Characteristics of a Disciple – Part 6
Jesus begins by preparing them for what’s coming—persecution, confusion, and His physical absence. Discipleship requires preparation, not just inspiration.
- Preparation Guards Against Falling Away
- During Persecution/tribulation/ trials
- False doctrine exists or is preached
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold,
2Ti 4:4 and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable].
1Ti 4:1 But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons,
1Ti 4:2 [misled] by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning],
- Preparation reminds you to stay alert.
- Preparation Positions You for What’s Next.
- Disciples Embrace the ministry of the Holy Spirit
Jhn 16:8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:
Jhn 16:9 about sin [and the true nature of it], because they do not believe in Me [and My message];
Jhn 16:10 about righteousness [personal integrity and godly character], because I am going to My Father and you will no longer see Me;
Jhn 16:11 about judgment [the certainty of it], because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged and condemned.
Jn. 15:
Hypostatic union
Not only will the Holy Spirit, be with you and live in you; but He will remind you of the words of Christ, testify to you of Christ, cause you to testify and see people come to God.
Convict the world of sin.
The Greek word used here is (elegchō), which means:
- To expose or bring to light
- To correct or rebuke
- To convince someone of the truth
- To bring about inner realization of guilt with the hope of repentance
2Co 7:8 For even though I did grieve you with my letter, I do not regret it [now]; though I did regret it –for I see that the letter hurt you, though only for a little while–
2Co 7:9 yet I am glad now, not because you were hurt and made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance [and you turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that you might not suffer loss in anything on our account.
2Co 7:10 For [godly] sorrow that is in accord with the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but worldly sorrow [the hopeless sorrow of those who do not believe] produces death.
This is not condemnation (katakrima)—which is about punishment.
Conviction is about clarity and confrontation that leads to repentance.
Jesus is saying the Holy Spirit will engage and confront unbelievers about their true condition—especially their rejection of Him.
2Co 4:4 among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
He the enemy works to keep people in darkness/. Blinded to the love of God in Christ Jesus.
2Co 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the face of Christ.
Conviction happens in the world by the Holy Spirit through:
Through the unknown power that moves in someone’s life.
Through the preaching of the Gospel. –
Through disciples sharing their testimony. – Stephen first martyr Acts.7:55
Through signs wonders and miracles. – Peter at the gate beautiful, Acts 3:6
Through the prayers of the righteous. Acts 16:16-40
Convict the world of righteousness
Righteousness as Position (Justification)
This is about our right standing with God—not earned by behavior but received by faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:22 – “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Imputed righteousness- It’s the legal declaration by God that we are righteous in His sight because of what Christ did.
You don’t live right to become righteous. You live right because you are made righteous.
Righteousness (Sanctification)
This is the outworking of your right standing through right living, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
1 John 3:7 – “The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous.”
Romans 6:13 – “Offer yourselves to God… and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness.”
This is about walking in obedience, integrity, and holiness—not to earn salvation, but to reflect Christ.
True righteousness will always produce a transformed lifestyle.
“Righteousness starts with position but shows up in lifestyle.”
To be convicted of judgment
- satan (the ruler of this world) has already been judged, defeated, and condemned through the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
- God’s judgment is real, just, and final—and all who reject Christ stand on the same side as the already-judged enemy.
- It is both a warning and an invitation: warning of judgment to come, but also an invitation to escape it through Christ.
“The Spirit convicts us that Satan is judged—so we don’t have to be.”
The phrase “ruler of this world” refers to Satan, the spiritual adversary who temporarily influences human systems, ideologies, and sin.
John 12:31 – “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.”
Colossians 2:15 – “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in the cross.”
Hebrews 2:14 – “…that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.”
Revelation 20:10 – “And the devil… was thrown into the lake of fire…”