Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We live in a day when truth is considered relative. If you believe in absolute truth, you are often ridiculed as an outdated relic of the past. Being dogmatic about truth is offensive to many. When we proclaim the truth that the Bible is the Word of God and that Jesus is the only way of salvation, we are often rejected as being narrow-minded. For those who believe that there are many authorities of truth and many ways to God, our message is not welcomed. Trying to convince unbelievers of the gospel is often fruitless. Should we try to persuade men to believe? Yes! Paul wrote, “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. . .” (II Cor. 5:11). Paul was aware that, though he was responsible to persuade men concerning the truth about Christ, he was not able in himself to make them believe. He said to the same Corinthian believers, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (I Corinthians 2:4-5). Paul through his eloquence and persuasion could not convince men of their need for Christ.
In the past five articles, we have been studying the Holy Spirit, our Divine Comforter. We have observed the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Book of Acts. When the Church was born on the Day of Pentecost, several ministries of the Holy Spirit unique to the Church age began to occur. The Holy Spirit remains active in this age in the lives of unbelievers and believers. Let’s examine a key ministry of the Spirit in the lives of unbelievers. An unbeliever seeing the truth of Christ and responding in faith is not possible apart from the Spirit’s work. We will answer the question: “The Holy Spirit: How Does He Convict?”
How does the unbeliever relate to the Holy Spirit?
The unbeliever has no relationship with the Holy Spirit. He is distant from the Spirit, and He cannot remove this separation, nor does he desire to do so. These truths describe the unbeliever’s relationship to the Spirit.
He doesn’t receive or understand the things of the Spirit of God (I Cor. 2:14).
He has not been made alive by the Spirit (Eph. 2:1; John 3:8).
He is not indwelt by the Spirit (Rom. 8:9; Jude 19).
He cannot receive, see, or know the Spirit (John 14:16-17).
How does the Holy Spirit reprove (or convict) the unbeliever?
Apart from the work of the Spirit, the unbeliever cannot relate personally to the Spirit, neither can He come into a personal relation-ship with Jesus Christ. The primary ministry that the Spirit accomplishes toward the unbeliever is that of conviction (John 16:7-11).
What is meant by the term, “convict,” or “reprove” (John 16:8)? There are two key aspects.
It has an outward significance—toward the world in general.
The term, “convict,” means “to prove guilty,” whether or not they are ready to admit their guilt (William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Gospel According to John, p. 324).
It is a general demonstration to the world that it is guilty. This is the objective truth about conviction.
It has an inward significance—toward the unbeliever specifically. . . in his heart.
The term, “convict,” also means “to awaken to consciousness of guilt,” whether or not they are willing to receive Christ as their Savior (Hendriksen, p. 324).
It is a personal confrontation of the unbeliever’s guilt in his heart. This is the subjective truth about conviction.
It has a direct meaning: to place the truth of the gospel in a clear light before the unsaved so that it is acknowledged as truth whether or not Christ is received as Savior (adapted from B. F. Westcott, Gospel According to St. John, II, 219; Charles C. Ryrie, The Holy Spirit, p. 58).
What truth does the Spirit reveal to the unbeliever? He reveals and proves truth in three key areas.
He reveals truth concerning sin (John 16:9). . . “because they do not believe in Me.”
He exposes the seriousness of unbelief in Christ.
He shows that this sin of unbelief is what condemns the sinner.
He reveals truth concerning righteousness (John 16:10). . . “because I go to My Father, and you see Me no more.”
He reveals that Jesus Christ, whom men condemned as unrighteous, is truly righteous (confirmed by His ascension to the Father).
He reveals that man is unrighteous and in need of Christ’s unrighteousness.
He reveals truth concerning judgment (John 16:11). . . “because the ruler of this world is judged” (cp. John 12:31).
Satan has been judged through Christ’s death and resurrection. . . his doom is sure!
The unbeliever will be judged because his prince has been judged. . . his doom is also sure!
The order of these three truths is very important: man must see the seriousness of his sin. . . man must see that Jesus Christ is the answer to that need for righteousness. . . man must see that if Christ is rejected, he faces certain judgment.
If you are an unbeliever reading this, realize that the convicting work of the Holy Spirit reveals and proves that your only hope is in Jesus Christ. Trust in Him as your Savior today! If you are a believer in Christ, the Spirit’s convicting work gives you confidence that He is working when you proclaim the gospel to the unbeliever. Only He can accomplish eternal results. Don’t try to do His work for Him. Proclaim the gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation, and trust the Spirit to do the work in the heart!
Because of His Grace—Pastor Charlie