“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:”

Today’s verse reveals a heavy responsibility of the Holy Spirit in our lives: to convict of sin, righteousness and judgment. While we’re also looking this week at how the Holy Spirit brings freedom, teaches us, and seals us to Christ, we also have to consider the Holy Spirit’s job of revealing to us the painful truth about all people– we are sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).  

John 16 is part of Jesus’ final words to His disciples before His crucifixion. On the night of His betrayal, Jesus gathered with His disciples in the Upper Room to share in the Passover Feast. Despite them not always understanding the meaning of what He was saying that night, Jesus shared parting words about what they could expect after His death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. Verse 7 reads, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.”  

The “Helper” to which Jesus referred was the third entity of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit. Jesus, the living sacrifice, had to return to heaven to establish His righteousness, the fruition of His work in defeating death, by taking His seat at the right hand of God. And with His departure, Holy Spirit was sent to us as a communicator of God’s truth. “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.  He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that He will take what is mine and declare it to you” (v. 13-15).  

Today’s verse depicts the job of Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. This work is done in the hearts of believers and unbelievers alike, and the sin referenced by Jesus is not specific – like lying, cheating, lusting, murder, laziness, etc. – it is the underlying sin of unbelief. Let’s wrestle with that for a moment.  

The sin of unbelief is the catalyst of all sin. Why? Because sins like lying, cheating, lusting, murder, laziness, etc. are committed with the intention of saying “My way is better than God’s”. “I can’t tell the truth in this situation because it will get me in trouble – and God can’t save me from that.” “I need to cheat to win – because God won’t provide.” “I need this relationship to satisfy my desire for love – because God won’t fill that need.” Take basically any sin that you have committed – can you trace it to your lack of trust and unbelief in God?  

The Holy Spirit was sent to convict us of this lack of faith. And praise God He does right? Because without that conviction, our sin would lead us straight to judgement, and the penalty for our sin is death. But, because we have the Holy Spirit to reveal our sin of unbelief to us, we have the opportunity to accept the righteousness of Jesus and allow it to pay the debt of our sin.  Hallelujah!  

As we draw near to Easter, to the sacred remembrance of the cross and the celebration of the resurrection, I encourage you to pause and think about Holy Spirit’s work in your life. Have you listened to the convicting of the Holy Spirit concerning sin? Have you listened to Holy Spirit communicate the words of redemption and grace available because of the cross over your life? Have you embraced the righteousness of Jesus so that when the judgment comes you can declare that His blood has paid the price of your sin?  

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues  as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4) This power – the power of the Holy Spirit – lives inside you. Listen to it, submit to the convictions, and allow the Trinity to change the trajectory your life. I can promise you, you won’t regret it.

Heavenly Father – thank you for sending Holy Spirit to us. I pray that you would help my unbelief. Help me to recognize the promptings of the Holy Spirit in the areas of my life where I don’t fully trust you. Forgive me for the areas of life that I have not fully surrendered due to my unbelief, and help me to give it all to you going forward. In your precious name I pray, Amen.