“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness because I go to my father, and ye see me no more; of judgment because the prince of this world is judged” – John 16:8-11
LIGHT FOR NOW: Part of the grace concept is rebuke and correction.
We saw in Luke 24:25 that Jesus spotted out the faults or wrongs of his disciples. In verse 27, he corrected them; so faults or wrongs must be shown if correction must be effected. Without spotting the wrong deeds, there can’t be any correction. But it’s mere fault finding without instruction and information of what to do. So rebuke and correction is the Spirit’s work when we sin. Recall in 2Timothy 3:16, Paul says “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. The word “instruction” here is training a child, correction, and scolding. Recall, in Hebrews 12:6, the writer of Hebrews made it clear that God corrects whom He loves (His children). Now, observe verses 5 and 8 of Hebrews 12, it reads “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons”. This is the Spirit’s work, he chastises and rebukes. In 2Timothy 4:2, Paul says “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine”. Again, here there is correction and rebuke, that’s the Spirit’s work. In fact, all epistles carry this flavour; in Revelation 3:19, John says “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent”. Paul called men fools, foolish, fleshly, carnal, sinful (believers) same as Peter and John and James. That’s the Spirit’s work in the written word and definitely in our lives.
Some don’t understand the word condemnation and use it without context. They should be taught, and if they are properly taught, they will see that the Spirit judges. The Spirit judges not guilt and unworthiness because “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Yet he corrects and condemns our conduct when we go wrong, like Jesus did. And the reason for this is for us to receive instruction for growth and edification. Though the Spirit doesn’t condemn the believer because of sinful conducts (because in Christ, there is no condemnation), yet He condemns the bad conduct to the end that growth effects. That is why spiritual growth cures behavioural misconduct. Hallelujah!
INSTRUCTION: When the Spirit corrects you, don’t be stubborn, receive the correction.
PRAYER: Father I declare that I allow your Spirit in me through your word to correct me where I need correction, in Jesus name, Amen.
QUOTE: Rebuke and correction is not an anti-grace concept, it is in the grace itself.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: HEBREWS CHAPTER 12; EVENING: 2TIMOTHY CHAPTER 3
