As Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin. It’s because people do not believe in Him. But also because of our sinful nature, our flesh.

Created: Tuesday, October 24, 2023

The Holy Spirit Convicts About Sin In Our Life

STM Bible Snack – The Holy Spirit Convicts

John 16:8 [read John 16:5-15 (8)]: And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin [that they’re guilty of sin], and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. (NLT); KJV: And when he is come, he will reprove^G1651 the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Elegcho – reprove: G1651 ἐλέγχω elegcho (e-leng’-chō) v. to convict, refute, confute, generally with a suggestion of the shame of the person convicted.

Commentary

Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament – That is, he will so apply the truths of God to men’s own minds as to convince them by fair and sufficient arguments that they are sinners, and cause them to feel this. This is the nature of conviction always.
The Believer’s Study Bible – The Holy Spirit convicts of sin committed, righteousness forfeited, and judgment coming.

Unbelief

Cambridge Bible – This is the source of sin—unbelief; formerly, unbelief in God, now unbelief in His Ambassador. Not that the sin is limited to unbelief, but this is the beginning of it: ‘Because’ does not explain ‘sin,’ but ‘will convict.’ The Spirit, by bringing the fact of unbelief home to the hearts of men, shews what the nature of sin is.
John 16:9 [read John 16:5-15 (9). See Mark 16:16; Luke 8:13; John 3:16-20 and 36; 5:24 and 38; 8:24; 10:26.]: The world is guilty as far as sin is concerned. That’s because people do not believe in me. (NIRV); KJV: Of sin, because they believe not on me;; Bible Exposition Commentary – The Holy Spirit convicts the world of one particular sin, the sin of unbelief. The law of God and the conscience of man will convict the sinner of his sins (plural) specifically; but it is the work of the Spirit, through the witness of the believers, to expose the unbelief of the lost world. After all, it is unbelief that condemns the lost sinner (John 3:18-21), not the committing of individual sins. A person could “clean up his life” and quit his or her bad habits and still be lost and go to hell.

Ryrie Study Bible – The Spirit, through apostles, evangelists, and preachers, will convict the world. To convict means to set forth the truth of the gospel in such a clear light that men are able to accept or reject it intelligently; i.e., to convince men of the truthfulness of the gospel. The Spirit will help break down the indifference of the typical pagan who has no conviction of sin, who holds a low regard for righteousness, and who pays no heed to warnings of the coming judgment.

God’s Word convicts

The Holy Spirit works in harmony with the word of God.
1 Corinthians 14:24 [read 1 Corinthians 14:20-25 (24)]: But if a man who is not a Christian comes to your church meeting while you are all speaking God’s Word, he will understand that he is a sinner by what he hears. He will know he is guilty. (NLV); KJV: But if all prophesy^G4395, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
Propheteuo – prophesy: G4395 προφητεύω propheteuo (pro-fee-tev’-ō) v. [Thayer’s Greek Lexicon specifically for 1 Corinthians 14:24; see “1d1)“] to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort others.

Remember, Jesus is the living Word; “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” [John 1:14 and 1]. Therefore, it is the Holy Spirit’s (Jesus in spirit form, i.e., without the human flesh) job to remind us of what the Word said.
John 14:26 [read John 14:25-31 (26)]: But the Helper will teach you everything. He will cause you to remember all the things I (the Word) told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name. (ICB); KJV: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

About Sin In Our Life

Galatians 3:22 [read Galatians 3:19-25 (22)]: But the Scriptures indicate that everything [i.e., everyone] is under the control of sin, so that the promise [of never ending life] could be available [only] to those who have faith in Jesus Christ. (AUV); KJV: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Our sinful nature; Paul’s conviction

Paul certainly was a believer, yet he admitted that sin was still in his life.
Romans 7:20 and 24-25 [read Romans 7:13-25 (20 and 24-25)]: So if I do what I don’t want to do, then I am not really the one doing it. It is the sin living in me that does it. 24 What a miserable person I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death? 25 I thank God for his salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord! So in my mind I am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful self I am a slave to the law of sin. (ERV); KJV: Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

The Holy Spirit convicts us about sin and its root cause, unbelief, but our sinful nature also plays a role in our lives. So learn to be mindful of the Spirit’s warnings; they will help in our salvation. Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible snack. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺