Conviction

Be Blessed by Embracing God’s Values and Relating with Him through the Lord’s Atonement

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, remembers the one day of the year when the high priest would go into the tabernacle, behind the veil, into the Holy of Holies to atone for the sin of the people. On the Mercy Seat covering the Ark of the Covenant, the priest would sprinkle the blood of the covenant sacrifice.  From within the cloud of God’s glory over the ark, God would see the sacrificial blood as evidence of man’s atonement of sin, reversing God’s judgment, transforming it to mercy.

RELEVANCE

The LORD’s sacrificial blood was poured out once and for all reversing God’s judgment of sin.  As much as we need to allow the Holy Spirit to convict our heart of sin, we also need to allow our heart to receive with conviction the Father’s love and the grace of His mercy.

As we receive God’s forgiveness purchased with the LORD’s blood, we can forgive others. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”  (Matthew 6:14)

As we value the LORD’s sacrifice and His forgiveness, we are able to cast off condemnation, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill and refresh our heart. Such liberty enables us to walk free from guilt; and empowers us to set others free from our judgment.

In a similar sense, as we take the “log” out of our eye (Matthew 7:4) and stop judging others, God cleans our eye, and clears our vision—so that we can see with His open vision.

Living free from the guilt of sin and judgment truly transfers us into a new realm.  For, when you receive the liberty of the Spirit, you are transferred from the realm of the guilt and condemnation of sin to the realm of freedom in the Spirit.

We often find it difficult to shake off guilt.  Therefore, we find encouragement and hope in Messiah Jesus. Allow your heart to embrace Paul’s exhortation.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.   (Romans 8:1-2 NLT)

REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE

Have you fully received the love of the Father? Would you like to?

Do you know the mercy of the LORD?

Would you like to fully receive the Holy Spirit’s comfort?

Do you think there might be things preventing you from freely extending God’s love to others—even difficult people?

How do you think the Holy Spirit might help you extend mercy and grace to others?  

REFERENCES

1 John 4:16; Psalm 19:7-14; 27; 136; Hebrews 6:13-20

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Unless otherwise specified, all Scripture references are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked JNT taken from the Jewish New Testament. Copyright © 1979 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. Scriptures marked NLT are taken from New Living Translation Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.