Conviction Of Sin
Conviction Is The Holy Spirits Work With Reference To The World
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin because they believe not on me; of righteousness because I go to the Father and ye behold me no more; of judgment because the prince of this world has been judged." (John 16:7-11.) In this passage we have the Lord's brief but comprehensive definition of the Holy Spirit's work with reference to the world.
Christ's mission had as its end the salvation of the world. (Luke 19:10.) This mission was accomplished when Christ by his death provided salvation. The task of convicting the world belongs to the Holy Spirit. He does this with the truth — not truth generally, but specifically — that truth which the Holy Spirit revealed and confirmed. After having stated the work of the Holy Spirit Jesus continues his remarks by stating that "when he, the Spirit of truth, is come he will guide you into all the truth." The Holy Spirit convicts the world with that truth which he speaks through the apostles. Any conviction effected by that truth is of the Holy Spirit.
Conviction with respect to sin, righteousness, and judgment is based on Christ and his accomplishments. The Holy Spirit presents the evidence by which conviction is affected. This threefold conviction is necessary for they are so related that profitable conviction with respect to one cannot without conviction in the other areas. No one has a complete "sense of sin" who lacks either conviction of righteousness of Christ or conviction that the "prince of this world has been judged." For this reason it is necessary to learn what is involved in each area and to see their relation one to the other.
Of Sin Because They Believe Not On Me
Christ declared that the Holy Spirit would convict the world in respect "of sin because they believe not on me." The sin of the world was then, and is now, they believe not on Christ. Believing on Christ involves acknowledging him as the unique Son of God and bowing in submission to the will of God which Christ expressed. This is illustrated in Acts 16:31-34. In fulfilling the requirement to "believe on the Lord Jesus" the jailor was baptized. Acts 19:4,5 also illustrates the truth that obedience to the Lord's commands is embraced in believing on the Lord. Here we learn that these people at Ephesus "were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus" in fulfilling the requirement of believing on Jesus. Agreement with Christ only as human reason approves or convenience allows is not believing on Christ in the sense God requires. The sin of unbelief is the basic cause of sin in general. "For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard." (Heb. 4:2.) The word of God must be united with the hearer; it must be added to his life by faith, before it profits the hearer. When a hearer deliberately fails to lived, he is guilty of unbelief. The great need of the world is conviction of the sin of rejecting Christ. This conviction can never be accomplished except as the Holy Spirit effects that conviction through the truth. (Rom. 10:17; John 17:20.) The word of truth must be preached in order to produce faith in Christ and to produce faith in Christ is to "convict the world of sin," because of its rejection of Christ.
I Go To The Father
Conviction of the righteousness of Christ is based on the fact that he went to the Father. We need to discover the connection between conviction of righteousness and the fact of Christ's going to the Father. What significance did his going to the Father have with reference to conviction of righteousness? It was by the ascension of Jesus, and his exaltation at the right of God, that this righteousness was established; God's acceptance of him is proof of his righteousness.
The world despised and rejected Christ; in the judgment of the world he was "stricken and smitten of God." God reversed this judgment by raising and exalting Christ. The honorable reception given to Jesus by the Father is the irresistible demonstration of God's favor. It was by raising him from the dead and receiving him into glory that God declared his righteousness. No more would men behold Christ in the flesh (the state of humiliation II Corinthians 5:16b).
Man's justification is inseparably linked with conviction of the righteousness of Christ. This conviction of the righteousness of Christ is necessary to man's righteousness; for without such conviction no one would be disposed to rely upon Christ for justification. This acceptance and reliance upon Christ is necessary for through him alone can we be made righteous. This is expressed in Romans 5:19, "For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous." Adam's disobedience brought sin into the world and thus the many (all mankind) are born into a world where sin is; all are exposed to sin. Christ's obedience made righteousness available to the many (all mankind). But it was necessary that Christ's death for our sins be followed by his resurrection. "If Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." (I Cor. 15:17.) Conviction of the righteousness of Christ is based on the exaltation of Christ. The exaltation of Christ is connected with his resurrection by the apostle Peter — "This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses. Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted . . ." (Acts 2:32, 33.) The only fair import of this language is that God raised Jesus to exalt him to his right hand. Hence, the apostle writes that Christ "was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification." (Rom. 4:25.) Without Christ's resurrection and exaltation there would be no justification for man; Christ's death would have been no more efficacious than the death of any other man.
The practical aspect of conviction of the righteousness of Christ needs to be emphasized. Along with conviction of sin we need to have conviction that "if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world." (I John 2:1,2.) Conviction of sin without conviction that "he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" produces only despair.
The Prince Of This World Hath Been Judged
Conviction, of judgment is based on the fact that the prince of this world hath been judged. When Christ made this promise he was about to endure the agonies of the cross, "that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Heb. 2:14, 15.) The materialistic philosophy which says "eat and drink for tomorrow we die" loses its appeal for those who are convicted of the judgment of the prince of this world, for no longer is man earthbound by fear of death. Hope is not restricted to this life for "Christ hath been raised from the dead, the first fruits of them that are asleep." (I Cor. 15:20.)
Christ's resurrection stands as a pledge that "all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." The prince of this world hath been judged and all who choose to serve him will share in that judgment. The "eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" will be the lot of all whose convictions of sin and of righteousness and of judgment is not of the character to cause them to submit to the righteousness of God and be saved from the wrath to come.
"Of the devil it is said, 'the prince of this world hath been judged,' because the victorious cause of Christ has rendered the supreme wickedness of Satan evident to all, and put an end to his power to dominate and destroy. John 16:11." Thayer.