gospel message than those highlighted by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. But he most assuredly was not writing to contradict them! His aim certainly was not to devise a no-lordship doctrine of salvation. In fact, John’s purpose was exactly the opposite. He was showing that Jesus is God (e.g., 1:1–18 ; 5:18 ; 12:37–41 ). John’s readers cle...

Sometimes we wish that God would give us the same kind of guidance today. If only a bright cloud would lead us directly to the school we should attend, the job we should take, or the person we should marry! Yet the truth is that God gives us all the divine guidance we need, and in a much better form. He has given us the fire of his Spirit, and now we have his glorious presence with us all day and all night. It is as if the column of cloud and the pillar of fire have come right inside us! Jesus said that the Holy Spirit “lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. Since he is divine, the Bible declares that “the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you” (1 Pet. 4:14). Now part of the Spirit’s glorious work is to give us direction for life. Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide us into all truth (John 16:13a), and now by the power of his holy presence, God is always with us to guide us. Ryken, P. G., & Hughes, R. K. (2...

First, what is the unity of the Spirit? It is a given reality that results from the involvement of many people not only with the Holy Spirit but also, through the Spirit, with the incarnate Son who is currently, by the Father’s appointment, the church’s and the world’s rightful Lord, and with the Father himself, the eternal Father of the eternal Son, who has become our adoptive Father through Christ (see Rom. 8:14–17; Gal. 4:4–7; 1 John 3:1–2). Christ himself put the Holy Spirit’s ministry in focus when he said, “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14). And Christ and his glory are central in every aspect of the Spirit’s post-Pentecost ministry, whether it be illuminating our minds to understand the person, place, and saving performance of Christ, or generating faith in Christ and uniting us to him in his risen life, or transforming us individually into the moral image of Christ, or bonding the church together in its growth toward corpora...

In evangelism the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of sinners to see the glory of Christ who is faithfully preached in the gospel. If Christ is not preached and his glory is not exalted, the Holy Spirit does not open our eyes, for there is no glorious Christ displayed for us to see. The Holy Spirit does not do his work apart from the gospel because his work is to open our eyes to see Christ displayed in the gospel, and until the gospel is preached Christ is not there to see. The Holy Spirit, we might say, flies in perfect formation behind the jet of the Christ-exalting gospel. He does his miraculous heart-opening work to make Christ seen and savored as he is preached in the gospel. The Spirit was sent to glorify the Son of God (John 16:14), and he will not save anyone apart from drawing their attention to the glory of the Son in the gospel. So it is with sanctification. We are transformed into Christ’s image—that’s what sanctification is—by steadfast seeing and savoring of the glory of...

In John 16:8 Jesus says he will send the Spirit to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Elsewhere in John the word “convict” is translated “exposed” (John 3:20). Jesus is saying the Spirit will expose the world’s rebellion. That is part of Spirit-powered sanctification. He turns on the lights so we can see what we have been blind to. Have you ever been in a room in your house, or in the attic or garage, and you flip on the light switch and the floor moves? Not a good feeling. No one likes to be surprised by little rodents or insects or snakes scurrying beneath you. Why does that happen? Why do they run away so vigorously? Because someone turned on the lights. They want to be in the dark. They want to be hidden. They have no desire to be out in the open. Sin is like that too. People love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). This is what happens when you really preach with conviction and when God works in your life with convic...

Only God’s Spirit can truly mend a broken heart, but we can be a part of the healing process. We don’t have to be a priest or preacher, a trained counselor or psychiatrist to be a comforter. We just need to be available, as Christ is available to us. When He was comforting His disciples before He left them, they were confused, questioning, and frightened. He said, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” ( John 16:22). Our attitude toward suffering should not be, “Grit your teeth and bear it,” hoping it will pass as quickly as possible. Our goal should be to learn all we can from our personal problems, so that we can fulfill a ministry of comfort, just as Jesus did. “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). We are surrounded by hurting people. Some may wear a plastic mask, but beneath the mask is a scarred soul. Are we approachable and ava...

Last week, in preparation to preach from Philippians, I began tracking how often I grumble. How often do I complain either out loud, under my breath, or in my mind? I'm ashamed to say it was far more than I would have suspected. Paul says we should do all things without grumbling or disputing ( Phil. 2:14 ). He then goes on to describe four characteristics of what we will become when we do so: blameless, innocent, children of God, and above reproach. He's not talking about salvation with these terms; that was accomplished by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Christ. He's instead talking about how others will perceive us. He's talking about an outward revelation of an inward reality.  I'm a little surprised by Paul's description of this outward revelation. Why not focus on bigger issues? Wouldn't our salvation be better evidenced by things refraining from lying or stealing or murdering our neighbor? Actually, no. Societal pressur...

What does baptism mean and why does it play such a prominent role in the life of the Christian and the Church? Baptism is a sign, which is to say it signifies something beyond itself. It is a pointer that directs our attention to several important truths. First, baptism is designed to direct our attention to the source and cause of our salvation: the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. We are not saved because of or through baptism but because of and through Christ and what he did for us. When people witness a person being baptized they should immediately think about the way salvation has been obtained for us. The living Christ was crucified for our sins. He was then buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. He was finally raised from the dead and entered into a new and glorious phase of life. In other words,  baptism in water is a visual enactment of the gospel itself . The gospel is the good news of what God did in and through his Son, Jesus Christ, to obtain for us ...

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Our Statement of Faith says- VIII. The Lord's Day The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10. Many Christians today are allowing their children  to  miss  worship because of commitments to sports.  So, how should we respond? I like the article below.  I may not agree will all the  particulars here.  However, I think we should always start with a heart for   worship and service.  ...