February 27th, 2026
by Eddie Exline
by Eddie Exline
John 16:8
"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment."
Have you ever felt guilty for doing or saying something wrong? I know I have. That prick of your conscience comes from the Holy Spirit, which was sent into the world on the day of Pentecost, and is quite capable of letting us know that we're on a path that is not in alignment with God's will for us. The Spirit "convicts" us, then we have a choice to make. Do we repent (change direction), or do we continue on a path of sin?
King David is a perfect example of someone who was convicted by the Holy Spirit for sin. He had taken another man's wife, and then had the man sent to the front lines of battle, knowing that he would die there, all to cover up his sin. David was ultimately confronted by the prophet Nathan for his sin. And David had a choice to make. The results of that choice are detailed in Psalm 51, which David wrote.
Psalm 51
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Our sins may not always be as dramatic as David's sin in this situation, but they are no less destructive. Our path out of sin's destruction is laid out by David in this psalm. May we all have the wisdom and grace from God to choose the path of repentance when the Holy Spirit comes and convicts us of sin.
"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment."
Have you ever felt guilty for doing or saying something wrong? I know I have. That prick of your conscience comes from the Holy Spirit, which was sent into the world on the day of Pentecost, and is quite capable of letting us know that we're on a path that is not in alignment with God's will for us. The Spirit "convicts" us, then we have a choice to make. Do we repent (change direction), or do we continue on a path of sin?
King David is a perfect example of someone who was convicted by the Holy Spirit for sin. He had taken another man's wife, and then had the man sent to the front lines of battle, knowing that he would die there, all to cover up his sin. David was ultimately confronted by the prophet Nathan for his sin. And David had a choice to make. The results of that choice are detailed in Psalm 51, which David wrote.
Psalm 51
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Our sins may not always be as dramatic as David's sin in this situation, but they are no less destructive. Our path out of sin's destruction is laid out by David in this psalm. May we all have the wisdom and grace from God to choose the path of repentance when the Holy Spirit comes and convicts us of sin.
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