The Holy Spirit's Work to The World
I have shared several features of The Holy Spirit's work or ministry to the believer from John 14 and 15 in past blogs. But another feature of The Holy Spirit's work is toward the world or unbelievers is found in John 16. This is the ministry of "convicting" or "convincing." The term, convicting or convincing in John 16:8 has to do with exposing and convincing of something wrong.
Jesus then gives details as to this convicting//convincing work. First, it is a convicting or convincing of the specific nature of sin. Jesus shows that the specific nature of sin is the sin of unbelief in him (16:9). This understanding of sin is not some violation of some rule or principle but a personal response to the person and work of Jesus.
What is this unbelief? It surely is the reaction of the people and leaders of Jesus' day who did not believe that he was who he claimed to be: The Son of God who had authority. So, Jesus is defining sin at this fundamental level of one's lack of belief in him.
This surely raises an important truth for life. Is all sin really a matter of not believing the truth about Jesus? Is this to suggest that unbelief in who Jesus is issues forth in all kinds of behaviors that are considered sinful? If this is true then our fundamental need is to know the truth about Jesus and believe that truth
Now this unbelief is not doubt; doubt can be a question of needing more information or answering of questions. Unbelief is to refuse to believe what one knows.
REFLECT: How central to your view of sin is the personal reaction of belief in Jesus? Can you track any sinful action to a failure to believe the truth about Jesus?