1371. The Mission of the Convicting Spirit
The Mission of the Convicting Spirit
"And when He is come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (Joh_16:8).
The Holy Spirit of God is now seen as He works with the unregenerate. His mission is distinct.
1. "He will convict the world of sin, * * of sin, because they believe not on Me." How necessary it is for the modern evangelist to study this statement of Scripture.
Too many men and ministers imagine that the Holy Spirit is to convict men of sin, because they dance, or drink, or gamble, or are impure.
The great burden of their message is against the vulgarities of the flesh, the very things which all sinners recognize as sin.
The mission of the Holy Ghost is to convict men of their sin against the Lord Jesus Christ: the sin of unbelief.
2. He will convict "the world * * of righteousness, because I go to My Father." The righteousness which the Holy Spirit impresses upon the believer is not the self-righteousness born in a new determination to shun the primrose way. It is not a righteousness which is obtained by signing the pledge; by turning over a new leaf; or by deciding to be a man.
The Holy Ghost will reprove, or convict, or convince the world of righteousness, because Jesus Christ has died, has ascended to the right hand of the Father, and has been proclaimed Prince and Saviour.
It is the righteousness of Christ imputed by virtue of His death, and imparted by virtue of His resurrection and seat at the right hand, of which the Holy Ghost convicts.
3. He will convict "the world * * of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."
When the sinner sees satan overthrown, he knows that he, himself, is aligned with satan's defeat.
Christ, in His death upon the Cross, spoiled principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Christ in His ascension passed up through principalities and powers, and sat down a victor at the Father's right hand.
The Holy Spirit will convince the sinner of all this. He will show him the folly of following satan; He will show him that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels; and that he who is satan-driven, is hell-bound.
4. He will give new life to the sinner. The Holy Spirit is the power which quickens, He generates. He imparts life.
Those who believe in Christ, and receive Him, are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (Joh_1:13).
Christ said: "Ye must be born again" (Joh_3:7).
Christ also said: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit" (Joh_3:6).
When the Holy Ghost came upon Mary and overshadowed her, there was begotten a Holy One, the Son of God.
When the Holy Ghost comes upon the sinner, (the receptive and believing sinner), and overshadows him, there is a holy thing begotten within him, his new man. He is created "in righteousness and true holiness;" created after God (see Eph_4:24).
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR