The Inner Ear

The Lake Faith Podcast with Pastor Paul Stead

Ps Dean leads Sandy and Glenys in today's (25/07/2021) bible study from the comfort and warmth of Sandy's lounge room.

Notes for today's study....

Jn 16:8 ESV And when he comes [“the Spirit of truth” – see Jn 15:26], he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment...

HELPS Word-studies: “Convict” – greek ‘elégxō’ – to convince with solid, compelling evidence, especially to expose.

The Holy Spirit creates inner conviction in those who don’t know God by acting upon their conscience to expose sin and guilt, bring conviction concerning judgement for ungodliness, and compelling them to seek righteousness.

This work of Grace by the Holy Spirit is intended to lead people to repentance so that they might be saved.

2 Pet 3:9 ESV The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

1 Tim 2:1-4 ESV First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, 4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Isaiah 55:7 ESV ... let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

For the believer, the Holy Spirit will also bring conviction of sin to lead us to repentance, but He also gives us the inner conviction of righteousness – affirmation of being in right standing with God.

Romans 8:16 ESV The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God

Confidence Before God

1 Jn 3:19-24 ESV By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

The Voice of Conscience

2 Cor 1:12 ESV For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

Strong’s Concordance: “Testimony” – greek ‘marturion’ – “witness, evidence, testimony, proof”.

Sin Consciousness

Heb 10:1-2 ESV For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?

Seared Conscience

1 Tim 4:1-2 ESV Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared...

Good Conscience

1 Tim 1:5 AMPC Whereas the object and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a pure heart and a good (clear) conscience and sincere (unfeigned) faith.

1 Tim 1:18-19 ESV This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith...

“Good Conscience”: Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek, “The word [“good”] expresses in its use... that the thing spoken of is perfect in its kind, so as to produce pleasure, satisfaction, and a sense of well-being. The fundamental conception of the word is that of well-being, pleasure.”

1 Cor 4:3-4 ESV But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

Acts 24:14-16 ESV But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

Cleansed Hearts

Heb 9:11-14 ESV But when Christ appeared as a high priest... he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Heb 10:19-22 ESV Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Heb 4:14-16 ESV Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

1 Jn 1:9 AMPC If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].