John 16:8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;
The Holy Spirit’s presence in believers, as their Helper, impacts the world. After telling His disciples that the Helper would be with them forever, He said, “that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him” (14:17). The world’s problem is that they have no understanding of sin, righteousness, and judgment because they can’t see who Jesus is nor do they know Him. But those who do know Jesus, have His life in them. Therein lies the source of the conviction. As long as Jesus was present in this world as a distinct, separate, unique individual, He could be rejected, denied, and accused as an imposter and fraud. But after the resurrection and the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, came to transform sinners into saints, the difference between believers and the world is evident. Their holy lives, characterized by the faith and love of the living Christ, exposes the blindness and ignorance of the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. As we live to love with Jesus, we are participating in the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in the world.
Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com
