John 16:5-8 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (NKJV).

The Holy Spirit’s Conviction of the World I. Meaning of the word “convict.” Greek ἐλέγχω (elengchō) Originally “to disgrace, or put to shame” (LSJ) Most often refers to reproof or rebuke Matt. 18:15 “tell…fault” Luke 3:19-20 “being reproved” John 3:18-21 “should be exposed” John 8:7-9 “being convicted”

The Holy Spirit’s Conviction of the World II. Application in John 16:8. The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth” (John 16:12-14). He would guide the apostles into “all truth” (John 16:13b). When truth is revealed it exposes the error of anything else In this sense the Holy Spirit reproves the world.

The Holy Spirit’s Conviction of the World III. Three areas of conviction. “Of sin, because they do not believe in Me” (John 16:9). The consequence of rejecting Jesus (John 8:23-24). Christ’s law defines sin (1 John 3:4). The Holy Spirit revealed this law (John 12:47-49).

The Holy Spirit’s Conviction of the World III. Three areas of conviction. “Of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more” (John 16:10). Two concepts of righteousness: Legal status (Rom. 3:23, 10). Proper behavior (2 Pet. 2:7-8). Christ makes men right with God. Jesus is our standard of behavior (1 John 2:6).

The Holy Spirit’s Conviction of the World III. Three areas of conviction. “Of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged” (John 16:11). Satan is the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31-32; 14:30). In Jesus’ death wicked men yielded to Satan (Acts 2:23). Hell is prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41).