Part 8: Faith in Jesus, or is it Faith in Something else?

Dan A. Rodriguez Articles, Books, and Podcasts

We mentioned some of the following in these podcasts. Here we write it down for your study.

And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8 NASB).

“He” is the Holy Spirit in this context. Look at this word “convict.” It means the Holy Spirit will expose, reprove, rebuke, and Thayer’s adds: reprehend severely, correct, call to account, show one his fault. In Greek (Strong’s #1651), it is elegcho.

The same word is found in John 3:20; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1Timothy 5:20, 1 Corinthians 14:24 (this verse sounds a lot like what Felix experienced as Paul preached); Titus 1:13, 2:15; Hebrews 12:5; Ephesians 5:11. I highly recommend that you look up all these verses.

Some Christian circles teach that correction and rebuke is NEVER love. Some teach that the Lord NEVER convicts the Christian of sin. Let’s bust that moronic bubble of absolute nonsense right now because those ideas are big lies.

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent (Revelation 3:19 NASB).

The Lord loves us and commands the churches to repent. Because He loves us, He rebukes, and disciplines us. It’s that same word elegcho in all the verses above, but notice the connection I am making between John 16:8 and Revelation 3:19. You cannot say the Lord stopped rebuking or bringing conviction to Christians after His sacrifice. If He did stop bringing this conviction-correction-rebuke to the believer, He would have to stop loving us. He will never do that!

Love does this rebuking, correcting, and calling to account (see also Heb. 12:5). Get this truth in your heart. Rebuking, correcting, and calling to account can certainly be “speaking the truth in love” as in Ephesians 4:15! At times, love will reprehend severely and that is love all the way. To rebuke is love when done because you do not seek your own but for the benefit of the hearers. (1 Cor. 13:4-9) If you correct or rebuke someone to prove YOU are right, because you want to manipulate or insist that things be your own way alone, or you want revenge because you are hurt, offended, or it makes you feel superior (inflated with pride)—then it is VERY WRONG and not walking in love. Get that straight!

How can one be kind and yet reprehend severely and show one his fault? Kind to the person and rough on sin! You don’t grab them by the hair and throw them on the floor, though you may be tempted to! It is kindness that you can come and sit in church, hear the rebuke, apply it, and go home! Just look straight ahead and don’t squirm. Sometimes conviction will make you sweat, squirm, rattle, and shake you. Nobody will know it was for you unless the Lord reveals it! If He exposes your sin publicly, be thankful because it may have been necessary to keep you from going to a devil's hell!

Above is Part 8 in this series. Listen to all these messages and get these truths from the holy Word of God into your spirit. Be abundantly blessed!