Grace Bible Church
Pastor Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
072920
Condemnation vs Conviction: Being Convicted by GOD is legitimate, Condemnation of the spirit is not.
- We begin with a few principles concerning the fact we began with the fact that I wanted to ask all of you a very simple questions or answer a very simple question that demands some sort of answers on your part especially if you are searching for truth.
- I also said that **** There are many believers who believe in certain doctrines and who try to make a verse say what they want it to say to back up their ignorance of the Word of God.
- These are the types of individuals who pick up a subject and then they look for scriptures to back-up what they believe when it should be just the opposite.
- The Opposite = We should learn what the verses and passages say and teach us first, then we should allow the Word of God to dictate to us the correct interpretation of the passage.
- In this way, we don’t use the Bible or misquote the Bible and take it out of the context to back up what we claim to believe.
- Taken scriptures out of context” is probably the number one reason for the biggest problems of interpretation that we face consistently because most believers not only take God’s Word out of context but most believers also reject the concept of ICE.
- Most believers do not study the Isagogics or the historical settings of a passage and therefore miss out on the correct interpretation.
- Most believers are either ignorant of the principle of ICE because they have learned the doctrine and have rejected it.
- Or they have not learned that because they have rejected the guidance and direction of God the Holy Spirit, Who gives to every believer the opportunity to come to the right interpretation but they have not listened to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.
- Now, there are two very important blessings and assignments that God the Holy Spirit which offers every believer after salvation so that they have the opportunity to grow in grace and knowledge and become a “winner” believer.
The two blessing or gifts are:
(1) Being assigned to a certain pastor.
(2) Being assigned to a certain local assembly.
(a) The right man and the right woman; 1Co 7:17.
(b) The right job; Ecc 9:9.
(c) The right children; PSA 127:3.
(d) The right friends; Pro 17:17.
There are some great gifts from the Lord to us, but we will never really be truly thankful or appreciate them or even enjoy them until we see them as gifts from our Lord who truly loves us unconditionally.
(Q) What is our Lord’s attitude when it comes to gifts and giving?
- ROM 11:29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
2CO 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
JAM 1:17 Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.
(Q) How many of you desire to be the best employer or employee?
(A) The Bible teaches that you can find the right job or your niche in life is also a gift from above, for both believer and unbeliever; Ecc 9:9.
Ecc 9:9 Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life, and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.
(Q) How many of you desire to be the best children?
(A) The Bible teaches that children are a gift from the Lord; PSA 127:3; Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; The fruit of the womb is a reward.
(Q) How many of you desire to be the best friend a person could have?
PRO 17:17 “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”
Not only are these right blessings from the Lord but I am sure that there are other right blessings that I have not mentioned that are also given to believers who love the Word of God.
1JO 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
This is what impressed the apostle Paul and the believers in Thessalonica; Act 17:10-12.
Act 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
ACT 17:11 Now these were more nobleminded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.
ACT 17:12 Many of them therefore believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.
They were more noble because they received the word of God with great eagerness and zeal, and they also examined the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things that the apostle Paul was teaching were so.
In many of the Churches were known because of the faithfulness of prominent Greek women and men.
If a believer desires what the Bible really says, one of the most important principles that lead to the correct interpretation is the principle of ICE.
Why did the Lord teach His disciples such a controversial subject which really is about divine discipline and suffering for blessing?
1PE 3:15 Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
JOH 15:2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.
Every believer is in union with Christ and is perfect in their position but not in their condition which is why the apostle Paul says certain things the way he does in Rom 8.
If you are “in Christ,” then this verse says you will never be condemned or judged by God no matter what you think, say, or do.
There is conviction by God the Holy Spirit, which is legitimate, but condemnation is not.
This brings us to Holy Spirit conviction verses satanic condemnation which is always a crossroads as to which way we will go.
Holy Spirit conviction always gives us a way out in which the grace of God is magnified and reconciliation is the goal of God the Holy Spirit.
Whereas satanic accusations condemn a person and has no way out except satanic condemnation.
It is the Spirit verses Satan.
Conviction verses condemnation.
It is life spiritually or death experientially.
Even though our lives will be judged according to the word of God, it is an evaluation of our works not condemnation for our sins.
Our Lord’s word on the type of judgment we will face; Joh 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
Joh 3:17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.
JOH 5:22 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,
Joh 12:47-48; "I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness.
Joh 12:47 "And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
JOH 12:48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.
Even when our Lord had to judge us which was really His way of evaluating the lifestyle that we live; He did so with grace and honor motivated by agape love.
We are told that we are “in Christ” that is our position and not our condition.
Our position in Christ guarantees that there is no condemnation for any of us who have been saved.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
The prepositional phrase “in Christ” gets right to the point --- Because we are “in Christ” we will never lose our salvation.
The apostle Paul stresses that we are in Christ and we can never lose what God has given by means of grace.
JUD 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
JUD 1:25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
We share what Christ has and we share who Christ is.
What a great doctrinal principle backed up by the “Divine Promises” from God; 1Jo 3:1-2.
Our Lord is seated at the right hand of the Father and we share everything that He has and everything that He is Rom 8:29.
Rom 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren;”
- Christ has a destiny; we share His destiny — Eph 1:5.
- Christ is the Son, we are in union with Christ, we share His sonship; 2Ti 2:1.
- Christ is the heir; we share His heirship; Rom 8:16-17.
- Christ is sanctified, we share His sanctification; 1Co 1:2.
- Christ is a King; we share His kingdom; 2Pe 1:11.
- Christ is the High Priest; we share His priesthood; Heb 10:10-14.
The Bible says we will all have to face not only deserved suffering but also underserved suffering as well; PHI 1:29; 1Pe 3:12-18.
Notice that the apostle Peter says that you and I can suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. = Undeserved Suffering.
One of the most important messages our Lord taught His disciples in the Vine and the branches is the place of suffering according to the Word of God.
For example, the apostle Paul taught His disciples and followers how they can glory in their sufferings and the great principles that suffering produces, such as perseverance; character; and hope.
Rom 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
The apostle Paul also gave some great doctrinal advice to the Corinthians concerning the divine viewpoint on suffering; 2Co 1:2-7.
1PE 4:1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
That is ceased from the power of the Old Sin Nature controlling the souls of believers and unbelievers.
“ceased from sin” does not mean that they no longer sin but it does mean they have reached a point where the sin nature no longer has dominion over the individual.
ACT 5:41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
Prin-All undeserved suffering requires you to use the inventory of your doctrine resident in your soul.
GAL 6:5 For each one shall bear his own load.
In LAM 3:27-28, "It is good for a man (which refers to the members of the human race) that he should bear the yoke in his youth [time of youthful vigor]. Let him sit alone and be silent since has laid it on
We just mentioned Jacob this past week and in GEN 32:24, it wasn't until Jacob was left alone with the Lord that his named was changed to Israel, a prince with God.
Jacob is alone and he has learned some important principles of doctrine concerning how to handle being alone with the Lord.
It was not until Jacob was left alone with the Lord that his named was changed to Israel, a prince with God.
We all need to have that experience of going through struggles in life alone with God -- It is part of becoming spiritually self-sustained.
In 2CH 32:31 God left Hezekiah alone to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.
There are times when the silence of God is manifested by all the doors in your life being closed and then you must make your own decisions.
It is God who is testing the doctrine that is in your own heart.
JOH 8:9 And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst.
JOH 16:32 "Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
Prin: Right now, there are many believers who are having a little trouble with the silence of God.
Prin: Right now, there are also many believers who know that they have done nothing wrong to have the personal suffering that they are going through in this life.
In your devotions or dedications, give the Lord thanks for all things, even undeserved suffering.
It was not until Jacob was left alone with the Lord that his named was changed to Israel, a prince with God.
The interesting thing is that the Lord is going to have to teach His disciples how to handle the problem of loneliness because they are about to experience the real meaning of loneliness when they go forth to fulfill the PPOG.
For some individuals their loneliness reveals their inability to solve their own problems that they think is a problem.
It is true that way back in Gen 2 our Lord did tell Adam, it was not good for him to be alone.