Pneuma: The Role: Convict

John 16: 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Convict vs. Condemn

They are similar in that they both intend on bringing change though they go about it in drastically different ways.

1) Conviction continues until you confess. Condemnation continues however after confession.

John 8:3-11

The religious leaders of that time were condemning a woman caught in the act of adulatory . There was no apology or remorse that could have appeased the religious. Regardless of heart, the act warranted a stoning.  Condemnation continues regardless your remorse or confession. Conviction however, subsides once you get right with God.

John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

2) Convictions pushes us toward Jesus in an act of dependency, Condemnation pushes us away from Jesus in shame.

Who was the woman caught in adultery drawn towards?  Jesus.  When you screw up you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit. That convictions highlights our own weakness and frailty and augments our dependancy upon God.

Grace in our habitual sins emphesis two things.

   a) God’s faithfulness to convict us with mercy
   b) Conviction pushes us towards him in dependancy.

The Holy Spirit Convicts in Three Ways

John 16:8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

SIN
“ in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me”

John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

I love what Oswald Chambers says in Dec 7 of “My Utmost for his Highest.”

“Conviction of sin is one of the most uncommon things that ever happens to a person. It is the beginning of an understanding of God. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came he would convict people of sin. And when the Holy Spirit stirs a person’s conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not that person’s relationships with others that bothers him but his relationships with God--”Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight…” (Psalm 51:4). O. Chambers

RIGHTEOUSNESS
There is nothing we can do, or say, or be, that will make us righteous or holy enough. Jesus is saying, “I am going to the father, where you are “Not Righteous” enough to follow.

JUDGEMENT
We to often play the role of Judge. We judge others and God. We become Judge because we think we are better, smarter, wiser, and can make better decisions. And the Holy Spirit is here to convicts us of these thoughts of arrogance. 

Rev. 12:10 states that Satan is the accuser. He falsely judges us. Condemns us. And the more we judge the more we are like him.

John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Conclusion

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus leaves and says, “I am sending the Holy Spirit, and this is for your benefit.” It is a benefit to you and me that the Holy Spirit is here to convict us. Because it if wasn’t for the conviction of the Holy Spirit we would not know our sin, our unrighteousness, and our arrogance.

The Holy Spirit convicts not because he hates you. Not because he want’s to get even. Not because he want’s to embarrass you. He convicts you because he Loves you.

Rev. 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

The Holy Spirit convicts us because he loves us.

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