John 16:9 (ASV)

Passage

of sin, because they believe not on me;

Nearby Context

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you.

John 16:8 And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

John 16:9 of sin, because they believe not on me;

John 16:10 of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more;

John 16:11 of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "believe". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "believe" and "the identity of Jesus", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "And he when he is come will..." into verse 10's "of righteousness because I go to the...", so "believe" and "the identity of Jesus" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "believe" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.