John 16:8 When he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me;
“…sin because people do not believe in Me.”
Sin is more than just doing wrong actions or not doing what we ought. Sin is also seen in our will. We are determined to sin, and we fiercely and stubbornly hold to our sin even when we know it is killing us. Sin also is rooted in our affections. We love to sin; we are devoted to sin (John 3:19).
The gospel is a “package deal.” All that God wants to do in us begins with Christ in us. Unbelief locks the treasures of heaven from the inside, not the outside. When the door to heaven and all of heaven’s treasure is locked from the inside, the only door left is the doorway to hell. The sinner will find the key to hell’s door already in their hand. They gladly prefer to walk through any door other than heaven, foolishly believing that the way to fulfillment is through self-effort and pleasing oneself, where there is no felt need nor apparent need of God. They will insert the key into hell’s door gladly and willingly because they have done so hundreds of thousands of times in this life. They assume they will finally and fully be rid of God’s “oppressive,” outdated, and foolish commands and influence in their lives.
It is a stubborn refusal to take Jesus at His word that cuts one’s self off from God, not vice versa.
– Pastor Seth