John 16:7-11
7 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. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
Today, I want to explore what we call “The conviction of the Holy Spirit.”
Yeshua tells the disciples what the Holy Spirit is going to do, but he doesn’t give a lot of detail. Or at least that’s what it looks like. When we look at this verse we see a short and slightly confusing explanation of what the Holy Spirit will do when he comes. But, if we dig deeper things become clearer.
Cut to the heart
In Acts 2, as soon as the Holy Spirit is poured out, after Peter preaches to the men of Israel,
Q: How does the crowd respond?
Acts 2:37-38
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 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?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, convincingly established that the Jews had crucified the Messiah.
These men were “cut to the heart”.
Q: What does this phrase mean?
We can see that they were convicted of sin.
VINES: “Cut”: katanýssō, (kat-an-oos’-so) to pierce thoroughly, i.e. (figuratively) to agitate violently (“sting to the quick”):—prick. Only used in Acts 2:37
THAYERS: “Cut”: to pain the mind sharply, agitate it vehemently: used especially of the emotion of sorrow.
This is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Q: Have you noticed, in most Christian circles, when you begin talking about the conviction of the Holy Spirit, it’s invariably stories of confession about being corrected or disciplined by the Holy Spirit? Ex. “God convicted me about not sharing the gospel the other day.” OR, “I didn’t pray for that person and I shouldn’t have. I feel so convicted.” OR “I almost cheated on my taxes but I was convicted.” Or any other common scenario.
Look closer at this verse in John 16:8-11
8 And when he (The Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict (convince, rebuke, reveal, call to account) the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…
I think the church assumes that this passage refers to sinners and not to believers.
** I believe the work of the Holy Spirit in this area is immeasurably larger then we have imagined.
Q: What is the conviction of the Holy Spirit?
What is it NOT?
NOT just feeling sorry for your sin, or remorseful — that’s your conscience.
Some have a strong conscience, some have a weak conscience.
Usually this is just the result of upbringing or education.
The work of the flesh.
NOT feeling like you failed, or having regret, shame, guilt, humiliation — that’s condemnation.
Often a work of the accuser.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (a definition of conviction)
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Q: What does the conviction of the Holy Spirit produce?
A: Repentance that leads to salvation without regret.
3 Fold Revelation: I believe the conviction of the Holy Spirit as discussed in these 3 verses — encompasses the THREE states of a person’s soul, the THREE ages of mankind, and the THREE levels of our relationship with the Lord.
ALL of this is contained within…. the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit has the unique capacity to compress all of that into a couple minutes of time as he brings us from darkness to light.
Concerning sin….
9 concerning sin, because they (the world, unbelievers) do not believe in me;
Q: What is the most basic sin of which the world is guilty? Yeshua called it unbelief.
The world is in a state of sin. Without the conviction of the Holy Spirit they don’t know they’re in a state of sin. When their hearts are touched by the Holy Spirit, they realize the state they are in and their need for repentance and reconciliation.
This is the role of the old covenant, the Old Testament, to reveal man’s need for a Messiah; to reveal the presence of sin and the inability of man to cleanse himself of sin.
This is where the Holy Spirit reveals how far you are from where he’s called you to be.
He shows us a revelation of our need.
Our response determines whether we move from sinfulness into righteousness.
Concerning righteousness….
10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father (heavenly realm), and you (the disciples) will see me no longer, (g2334 Gr: theoreo– “Behold” – from theoros, “a spectator,” is used of one who looks at a thing with interest and for a purpose, usually indicating the careful observation of details)
Q: If the disciples could no longer behold him, how could they become like him?
How could they learn from their Rabbi? How could they imitate him?
Because Yeshua went to the Father, he sent the Holy Spirit back to make a pathway for us to enter into right relationship with the Lord.
Romans 8:28-29
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Paul reveals here what the disciples had to learn, that even though we cannot behold the son of God with our own eyes, we can behold him by a relationship with the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding (reflecting) the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. (glory to glory)
For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (This is the work of the Holy Spirit)
The Holy Spirit looks upon the face of Yeshua as he is now, in his glorified majesty, and makes us look like him.
Yeshua could not send the Holy Spirit upon the church until he was resurrected and glorified, until he had gone through the cross. The Holy Spirit does not want to make you like Yeshua on the way to the cross, he wants to make you like the resurrected Messiah, seated with the father on the throne.
The conviction of the Holy Spirit leads to transformation
Vs.10: Concerning righteousness… All disciples, the saints, are in a state of righteousness.
Without the conviction of the Holy Spirit, they don’t know they’re in a state of righteousness.
This is the role of the new covenant, the New Testament, which reveals righteousness available to ordinary men and women, in the Messiah, and that as he has gone to the father and sent his Holy Spirit, he has established righteousness.
Concerning judgment….
11 concerning judgment, (justice – divine law, accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment, trial, separation) because the ruler of this world (Satan, demonic ) is judged. (“has been judged” –describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated. )
This, I believe, is speaking of “The Day of the Lord” or the day of judgment.
1 John 4:13-17
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
Righteousness and Justice
Remember, whenever Righteousness and Justice are spoken of together, the Holy Spirit is directing us towards an awareness of his Kingdom
Psalm 89:14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love faithfulness go before you.
Psalm 33:5
He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
Proverbs 21:3
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
