John 16:8-11 NIV “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”

The gospel is not advice.
It is not self-help.
It is the power of God for salvation.

In John 16, Jesus tells His disciples something that should both humble and strengthen every Christian man who takes his faith seriously:

“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment…” (John 16:8, NIV)

Jesus makes it clear—the work of conviction does not belong to us. It belongs to the Holy Spirit.

The world defines sin as failure, weakness, or moral imperfection. But Jesus defines the chief sin clearly:

“About sin, because people do not believe in me.” (John 16:9, NIV)

The greatest rebellion against God is not merely bad behavior—it is rejecting Jesus.

Men often consider themselves “good” while denying Christ. But denying the Son is denying the Father. The Holy Spirit comes to expose this truth—not to condemn, but to awaken.

Jesus continues:

“About righteousness, because I am going to the Father…”“About judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” (John 16:10–11, NIV)

Righteousness is not something we achieve—it is something Christ accomplished. His return to the Father proves that His life was perfect and accepted. Judgment is not theoretical—the ruler of this world has already been defeated.

Every man will stand before Christ.
The question is not if, but how.

God has commanded His people to make the gospel known: the story of His love displayed in Jesus—God in the flesh—living among us, dying for our rebellion, and rising again to offer pardon, restoration, and eternal life on the new earth where God will dwell with His people forever.

But here’s the freedom Jesus gives us:

We are responsible for faithfulness—not outcomes.

The Holy Spirit convicts.
The Holy Spirit persuades.
The Holy Spirit multiplies the message in hearts.

Our calling is to bear witness—truthfully, humbly, and consistently.

The only failure is silence… or hypocrisy.

When Christians distort the gospel or live in such contradiction to it that its power appears empty, our witness is damaged. But when our lives align with the truth we proclaim, the Holy Spirit uses our testimony far beyond what we can see.

Men will not be judged for how many people responded to their witness. But we will be held accountable for whether we spoke the truth, lived the truth, and trusted God with the results.

The Holy Spirit is not the enemy of gospel proclamation—He is its greatest ally.

Run Today’s Play: Speak the gospel clearly.
Live the gospel visibly.
Trust the Spirit completely.

Stop carrying the burden of results that God never gave you.
Be faithful to tell His story.
Let the Holy Spirit do what only He can do—convict hearts and bring men into the Kingdom.

Your obedience honors God.
Your faithfulness releases power.
And the gospel never returns empty.