“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment,” Jesus said, informing the disciples about another work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8).
Let’s look at the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin (John 16:8). He probes sinners about their lost condition, revealing their guilt to them to convict them. Despite the whole world’s need for salvation (Romans 3:19), the lost remain unaware of their guilt until the Holy Spirit enlightens them.
Jesus stated in John 6:44: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”
A person is drawn to Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit's work to reveal our sinful state, we would remain in darkness and without God.
Without the conviction of the Holy Spirit, a person fails to comprehend the profound consequences of their sin. They may even hear the Gospel message, acknowledge its truth, and recognize their own sinfulness, yet choose to reject it and walk away. However, something extraordinary occurs when the Holy Spirit relentlessly probes a person until they are finally challenged. Their eyes open to their condition, and their sin is exposed, bringing them to a full awareness of their lost condition.
Now they face a crucial decision: will they continue in sin or choose to repent and turn to God? The Holy Spirit's conviction is the work that guides them to the life-altering decision that changes their lives forever.
How have you ever shared the Gospel message with your family and friends about the need for them to accept Christ, but it seems they can't comprehend your message? Even if they admit their sinfulness, they may not seem troubled by it. However, the truth is they are "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). People who are spiritually dead don't experience anything. They don't feel the conviction of sin. It takes the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit to awaken a human conscience to realize its sinful state. Only through God's Spirit can a spiritually dead person be awakened and drawn to Christ.
May the Holy Spirit continually work in the lives of my family and friends, helping them to recognize God’s goodness, drawing them to repentance. Jesus died for them, and He sent the Holy Spirit to draw them to Himself. If the Holy Spirit prompts me to speak, I will, for He knows how to touch every heart. I believe in my heart they will eventually recognize their need and come to believe in the loving, saving grace of Jesus.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it was the Holy Spirit who called and awakened you to your sinful condition. He lovingly drew you to Jesus Christ. Once the Holy Spirit brought you to this place of indisputable conviction, He invited you to receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord. At that divine instant, you were reborn.
Nothing will ever surpass the miracle of God breathing His life into our spirits, transforming us from spiritual death to spiritual life. The convicting work of the Holy Spirit is one of the foundational works He performs in our lives, but it isn’t the end of His work. Not only does He convict a person of their need for salvation, but He also convicts a believer of his God-given righteousness. In the next devotional, we will look at the convincing work of the Holy Spirit.
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