BILL’S BLOG ENTRY #57

Continuing on the subject of the work of the Holy Spirit:

“SPECIFICS:
sin: gr. hamartia: John 16: 9: The Holy Spirit convicts/describes what is “missing the mark, falling short of the glory of God.”; the Holy Spirit clearly identifies sin as not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ: JOHN 6: 40- “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” SEE ALSO JOHN 3: 36; PSALM 51: 3 – 11.
righteousness: gr. Dikaiosune: John 16: 10- “right-doing” (a product of right-thinking), conformity by man to all that God commands or appoints; it is what is consistent with the Truth/truth; what matches up with God’s Word. SEE ALSO EZEKIEL 36: 25 – 27; LUKE 4: 18. All our attempts to conform to the Law have been futile; “The Christian who struggles in his own strength to live the Christian life will fail! SEE ALSO Romans 8: 13 – 14; “But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”- Philippians 4: 13.

God’s righteousness is imputed to us and imparted as a gift; it is not earned. We can only accept God’s claims on our lives as we repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior by faith. We “make real” or realize God’s claims on our lives by the miracle of the regenerating action of the Holy Spirit. It is His action in our hearts which results in right-thinking (having been convinced of the veracity and validity of the Truth) which leads to repentance and that repentance results in “right-doing.” Jesus, the Living/Loving Word, the Perfect Example, is no longer to be seen on earth; His righteousness is established by God’s raising Him from the grave; however, He can be seen in the “right-doing” of His people: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

judgment: gr. krisis: the final judgment; implying separation; making a distinction between after a solemn trial; expressing a preference for one vs another; to divide (guilty or not guilty- notice that I don’t say “innocent”). John 16: 11- Satan and his followers have been judged. What about the judgment? SEE MATTHEW 25: 31 – 46; focus: vv. 32 –33.”

About THE DISCIPLE

William H. “Bill” Hicks is a graduate of Wesleyan University, BA, Religion, 1971 who also holds a Masters in Public Health Degree (MPH) from the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health (1973). Bill also has studied at the Dallas Theological Seminary. He grew up in Harlem, New York City, USA during the 1950s and 1960s, graduating from high school before attending Mount Hermon Preparatory School and undergraduate school in Connecticut. He has spent most of his professional life in the public health arena, while being constantly in ministry. He received his license to preach the Gospel at Oklahoma City, OK in 1971. He has written extensively on Christian topics. He enjoys life in Chattanooga, TN with former District Public Defender Ardena Garth Hicks, his wife of 30 years. They have two daughters, Rachel (BA, University of Memphis magna cum laude, 2014) and Sarah (Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, Global Scholar, University of Tulsa, 2017).

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