Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · The Holy Spirit
Jesus said the Spirit would 'convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment.' Conviction is not mere guilt: it is God persuading the conscience of the truth, so that people see their sin, their need of Christ's righteousness, and the judgment to come, and turn to the Savior.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/how-does-the-spirit-convict-the-world · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
John 16:5-15
As you read: Concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment: Jesus explains all three.
5But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
6But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.
7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;
9about sin, because they don’t believe in me;
10about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more;
11about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.
12“I have yet many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.
13However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.
14He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you.
15All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takesof mine, and will declare it to you.
Acts 2:37-41
As you read: The preaching of the Spirit-bearing church, and the response: 'what must we do?'
37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
40With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
Romans 3:19-26
As you read: The law leaves every mouth shut: the groundwork the Spirit uses to lead us to Christ.
19Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
20Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
21But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
25whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;
26to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
Jesus said the Spirit 'will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment.' To convict is to bring proof and persuade: the Spirit doesn't merely make people uncomfortable, He opens their eyes to the truth about God, themselves, and the gospel.
“When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;”John 16:8
The sin the Spirit exposes first is not a list of behaviors but the root: 'because they don't believe in me.' Weeping over a broken marriage is one thing; being convinced that refusing Christ is the deepest wrong is the Spirit's work. He uses the gospel to name that sin.
“about sin, because they don’t believe in me;”John 16:9
“This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.”John 3:19-20
Jesus went to the Father and the world saw Him no more, yet the Father vindicated Him by the resurrection and ascension. The Spirit convinces the world that Christ is the righteous One, and that His righteousness is what we need. The verdict on Jesus becomes the news we receive.
“about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more;”John 16:10
“This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.”Acts 2:32-33
“But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,”Romans 3:21-22
Satan, the accuser, has been judged at the cross. The Spirit assures us that evil will not have the last word: that the powers behind the world's rebellion are already defeated. Judgment, promised and certain, is part of the good news that calls us to safety in Christ.
“about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.”John 16:11
“Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.”John 12:31
“having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”Colossians 2:15
When the crowd was 'cut to the heart' under the Spirit's conviction, Peter did not leave them in guilt; he called them to repent and be baptized, and to receive the gift of the Spirit. God's kindness leads to repentance. The Spirit who convicts is the same Spirit who gives the new birth.
“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”Acts 2:37-38
“Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”Romans 2:4