The Scripture passage below describes some of the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s real work is to comfort. But in this passage we learn of another work of the Holy Spirit. This has been called His “foreign” work. Jesus said that, “He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin.” Convicting is not the Holy Spirit’s main work, but it is an important and necessary work.

Unless God convicts us of the truth about our sins, we will think that we are “just fine” and in good standing before God. This is due to the fact that we tolerate and excuse our own sins to justify ourselves. Our criteria for bad behavior is extremely lenient when compared to God’s criteria, that is, His commandments and laws in the Bible. The Almighty God will one day Judge all humankind to heaven or hell according to HIS criteria.

And so the Holy Spirit needs to do His “foreign” work. Working through Scripture He convicts us of the guilt of our sins. He works contrition in our hearts so that we fall on our knees in repentance before God. Once He does this work, then He does His real work.

Working through Scripture He comforts us by pointing us to Christ. Only Christ met God’s perfect criteria for righteousness. Jesus was sinless. Yet He took our sins and died on the cross with them. God forgives us through Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit who works faith in our hearts and thereby gives us Christ’s righteousness as our own. Be comforted knowing that on the Day of Judgment God will welcome all believers into His heavenly kingdom!