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      "The Power of Conviction"
      John 16:7-11
      Theme: In light of the world’s hostilities, God provides the convicting power of the Holy Spirit enabling us to overcome.

        1. The Prerequisite for Conviction – 16:7

          1. The Advantage Gained by the Savior’s Ascension

            1. In the previous sections, Jesus discusses the problem of the world’s hostility that His disciples would face – because of their faithfulness to Him.
            2. As he observes their tremendous sorrow – such that they are unable to comprehend the glory of what Christ is about to do, He seeks to clarify the issue for them: "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away."
            3. Jesus’ reference to "going away" clearly focuses on the issue of His ascension to the Father – the glorious triumphal procession leading into the presence of God in Heaven – cp. Ephesians 4:8-10; 2 Corinthians 2:14
            4. However, Jesus cannot return to glory without first having accomplished the work God sent Him here to do: provide atonement for the sins of men by sacrificing Himself for our sins.
            5. Thus, the "advantage" that His going away provides is the reconciliation of sinful men to God – Romans 5:10
            6. He elaborates on this prerequisite by stating "… for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you;"
              1. The Holy Spirit is here identified as the One who makes the application of the saving merits of Christ’s atoning work to the heart of the sinner – cp. Titus 3:5-6 .
              2. The Spirit cannot apply these merits when as yet there are no merits to apply.
              3. Therefore, unless Jesus provides redemption and "goes away" into glory triumphant, the "Helper" has no help to give.

          2. The Advantage Gained by the Spirit’s "Advent"

            1. However, Jesus says "but if I go. I will send Him to you." – and He will be free to apply the saving merits of redemption to all men.
            2. This clearly refers to the provision given to the Church at Pentecost – when the Spirit of God came to indwell those who would believe in Christ.
            3. This is the power to be witnesses that Christ has in mind here – cp. Acts 1:8; Acts 2:37
            4. This is the comfort that Jesus is giving to His followers who were struggling with personal sorrow in light of their realization that Jesus was going to die – cp. v. 6
            5. Thus, through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ – followed by His ascension to glory, the Holy Spirit is sent to indwell believers and give to them the power needed to be fruitful witnesses to the glory of Christ..

        2. The Process of Conviction – 16:8

          1. The Agenda of the Spirit

            1. When the Holy Spirit comes – His agenda will be clear: Draw men into a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
            2. Jesus here tells us: "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment."
            3. This is the world that is so very hostile toward Jesus – the Holy Spirit will do the work of drawing unregenerate men into a condition of faith.
            4. The immediate focus of the Spirit in the lives of men will be sin – enabling men to see their sin, especially in contrast to the righteousness of Christ – convincing them that the inevitable result will be judgment.
            5. He will expose the sin in the hearts of men and will call men to repent.
              1. In some cases – this will clearly result in the salvation of the one who will repent – Acts 2:37-41
              2. However, it will also result in hardened hearts as well – Acts 7:51-57.

          2. The Application by the Saints

            1. The principle means by which the Holy Spirit is involved in confronting the world is through the life and ministry of the believer.
            2. We are called upon by Christ to be salt (a preservative from decay) and light (an illumination in darkness) to the world – Matthew 5:13-14
            3. We are said to be the vehicle of restraining lawlessness – 2 Thessalonians 2:5-7
            4. The ministry of reconciliation has been given to us – 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
            5. Thus, as the Holy Spirit works primarily through the church to bring conviction on the world, the hostility of those who continue to reject Christ will become all the more evident.
            6. We are the primary means by which the Holy Spirit is involved in bringing conviction upon the world – a stench to the world, but a soothing aroma to those who believe – cp. 2 Corinthians 2:15-16.

        3. The Points of Conviction – 16:9-11

          1. Indictment for Sin – v. 9

            1. It is interesting to note that the work of the Spirit of God begins with the issue of sin – "concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;"
            2. The emphasis here is their guilt for one particular sin – "sin" is in the singular – referring to a specific sin = unbelief.
            3. The refusal to believe in Jesus Christ is the foremost sin for which the lost in this world are most grievously guilty.
            4. Christ came to His own, but they refused Him and rejected Him as their Messiah – a situation that God’s Spirit is applying Himself to correcting – cp. John 1:9-11 .

          2. Identification of the Standard – v. 10

            1. The Holy Spirit’s task is not to condemn men – but to convince them of the error of rejecting Christ Jesus.
            2. Thus, He holds Christ up as the standard by which all men will be judged – "… and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me."
            3. Who is qualified to enter into the presence of God? … only Jesus Christ in whom God is pleased - Matthew 3:17 – the One whom the Holy Spirit is solely willing to draw men toward – cp. John 16:14
            4. There is none other righteous – and men cannot have a prayer in the presence of God without being made conformed into the image of Christ Jesus – cp. Ephesians 1:6; and Colossians 1:13

          3. Inevitability of the Sentence – v. 11

            1. The consequence of being convinced of personal sin, and of the perfection of the Son is to understand the inevitability of judgment – "… and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged."
            2. Through Christ’s work, Satan has been condemned – cp. John 12:31
            3. If Christ has affected the long awaited destruction of Satan and his power, then there is no hope for any of us outside of God’s grace – cp. 2 Peter 2:4-9
            4. Thus, the Spirit of God is the One who brings a stiff-necked, obstinate sinner to a place where they recognize their own sin – recognize the perfection that is in Christ as what God demands of all men – and recognize that because of the disparity that exists between them and Christ that they will fall in judgment.

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