106, Psalm 106, and this is on page 140, so it's a Sing Psalms version.
We're going to sing verses 1 to 10.
Praise the Lord, extol His goodness, for His love endures always.
Who can tell His mighty actions, or in full declare His praise?
Blessed are those whose way is right, acting justly in His sight.
When You show Your people favor, then, O Lord, remember me.
Help me when You come to save them, let me know prosperity.
Joyful with Your chosen race, joining them and giving praise.
And so on through to verse 10, Psalm 106.
Praise the Lord, extol His goodness.
Praise the Lord, extol His goodness, for His love endures always.
Who can tell His mighty actions, or in full declare His praise?
Blessed are those whose way is right, acting justly in His sight.
When You show Your people favor, then, O Lord, remember me.
Help me when You come to save them, let me know prosperity.
Joyful with Your chosen race, joy in heaven and giving praise.
We have sinned just like our fathers.
We have done what was not right.
When our fathers wed in Egypt,
with His might, your deeds of might.
All you have made, Lord, at the reds, He's burned the Lord.
Yet for His sins saved He saved them, and rebuilt His mighty hand.
By His word the sea He parted, led them through us on dry land.
From the land of the foe set free, rescued from the enemy.
Let's now call upon the Lord in prayer.
Let's all join together in prayer.
O Lord, our gracious God, help us to approach You in that right spirit, that right frame of mind.
Help us to come before You, not because it is our custom to do so, though it is so.
Help us to come before You, O Lord, not even because we know it is the right thing for us to do.
Lord, help us to come before You with desire, with relish, with happiness that we are here in the presence of God.
Help us, we pray, to enjoy our time in worship.
And to do so, O Lord, in a way that realizes in You the wonder of Your forgiveness, of Your acceptance of us,
through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We approach You, O Lord, on the basis of all that He is for us, on the basis of His accomplished righteousness,
which alone is able to give us a standing in Your presence,
but which is so full and replete that we need nothing else in order to be righteous in Your presence.
We thank You, Lord, today for the way in which Your Word so clearly brings to us the account of our own sinfulness,
against the provision that You have made in righteousness and in forgiveness in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord, help us ever to realize both of these aspects of our need before You,
that we are needy sinners, that we are lost sinners.
We cannot produce a righteousness ourselves that will be acceptable to You,
and yet You require righteousness of us.
We thank You for the provision, Lord, that You have made,
that You have made Your dear Son, the one who knew no sin, to be made sin for us,
that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Help us today to marvel at the wonder of this.
That this is what You have done as a holy and righteous God,
that You have not marked our iniquity against us,
that You have not treated us the way we deserve,
Lord, the way we sometimes treat one another.
You have treated us in mercy.
You have come toward us in the provision of life.
You have brought to us, O Lord, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.
We pray today that He may be made precious to us,
even if we have already known Him and do know Him as a precious Savior.
May that sense of preciousness be deepened today.
Speak to any here, O Lord, who still don't know Him as a Savior,
who have not yet accepted fully the offer of the Gospel,
and come to receive Jesus for themselves.
We pray today, O Lord, that You would work in their hearts,
that You would give them the power of Your Holy Spirit to draw them to Yourself,
to bring them to come to confess their sin and their need of salvation,
and to come to enjoy the provision of such in Your forgiveness.
Bless today, we pray, all the gatherings of Your church throughout the world.
Lord, we realize that many people today gather in the same name of Jesus.
We give thanks, Lord, that we come along with them to recognize
that You are worthy of such worship as we offer You today.
We pray that those in very different circumstances to ours,
especially those who are so affected by war,
by terrorism, by the fear that is instilled through such events and such conditions.
Lord, we pray for Your people in these different parts of the world,
and we ask that You would draw near to them to encourage them,
to strengthen them, and to give them that which You alone are able to give,
and a continued resolve to trust in You,
and a continued resolve to resist the attempts of the evil one,
to say that if God were real, You would not allow such things to happen.
Help us also, Lord, to face such criticism and such opinions in our day,
and enable us to bring people in our response to accusations against You.
Help us to bring them to the cross,
for this is the God we present,
the God we love, the God we know,
the God who instead of marking up our sin against us,
and rejecting us forever as we deserve,
instead placed His own Son in our place,
that He might die that death which we deserved,
and that through resurrection from the dead,
He might bring life and immortality to light through the Gospel.
Bless, we pray today, those who need You.
In special circumstances, Lord, we ask that all those who are unable to be with Your people today physically will be blessed.
All those who are prevented by illness, by injuries, by various circumstances,
that prevent them gathering together as they would like with Your people.
Remember those who belong to our own number, Lord, in that regard.
Remember, too, those who continue to mourn the passing of loved ones.
We ask that You would bless them, bless those who are waiting and have been waiting for some time,
for the funeral of those that have departed.
Lord, remember them, we pray, and continue to uphold them and to bless them,
and to grant them the strength of Your Holy Spirit.
Remember, we pray also our church at this time, our denomination,
as we look forward to various events over the coming weeks and months.
We pray that You would bless those who are preparing for the General Assembly that takes decisions affecting all our congregations.
Remember them, Lord, we pray, in their preparations.
Remember, too, O Lord, our mission meeting this coming week.
We pray that it may stimulate us to engage further in mission.
And we pray for Manuel, as he comes to speak to us of his work in Spain,
that You would grant him Your blessing while he is here in the island.
We pray for the work of street pastors in our locality and in other places throughout our land.
We pray for those we know ourselves here locally who are involved in the work of street pastors going out
on various nights of the week and seeking to help people as they come across them in distress and in need.
Uphold them, we pray.
Protect them.
Use them, Lord, we pray, to bring benefit and help to those that they seek to minister to.
And we ask that You would bless our young people.
Protect them, Lord, we pray.
Shield them about with Your own care and love.
And as they are taught of Your ways,
O Lord, we pray that You would establish them in Your ways,
that You would protect them from all the evil influences that surround us in this world.
And we ask that the love and the teaching and the concern of parents prayerfully before You
might truly be answered in Your blessing.
And we ask that You would continue to bless us here in our locality.
Bless all who have particular places of importance and influence in our society.
Remember them, Lord, we pray, as they take decisions that affect us all,
especially at the higher levels of government.
We commend them to You once again.
And we pray that You would continue now to bless us here in this service of worship.
Guide us into Your truth, we pray.
And all we ask is with the forgiveness of all our sins, for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
Let's read now from John's Gospel,
New Testament and the Gospel of John.
reading chapter 16 and verses 1 to 15.
Gospel of John chapter 16,
beginning at verse 1 through to verse 15, as you know.
This is part of the teaching that Jesus gave the disciples
in what's called the Upper Room.
These verses, these chapters 15 to the end of 17,
and, sorry, 14 to the end of 17,
before He then went out to face His trial and subsequent crucifixion.
So in chapter 16, we read at the beginning,
I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.
They will put you out of the synagogues.
Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
And they will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me.
But I have said these things to you,
that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you.
I did not say these things to you from the beginning,
because I was with you.
But now I am going to Him who sent me.
And none of you asks me,
Where are you going?
But because I have said these things to you,
sorrow has filled your heart.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth.
It is to your advantage that I go away.
For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.
But if I go, I will send Him to you.
And when He comes,
He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.
Concerning sin, because they do not believe in me.
Concerning righteousness,
because I go to the Father and you will see me no longer.
Concerning judgment,
because the ruler of this world is judged.
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.
Amen.
And may the Lord once again follow that reading with His blessing.
Let's turn again to praise the Lord,
this time in Psalm 65.
Psalm number 65,
on page 82,
singing verses 1 to 5.
In Zion praise awaits you, Lord.
To you our vows will pay.
To you all people will come near.
You hear us when we pray.
When we were overwhelmed by sins and guilt upon us lay,
you pardoned all our trespasses
and washed our guilt away.
How blessed are those you choose
and bring within your courts of grace.
We're filled with blessings in your house,
in your most holy place.
With awesome deeds of righteousness,
you answer us, O God,
our Savior,
hope of further seas
and all the earth abroad.
These verses,
In Zion praise awaits you, Lord.
To you our vows will pay.
To you all people will come near.
You hear us when we pray.
When we were overwhelmed by sins and guilt upon us lay,
You pardoned all our trespasses.
You pardoned all our trespasses
and washed our guilt away.
How blessed are those you choose and bring within your courts of grace.
We're filled with blessings in your house.
blessings
in your
eyes
in your
most holy
place
with
awesome
deeds of
righteousness
you
answer
us
O God
our
Savior
hope
of far
the seas
our
Savior
hope
of far
the seas
and all
the earth
abroad
now if you would turn with me please to the passage of scripture we read in john chapter 16 today we're looking at verses 8 to 11
john 16 and beginning at verse 8
this is jesus talking about the helper who is the holy spirit the spirit of truth as he refers to him in verse 16
when he comes he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment
concerning sin because they do not believe in me
concerning righteousness because i go to the father and you will see me no longer
concerning judgment
because the ruler of this world
is judged
well we can safely say that the coming of the son of god
when he came into this world by
taking our human nature to himself
and the coming of the holy spirit
as you find that described
in act chapter 2
what happened on the day of pentecost
the coming of the son of god
the coming of the spirit of god
were really the two
definitive events in the history of the world
the only other event
that you could say is of like
nature to that
is the coming of christ again
his return
on the great day of judgment
and here in this passage
jesus
is anticipating the coming
of the holy spirit
that you find described in acts chapter 2
by referring to that in this way
he speaks of the spirit of truth
the helper
the old
translations had
comforter
all of these
meanings are built into the words that jesus uses
the holy spirit is
the helper
he is the comforter
he is the spirit of truth
he is the spirit of god
and of course the holy spirit
like jesus himself
is god
we worship
this god
who is three persons
in one god
in the mystery of that trinity
that we believe
though we cannot
but understand
but a small amount of it
that's what the bible
reveals to us
and we believe that
because that's
how god has described himself
well the coming of the holy spirit here
is
described by jesus
as having this effect
when he comes
he will
convict the world
concerning sin
and righteousness
and judgment
the world there means
people like you and i
the world
the world in the sense of being
estranged from god
the world in the guilt of sin
the world really being
human beings
that have rebelled against god
that's the kind of people
that jesus came to save
there were no other types anyway
and so for you and for me today
it's describing
what we are ourselves
by nature
we are the world
until jesus comes
and changes that
and brings us to know
himself to be his saints
and that's what
the spirit of god here
in the ministry of the spirit
is described as doing
now the holy spirit
was already
in the world
in creation
before he came
so definitively
on the day of pentecost
you read way back
at the beginning of the bible
in genesis chapter 1
verse 2
that the spirit of god
moved upon the face
of the waters
god's creation
of the heavens
and the earth
the earth was
void
it was without form
and void
it needed to be
shaped
but until that happened
the spirit of god
moved on the face
of the waters
holding all things together
until god said
let there be light
and he fashioned
the other parts
of the creation
we're now
so aware of
in this world
especially
and you can find
also in the old testament
that the spirit of god
is described
sometimes
as coming upon
people
david for example
in first samuel
chapter 16
the spirit of god
came upon him
from that day onwards
but that's how the old testament
tends to describe
the spirit of god
in the world
in regard to god's people
he came upon them
he came upon samson
spirit of god
actually came upon
different personalities
different people
throughout the ages
of the old testament
but it's only when you
come to the new testament
it's only when you
come to
what happened
after jesus
had come
and died
and risen again
and gone back to heaven
that you find
the holy spirit
coming permanently
to dwell in the hearts
of god's people
and now that's
anticipated
in the old testament
for example
you go to
ezekiel
and in ezekiel
chapter 36
you find a wonderful
description of
days of blessing
that lie ahead
from the perspective
of the old testament
where god is saying
to the people
of israel there
that he is going
to bring them
together
to bring them
to know himself
chapter 36
of ezekiel
and verse 27
there where he's saying
i will take you
from the nations
i will gather you
to from all the
countries and bring
you to your own land
i will sprinkle
clean water on you
and you shall be
clean from all
your uncleannesses
and from all
your idols
i will cleanse you
and i will give you
a new heart
and a new spirit
i will put within you
i will remove the
heart of stone
from your flesh
and give you
a heart of flesh
and i will put
my spirit
within you
and cause you
to walk in my
statutes
and be careful
to obey
my rules
that's an anticipation
a prophecy
of the coming
of the holy spirit
that would take place
in the new testament
and of course
when you go to
john itself
john's gospel
and chapter 7
you'll find a very
significant passage
in chapter 7
at verse 37
where jesus is saying
on the last day
of the feast
jesus stood
and cried
if anyone thirsts
let him come
to me
and drink
whoever believes
in me
as the scripture
has said
out of his heart
will flow rivers
of living water
now this he said
about the spirit
whom those
who believed
in him
were to receive
for as yet
the spirit
had not yet
been given
because jesus
was not yet glorified
you see what
that is saying
to us
that it required
first of all
jesus to come
into the world
the son of god
to die on the cross
to rise from the dead
to be glorified
to return to heaven
from where he came
that's what he's saying
in this chapter
in chapter 16
as well
he's going back
to the father
only then
only after that
is he speaking
of the spirit
of god
coming
the way that he came
on the day of pentecost
and the spirit's own work
is what is described
here by jesus
in verses 8
to 11
now we need to look
at a couple of words
and the meaning
of these words
before we enter
more fully
into the verses
he says here
he will convict
and he's saying
he'll convict
the world
of righteousness
of sin
righteousness
and judgment
so the convicting
is to do with sin
and with righteousness
and with judgment
it follows into
these three categories
and the word convict
is probably not
the best translation
though it can mean that
the word convince
will probably
carry the meaning
of it better for us
he will convince
the world
and when you go back
to chapter 8
the word is used
with regard to
what jesus himself
said to those
who were seeking
to find fault
with him
chapter 8
verse 46
where jesus said
which of you
convicts me
of sin
he's really saying
which of you
can present
an argument
and convince
that I am a sinner
that I have sinned
that I am wrong
so that convincing
really the same word
is used exactly
as here
when he comes
he will convince
the world
concerning sin
concerning righteousness
concerning judgment
he will convince
in the sense of
successfully
persuading
you might say
of these three matters
he will successfully
or powerfully
persuade
the world
of these
three issues
and you notice
the connection
in each of these
cases
with the work
of jesus himself
he will persuade
the world
concerning sin
because they don't
believe in me
concerning righteousness
because I go to
the father
concerning judgment
because the ruler
of this world
the devil
is judged
and you can see
how specific
that is as well
the word because
are words
concerning there
really means
specifically
about this
and in other words
he is saying
when he comes
he will convince
the world
specifically
concerning sin
because they believe
not
specifically
because
specifically
concerning
the fact
that they don't
believe in me
specifically
concerning
relating to
the fact
that I go
to the father
specifically
concerning judgment
because the ruler
of this world
is judged
in other words
all that jesus
is saying here
about the work
of the holy
spirit
is keyed
into
his own
work
but it's
keyed
into his
person
it's keyed
into
what we make
of the truth
concerning jesus
that's what the
holy spirit
and the holy
spirit's work
of convincing
us
is really
about
so let's
look at these
three issues
in turn
when he comes
he will convince
the world
concerning sin
because they
do not
believe
in me
we need
to be
convinced
concerning
sin
why is that
well for one
reason is because
sin
and because
our sinfulness
prevents us
from
realizing that
for ourselves
one of the things
that has happened
in our fallenness
in adam
is that we don't
realize exactly
what our need
is about
we don't realize
the seriousness
of our lost
condition
we don't realize
the sinfulness
of our lost
condition
we don't realize
the seriousness
of not believing
in jesus
of not accepting
jesus
and the consequences
of not accepting
jesus
you see one of the sins
one of sins
effects
is that our minds
have become
numbed
you might say
to the truth
of god
when you cut
a nerve
in your hand
or wherever it is
i cut this
thumb many years
ago
with a piece
of glass
right across
here
had to go away
and get the nerve
put back together
again but there's
still a numbness
there
when i do that
i don't feel
anything in that
specific spot
and our minds
our souls
have become
numbed
to the seriousness
of sin
to the seriousness
of our lostness
to the seriousness
and the criminality
if you like
in the face of god
of not believing
in jesus
of not accepting
the provision
that god has made
for us in jesus
and the spirit
of god
comes to
exactly that point
where he convinces
us of our sin
and especially
our sin
in not believing
in jesus
and of course
believing in jesus
in this context
and a lot of other
contexts
in the teaching
of the bible
means more than
believing things
about him
when jesus
is saying here
he will
when he comes
convince the world
concerning sin
because they do
not believe in me
that's equivalent
to not accepting him
it's equivalent
to rejecting him
it's equivalent
to not embracing him
i remember the
words of the catechism
and catechism
31
that was one of
the catechisms
we uh
well certainly
when i was a youngster
you dreaded being asked
in sunday school
to repeat
catechism 31
it was the longest
and uh
it's effectual
calling
how we come
to be
savingly united
with jesus
and what does it say
what is our
effectual calling
it is the work
of god's
spirit
whereby
convincing us
of our sin
and misery
enlightening our minds
in the knowledge
of christ
and renewing
our wills
he doth
persuade
and enable us
to embrace
jesus christ
that's the work
of the spirit
of god
he persuades
and he enables
he convinces
of our sin
especially in regard
to not believing
in christ
when you're convinced
you see of
of the merits
of jesus
of the worth
of jesus
of how jesus
deserves
that your faith
is placed
in him
of how jesus
deserves
that you accept
him as god's
great gift
of a savior
when you're
persuaded
that that
jesus
has that
merit
that he deserves
this
to say nothing
else
then you're
persuaded
that not
believing
in him
is a serious
business
if god
has
as he has
provided
this savior
for us
then not
accepting him
not closing
in with him
not in the
words of the
catechism
embracing him
is the
most serious
thing you
can do
because it's
tantamount to
rejecting
the love
of god
the mercy
of god
the gift
of a savior
on god's
part
to us
who are
undeserving
of it
so you see
that's so
important
that today
we're being
taught by
this passage
that this
is the
work of
the holy
spirit
and that
we need
this work
of the
holy
spirit
in our
lives
in my
heart
in your
mind
in your
life
to persuade
us
to actually
convince us
about our
sin
that it is
something so
serious
that only
the remedy
that's in
jesus will
do for it
nothing else
is going to
meet your
need today
as a
sinner
the way
this is
and indeed
the spirit
of god
as we said
earlier
persuades us
of the
criminality
of rejecting
him
it's as if
god is
and god is
indeed saying
this is the
highest guilt
this is
something that
places you
in the category
of being so
clearly guilty
because here
is something
that's so
wonderfully shown
in the gospel
the provision
of a savior
do i need
him
of course i
need him
can i produce
what he has
produced for
myself
of course i
can't
i am a
sinner
i'm a
lost sinner
i'm an
unrighteous
sinner
i'm a
sinner
incapable
of creating
the righteousness
as we'll see
in a minute
that god
requires of
me that
god himself
is calling
for but i
don't need to
create it for
myself
and when i
try and create
it for myself
the holy spirit
when he convinces
me this way
will turn me
away from
myself to
jesus and
will say
that's what
you need
there is your
salvation
there is your
provision
there is forgiveness
for your sins
there is the answer
to your guilt
convinces
because this is
what the spirit
does he will
convince the
world concerning
sin on account
of or specifically
in relation to the
fact that they do
not believe in me
and you know
when you actually
don't accept
jesus
when that sin
of not accepting
jesus
let's be clear
that's what the
bible is telling
us here
to reject him
not to accept
him
is a sin
on your part
and mine
and when that sin
is still in
place
then
every other
sin
is unforgiven
it's logical
isn't it
if I haven't
placed my
trust in christ
which is the
way that god
actually sets
before me
as the way
to salvation
the way to
forgiveness
the way to
righteousness
I need to
trust in christ
first that's the
root that's the
key that's the
entrance point
so unless I've
done that
no other sin
on my part
can be forgiven
or is forgiven
I need first of
all first and
foremost
to accept
christ
to receive
god's gift
in him
then everything
else
follows on
from that
and it's the
work of the
holy spirit
to convince
us concerning
sin
in regard
to the fact
that we do
not believe
ourselves
as we are
in jesus
secondly
he talks about
the holy spirit
convincing us
of righteousness
see what he's
saying here
specifically in
regard to
righteousness
on account of
the fact that I
go to the
father and you
will see me
no longer
now you know
what righteousness
is it's a
concept that's
not that easy to
understand necessarily
but it's quite
clear in the bible
what it is
righteousness
is God
himself being
righteous
morally
righteous
no defect
whatsoever in
him
the standard
of righteousness
that he requires
of us
you might say
is the standard
that we would
have if we
were able to
complete and
hold the law
of God for
ourselves in
obedience
all the time
if we were able
to say every
single aspect of
what God commands
and requires of
me I can do
if we were able
to say that
which we're not
we would be
righteous
but because
we're not
what does God
do he sends
the Holy Spirit
to convince us
that our
righteousness
is in Jesus
he doesn't just
convince us
of our sin
and of our
misery as the
catechism said
he persuades us
as well
he successfully
convinces us
that being
sinners
we need the
righteousness
that's in Jesus
because we don't
have one of
ourselves
there's the
wonder of
what God
does in our
experience
he comes to
persuade us
regarding our
sins
our need of
forgiveness
of cleansing
of washing
and so what
does he then do
he brings us
to Christ
he shows us
we cannot
produce
the righteousness
that he requires
but Jesus
has done that
for us
and when you
come to trust
in him
to give your
life to him
to believe
in him
whatever words
we use
they're all
used in the
Bible
to give you
the complete
picture
of what it
means to
accept Christ
to embrace
Christ
what then
happens
well his
righteousness
is put onto
your account
in the presence
of God
the guilt
that's honored
up to then
is wiped
clean
it disappears
it will never
appear there
again
but it stays
there
and it will
condemn you
and condemn me
if I've not
accepted Christ
as my
righteousness
that's the
the solemnity
but the beauty
of the gospel
that God
brings us
to know
this
to realize
this
to appreciate
this
and especially
that he does
so through
the work
of his
Holy Spirit
you go to
the likes
of Saul
of Tarsus
the apostle
Paul
as he came
to be known
here was a man
who thought
that he was
righteous
because in his
own estimation
he was blameless
as touching
the law of God
the righteousness
which is in the law
blameless
I've got that
he was able to say
of himself
wrongly of course
as he came to
realize
but after he met
with Jesus
after Jesus
apprehended him
on the road
to Damascus
and from that
moment
showed him
that he was
actually very
unrighteous
that all
the attempts
that he
could make
of keeping
that law
for himself
would amount
to nothing
because he was
a sinner
and he needed
the righteousness
that was in
Christ
and you examine
all his epistles
that he wrote
subsequent to that
great event
what do they all
state
in some way
or other
some more
than others
well if you
go to Romans
and if you
go to Galatians
especially
that a man
or a woman
is not justified
by the works
of the law
that's to say
by our own
attempts at
keeping the law
of God
we're not
justified
we're not
accounted
righteous
because of
that
but through
faith
in Christ
Jesus
through accepting
the righteousness
that's provided
for us
in him
you see how
this comes
together
the Holy Spirit
persuades us
of our sin
persuades us
of the enormity
and of the
heinousness
the gravity
of our sin
in rejecting
and not accepting
Christ
and then he brings
us to
the righteousness
of Christ
and he persuades
us that's the
righteousness
that we need
that God
has produced
for us
that remains
as it is
forevermore
and will never
be taken
from us
when we have
put it
on our account
through faith
in Christ
and it fits
exactly with
our need
of that righteousness
that we come
to believe
in Christ
you see
he's saying
here
concerning
righteousness
on account
of the fact
that I go
to the Father
and you will
see me
no longer
now that's
significant
he's talking
here about
the righteousness
that we need
the righteousness
that we come
to possess
through faith
in Christ
to believing
in Christ
but how does
that come
about
what does
he
why does
he add
because I
go to the
Father
and you
will see
me
no longer
well because
that's the
root that
Jesus took
in order
to produce
this righteousness
for us
it cost
him
the death
of the cross
it cost
him
all the
suffering
that he
endured
in order
to bring
this about
it cost
him
the agony
of hell
in his own
soul
the thing
we deserved
for our sin
and our
rebellion
against God
that is
what Jesus
took to
himself
what he
experienced
my God
why have
you forsaken
me
the forsaken
of the cross
the forsaken
in Jesus
experience
is precisely
this
the penalty
the
what we
deserve
for our
unrighteousness
because
he said
I go to
the Father
and you
will see
me no
longer
and the
root to
the Father
was
the cross
the resurrection
the ascension
to glory
that is
the root
that Jesus
took
before the
Spirit of
God came
on the day
of Pentecost
as in fact
had been
promised by
God
up to that
moment
Jesus
took that
root from
heaven
into this
world
to the death
of the cross
he humbled
himself
as we saw
in Philippians 2
and was
obedient
unto death
even that
death of
the cross
where for
God
has highly
exalted
him
and given
him the
name that
is above
every name
that is the
root that
Jesus took
from heaven
to the cross
to the grave
to resurrection
to ascension
back to glory
why is it
all there
because he
loved sinners
like you
and I
because he
loved sinners
like you
and I
that's why
when he
comes he
will convince
the world
concerning sin
and righteousness
and thirdly
judgment
concerning judgment
specifically
in relation
to this
because the
ruler of
this world
is judged
and of course
he means by
that the
devil
the ruler
of this
world
why is he
called
the ruler
of this
world
this is not
the last
judgment
at the
last day
this is
specifically
what happened
in regard
to the
devil
through the
death of
Jesus
and the
resurrection
of Jesus
and the
ascension
of Jesus
what happened
well he
was judged
he was
condemned
the ruler
of this
world
is a reference
to the fact
that after
the fall
of man
remember
Adam and
Eve
listened to
the voice
of the
serpent
Satan
coming in
that form
and yielding
to that
temptation
and bringing
this disaster
upon
mankind
you and I
would have
done
no better
and from
that moment
the whole
world lay
in darkness
under the
sway of
the evil
one
until that
moment that
Jesus came
into the
world
died and
rose from
the dead
what happened
the devil
is judged
he's lost
his right
his claim
whatever it
was under
the sovereignty
of God
of course
his claim
to hold
people in
darkness
in spiritual
blindness
and what
does that
mean for
you and
me
it means
that you
and I
can now
say
absolutely
assuredly
since the
death blow
has been
given to
Satan's
kingdom
to Satan's
sway
to Satan's
persuasive
ways
to Satan
himself
as the
ruler of
this world
since the
death blow
has already
been given
he's been
judged by
by Jesus
in this
way
and therefore
there is
no reason
in the
world
why anyone
should listen
to him
why anyone
should continue
to give
heed
to his
insinuations
to his
temptations
to his
hold on
human life
the Holy
Spirit
convinces
us
that we
can
indeed
and should
be
free
indeed
as Jesus
put it
elsewhere
in John's
gospel
if the
son
makes you
free
that's
himself
the son
of God
if he
makes you
free
then you
are free
indeed
what is
freedom
well if you
listen to
the world
will tell
you
freedom
is having
the ability
and the
freedom
to do
what you
want
to follow
your own
inclinations
to live
life the way
you think
it should
be lived
never mind
what the
church
says
never mind
what ministers
faithful to
the gospel
preached
freedom
is to be
rid of
all of
these
things
that entrammel
people's
lives
that close
their minds
against
the truth
of the
liberty
of the
world
that is
what Satan
persuades
so many
people
about
that is
what the
world
will tell
you
that is
why it is
so difficult
to witness
to the
gospel
that is
why it is
so difficult
to come
even lovingly
and tactfully
to tell
people
that actually
those ways
that people
spend their
lives in
sinful
debauchery
is actually
wrong
they will
say
it is not
wrong in
my eyes
I am
free to
do what
I like
well God
through the
gospel
today is
saying to
you and
me
you know
better
than that
you know
better that
the freedom
that the
bible speaks
about
the freedom
and liberty
that is
within
God's
salvation
that is
not the
freedom
to do
what you
want
it is
the freedom
to do
what you
ought
the freedom
to do
what God
himself
specifies
you ought
to do
freedom
to trust
in Christ
freedom
to enjoy
righteousness
in the
presence
of God
in Christ
by faith
in him
freedom
to look
forward
to serving
God
in this
world
and looking
forward
to heaven
afterwards
freedom
to be a
Christian
God's
way
freedom
to belong
to God's
people
as Christ's
witnesses
God's
he the
prince
the ruler
of this
world
is already
judged
that doesn't
mean that we
forget about
him
doesn't mean
he doesn't
continue to
hold sway
and influence
with people
but it means
he has no
valid arguments
whatsoever
to persuade
people that
they should
bow in
obedience
to him
that's all
gone
he's been
judged
he's been
found
wanting
he has
condemned
written over
him already
and that's
all because
of what
Jesus has
done
so today
that's the
good news
for you
and for
me
there is
forgiveness
with God
there is
righteousness
with God
there is
true
spiritual
freedom
because
of what
already
God has
done
with evil
specifically
in the
devil
you remember
in John's
gospel
the same
gospel
in chapter
three
that
Nicodemus
came to
Jesus
by night
symbolic
of his
spiritual
state
though he
was a
ruler of
the Jews
he was a
member of
the ruling
Sanhedrin
of the Jews
but it's
in John's
way of
presenting
darkness
and light
he came
to Jesus
by night
yes he
was coming
because he
was afraid
probably of
being seen
going to
Jesus
but there's
also that
spiritual
dimension
to it
he came
because that's
where he
was spiritually
he was still
benighted
he was still
in the
darkness
and he
said
Rabbi
we know
that no one
can do
these miracles
that you
do
unless God
be with
him
how did
Jesus
respond
well he
didn't
actually say
to Nicodemus
Nicodemus
this is
what you
must do
he said
Nicodemus
this is
what you
must
become
except a
man be
born again
he cannot
see the
kingdom of
God
and of
course you
know he
went on
to say
except a
man be
born of
water
and of
the spirit
he cannot
enter into
the kingdom
of God
whatever it
means water
that goes
back to
the symbolism
of washing
in the
Old Testament
but you
notice there
unless one
is born
of the
spirit
unless one
becomes a
new creation
he cannot
enter into
the kingdom
of God
truly I
say to
you
that which
is born
of the
flesh
is flesh
that which
is born
of the
spirit
is spirit
don't marvel
that I
said to
you
you must
be born
again
the wind
blows
where it
wishes
you hate
its sound
but you
don't know
where it
comes from
or where
it goes
so is
everyone
who is
born
of the
spirit
to be
born
again
to be a
new
creation
through the
spirit to
come to
know
of our
relation
with God
that involves
that newness
of life
all of that
is built
into this
passage
and more
so let
me finish
with a
quotation
from
Octavius
Winslow
a work
of
Octavius
Winslow
the work
of the
Holy Spirit
the name
of the
book
and I
came across
this
passage
as I
was preparing
for today
and it's
specifically
addressed
to the
unconverted
so if
you're here
today
and you're
not yet
in Christ
you're not
one of
those who's
accepted
Christ
all the ways
in which
we've seen
that in
the passage
believing
in him
trusting
in him
accepting
him
accepting
righteousness
in him
coming to
experience
the freedom
with which
he makes
us free
let me
lovingly
and sincerely
read this
passage to
you
because with
all my
heart
as I stand
here as a
preacher of the
gospel
this is
really
what it's
about for
us
that you
will come
to be
born again
and know
Christ
as your
own
savior
unconverted
reader
what solemn
truth does
this subject
address to
you
you must
have perceived
that the
word of
God sets
before you
a new
mold into
which you
must be
cast
it professes
to work a
great change
in you
in the
hands of
the Holy
Spirit
not of
opinions
only
but of
your nature
of your
heart
is this
done
do not
turn away
from this
question
do not
lightly
pass by
it
eternity
hangs
upon the
issue
I'm not
asking
what you
hold
what you
know
or what
you profess
but what
you are
are you
he goes
on
born
again
are you
a new
creation
let's pray
Lord God
our
Father
in heaven
our
great
privilege
today
is to
know you
through
the
gospel
to have
that
gospel
that you
set
before us
in which
you bring
to us
this message
of life
and our
greatest
privilege
oh Lord
is to
know you
to know
you
savingly
to know
you
in a
way
that
brings
life
into
our
deadness
we ask
today
Lord
that
our
sin
may be
forgiven
that
our
righteousness
may be
confessed
to you
as
unrighteousness
and that
we may
have
your
righteousness
imputed
to us
we pray
today
Lord
that
you
would
deliver
us
from
the
persuasive
ways
of the
devil
and of
our
own
hearts
Lord
we pray
today
for the
power
of your
spirit
to come
effectively
into our
experience
to turn
us to
yourself
to give
us
Lord
to know
that
great
work
of
rebirth
that
you
alone
are
able
to
effect
we
pray
for
all
you
people
who
know
you
that
your
spirit
Lord
will
continue
to
refresh
us
daily
even
as
we
saw
Lord
last
Wednesday
evening
as
you
call
upon
us
to
be
filled
with
the
spirit
and
we
ask
now
that
you
bless
us
through
this
day
continue
to
bless
your
word
to
us
Lord
we
pray
in
Jesus
name
we
ask
Amen
well
let's
conclude
our
worship
this
morning
singing
in
Psalm
143
Psalm
143
that's
on
page
440
from
verse
7
we'll
sing
down
to
verse
10
Lord
let
my
prayer
prevail
to
answer
it
make
speed
for
lo
my
spirit
doth
fail
hide
not
thy
face
in
need
lest
I
be
like
to
those
that
do
in
darkness
sit
or
him
that
downward
goes
into
the
dreadful
pit
and you
notice
verse
10
concludes
by
reference
to
the
spirit
of
God
my
God
alone
art thou
teach
me
thy
righteousness
thy
spirit
good
lead
me
to
the
land
of
uprightness
let's
sing
these
verses
to
God's
praise
Lord
let
my
prayer
prevail
Lord
let
my
prayer
prevail
to
answer
it
makes
thee
for
though
my
strength
of
fail
I
know
thy
face
in
need
lest
I
be
like
to
those
that
you
in
darkness
said
I
in
that
thy
word
goes
send
to
the
dreadful
pit
because
I
trust
in
thee
O
Lord
cause
me
to
hear
my
love
in
kindness
sweet
when
morning
does
appear
cause
me
to
know
the
way
where
my
path
should
be
up
away
to
say
when
l
I
do
And safety do me hide
Because I'm weak to thee
For the cloud is behind
My God alone art thou
Teach me thy righteousness
Thy splits could lead me to
The lamp of the brightness
I'll go to the side door here to my left this morning.
Thou may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God the Father,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you now and evermore.
Amen.