The Truth is the Light
By Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
John 16:7-8 says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.” The fact is we cannot be converted unless we are first convicted. Conviction is not the same as conversion butthe two go hand in hand.
Many folks wrestle with the question, “Why did Jesus have to die?” Interestingly, the disciples wrestled with it as well. Though necessary, the departure of Jesus for them was painful and difficult.
If Jesus was going to save us, Hehad to atone for our sins.Jesus had to depart! If not, there would have been no Gospelnorwould we have had aglorified Lord to send us the Holy Spirit.The Holy Spiritworks in three areas: righteousness, sin, and judgment.
Unless exposed, we seem content to wallow in our sinfulness. It appears that sometimes we are comfortable to get into anything we wantto get in, as long as wefeel unrestrained. Jesus knew we would not repent unless our sin was exposed. So, Jesus laid the groundwork for our conversion, paying the price for the penalty of sin. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that works to convince and convict usof our desperate plight,revealing for us the difference between righteousness and sin.
Sin is rebellion against God. Rebellion reached its climax with the crucifixion of Jesus. The greatest sin is a failure to believe in Jesus Christ. The Bible reminds us in John 3:18, “Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
Jesus had to die in order to pay for our sins and to send the Holy Spirit, our Counselor, in His place. Jesus’ death defeated Satan, who once held the power of death (Hebrews 2:14).His death and resurrection condemnedSatan. Although Satan will still try to thwart ourrelationship with God, like a condemned criminal, his execution is coming. John 12:31 says, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.”
The truth of the coming judgment is proclaimed! The maximum penalty for our sin is eternal death. The Holy Spirit convicts usand preparesusfor salvation, revealing to us justwhohas “the power to judge.”We are admonished to take note of Satan’s defeat and fear the Lord who holds all the power to judge.
Our soul, created to spend eternity in heaven, would instead spend eternity in hell. However, Jesus stepped in as our Righteous Judge,paying the penalty for our sin. Jesus sent us a Comforter. Jesus converts us and the Holy Spirit convicts us.
The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Pine Grove AME Church in Columbia, South Carolina.
