Conviction and Calling: How the Holy Spirit Turns Us to God

I’m not a lawyer and don’t spend much time in courtrooms. Or any time in courtrooms actually. I do, however, watch enough Dateline to know what happens during a trial, especially when the verdict comes in. 

There’s always tension in the courtroom when the jury is set to announce its decision. It will either be “guilty” or “not guilty,” and, in TV land, you get to see the defendant’s reaction to that verdict. That’s worth watching an entire episode of Dateline.

In John 16:8-11, Jesus gives us insight into the work of the Holy Spirit, especially his work in the lives of unbelievers. To do so, he creates a courtroom scene with the verdict being read.

Even before we hear the verdict, though, we need to understand that every person on trial is, in fact, guilty. The Bible teaches that every single person who has ever lived or will live is guilty of sin and rebellion against God (Romans 3:23).

To make matters worse, we are so sinful that we can’t even see our guilt. We’re unable to know the truth (1 Corinthians 2:14), and we’re blind to our guilt (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). We can’t even desire to turn to God unless he works in our lives first. This is what Bible scholars call our “total depravity.” This teaching doesn’t mean that non-believers are depraved in that they all commit every form of sin, and it doesn’t mean that non-believers can never do anything good. What it means is that nothing we can do will make us right with God, and we’re so far gone that we can’t even feel the need for God’s help. 

That’s where the Holy Spirit comes in, and it’s where we enter the courtroom of John 16:

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11)

The Holy Spirit “convicts” the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment. In this courtroom, our verdict is “guilty;” we’ve been convicted of the crime of sin. According to verse 9, the ultimate sin is failure to believe in Jesus; and to not believe in Jesus is to reject him. This is the charge for which we have been found guilty.

The word “convict” here means much more than it does in today’s courtrooms. It not only means to prove someone is guilty but also to convince that person of their guilt so that they admit it. This is what Jesus means when he says the Holy Spirit “will convict the world concerning sin.” He tells us that we’re guilty and convinces us that it’s true.

The Holy Spirit also convicts us “concerning righteousness.” In courtrooms today, the defendant’s actions are measured against the law. In God’s courtroom, the standard we’re measured against is God’s perfect righteousness. The Holy Spirit helps us see how far away we are from his holiness. The Jews who crucified Jesus thought they were holy and Jesus was evil. When Jesus rose, he proved them wrong. His exaltation at the right hand of the Father showed them that he was the righteous One. The Holy Spirit convinces the non-believer that he is not righteous and can never make himself righteous. Jesus, though, is righteous, and we need his righteousness to have any hope.

Finally, the Holy Spirit allows us to see that judgment is coming. The verdict is guilty, and next comes the sentencing. This is where the defendant, now the convict, comes back into the courtroom to hear the judge tell him what the penalty will be. Jesus is saying that one day the enemy, Satan, the devil, will be judged, and everyone who follows him in rejecting Jesus will face that same judgment. It’s only through the Holy Spirit that we realize the sentence for our sin is death. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot see this in our future. 

One of the most important works of the Holy Spirit is his conviction of people concerning their sins. Without this conviction we have no hope. There’s something else the Holy Spirit does to bring us to God — he calls us. 

Jesus taught that we can’t turn to him unless we’re called (John 6:44; 12:32). Paul talked about this calling here:

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:30)

Again, because of our depravity, we’re unable to believe or even see the need for forgiveness, so God has to intervene in order for us to turn to him:

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)

God’s intervention is convicting us and calling us to himself. He does both through his Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit calls us to salvation, he also makes certain that we respond. He works in the heart of the unbeliever in such a way that the person wants to turn to God and does turn to God. His part is to effectively call us to himself, allowing us to turn to him, and our part is to turn to him. 

Without this work of calling by the Holy Spirit, none of us would be able to give our lives to Christ. If you’re a believer, there was a time when you decided to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. You did this only because the Holy Spirit convicted you and called you. He may have done this as you read the Bible, or you heard someone tell you the truth, or maybe he spoke directly to your heart. But without him, you would not have turned to him. 

If you don’t consider yourself to be a believer, and if you feel a strange calling to the Bible, or church, or Jesus, maybe you wonder whose voice that is. That calling isn’t from the devil, and it isn’t indigestion, nerves, anxiety, or anything else. If you feel a call to make even a tiny step in the direction of Jesus, that’s the Holy Spirit calling you. 

If that describes you, I plead with you to follow that calling. Right now, where you are, talk to God. Tell him that you admit that you’ve sinned and need his forgiveness. Tell him that you know Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins. Accept what God has done for you. Ask him for his forgiveness, and receive it as a gift. Commit your life to him as a thank you for what he’s done for you. 

If you sincerely had that conversation with God, you are now forgiven. Your verdict is “not guilty,” and your sentence has already been paid. You are God’s child forever, a brand new person — and the Holy Spirit now resides in you. Welcome to the family of God! I’ll be your brother in Christ for all eternity.

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