Why is belief in Jesus essential according to John 16:9? Opening Verse “And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me.” (John 16:8-9) The Scene Jesus Paints • Jesus is speaking in the upper room on the night before the cross. • He promises the Holy Spirit, who will confront the world with its true condition. • The Spirit’s first focus is sin, and Jesus pinpoints the root of that sin: unbelief in Him. Unbelief: The Core of Sin • Rejecting Jesus is not merely one sin among many; it is the fountainhead of every other sin. • Disbelief calls God a liar (1 John 5:10) and keeps the sinner under condemnation (John 3:18). • By literally affirming John 16:9, we see that every other wrongdoing flows from this refusal to trust the Son sent by the Father. Why Belief in Jesus Is Essential • God commands it: “This is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 3:23). • It removes condemnation: “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned” (John 3:18). • It delivers from spiritual death: “Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). • It brings eternal life: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). • It secures salvation exclusively found in Christ: “There is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12). • It unites the believer to Christ’s righteousness: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). • It confers the right to become God’s children: “To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). • It is the very purpose of John’s Gospel: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). The Holy Spirit’s Ongoing Ministry • The Spirit continually exposes the sin of unbelief, urging every heart toward repentance and faith. • He testifies of Jesus, glorifying the Son by drawing sinners to trust Him (John 15:26; 16:14). • His conviction is grace in action, showing the chasm caused by unbelief and the rescue available in Christ. Living the Truth • Faith in Jesus is not an optional spiritual upgrade; it is the only bridge across the gulf of sin exposed by the Spirit. • Trusting the Savior removes the very barrier that separates people from God. • Believers now walk in the light, clothed in Christ’s righteousness, and can share this life-giving message with confidence, knowing the Spirit still convicts the world “in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me.” |
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