“And when he comes he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement.”
John 16:5-11
Jesus tells his disciples three very important things about the work of the Holy Spirit – to convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. The original word for convince also means convict. The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier. He makes us holy as God is holy. He does this first by convicting us of our unbelief and sin and by bringing us humbly to the foot of the Cross.
The Spirit convinces us of God’s love and forgiveness and of our utter dependence on God for his mercy and grace. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us from the error of our unbelief and sinful ways and to show us the way of love and truth.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to both convict us of our unbelief and wrongdoing and to convince us of God’s truth.
Come Holy Spirit, and let the fire of your love burn in my heart. Let me desire only what is pure and lovely. (Don Schwager)