THE HOLY SPIRIT AND UNBELIEVERS
John 16:7-11
INTRO: The Holy Spirit has an exciting, unique, essential ministry to carry out in our world today. What does He do for the unbeliever? The clearest answer is found in our text. READ TEXT! The key word is in verse 8. Let’s look at how the Holy Spirit convicts.
I. HE CONVICTS AND CONVINCES CONCERNING SIN (v. 9).
The Greek word ἐëἐãæåé (elegzei) means to convict. This is a judicial term from the courtroom. A person is on trial, the evidence is presented, the jury debates, finds him guilty, and the sentence is pronounced.
The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict man and how his depravity.
ἐëἐãæåé (elegzei) also means to convince, to awaken a sense of guilt. To bring a man to the point that he is ready to admit his guilt.
ILLUS: Remember how a dog acts when you scold him. He tucks his tail between his legs, and hangs his head.
Many times when we talk to a lost person, they are not ready to admit that they are sinners. The Holy Spirit must do his convicting work before they can be saved.
II. HE CONVICTS AND CONVINCES CONCERNING RIGHTEOUSNESS (v. 10).
When Jesus was here in the flesh he said that he was the perfect righteousness of God to cover man’s sin.
The Holy Spirit will convince man that this is true.
ILLUS: Think of a person who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. They have the feeling that they have never been accepted by society.
There is nothing in our own righteousness that merits salvation.
We can do nothing that would make us worthy of God’s gift of salvation.
III. HE CONVICTS AND CONVINCES CONCERNING JUDGMENT (v. 11).
Because of who man is and who Jesus is. Man cannot reject Jesus and escape judgment.
The Holy Spirit brings the unbeliever to an awareness of judgment.
ILLUS: Child psychologists say that a child expects to be punished when he disobeys.
An unbeliever must also expect to receive God’s judgment for his rejection. He will not go unpunished.
CONC: You might be saying, “Well preacher, what is all this to me? I am a believer.” The Holy Spirit carries out this ministry to unbelievers through believers.
