1.  The Holy Spirit restrains sin through: human government, Romans 13:1; a sense of judgment to come, Hebrews 9:27; conscience, Romans 2:15; the believer’s life; the church; the Word.

2.  The “convicting” work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-11)

-making the message of salvation clear

-“Convict means to convince someone of something, to point something out to someone” (Moody Handbook of Theology)

-the H.S. convicts of sin (the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ), of righteousness (Jesus’ has and offers the righteousness that God requires), and judgment (judgment awaits those who reject Christ).

-the H.S. uses the written Word, spoken witness or the preaching of the Word (John 15:26,27; Romans 10:14) directly in the conscience of the unsaved in the work of conviction.