How does the Holy Spirit lead us to repentance?
He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
Catechism for the Global Methodist Church, question 22
8But as for me, I am filled with strength, with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.
7But I tell you the truth: it is profitable for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment. 9Concerning sin, because they do not believe in me. 10Concerning righteousness, then, because I am going to the father and you will see me no longer. 11Concerning judgment, then, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
Having confessed who the Spirit is, the catechism now asks what he does, beginning with the first thing he does in any sinner: he brings them to repentance. The answer is lifted word for word from Article III of the Confession of Faith: "He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment." The article in turn is quoting Jesus in the upper room, so the church's teaching here is the Lord's own description of the Spirit's work.
Jesus told the disciples that his departure would be to their profit, "for if I do not go away, the counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you" (John 16:7). Then he described the counsellor's first task: "when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment" (John 16:8). Jesus explains each term. Sin, "because they do not believe in me" (John 16:9): the root sin is unbelief toward Christ. Righteousness, "because I am going to the father" (John 16:10): the Father's welcome of the risen Son vindicates him and exposes every other standard of righteousness. Judgment, "because the ruler of this world has been judged" (John 16:11): the cross has already passed sentence on the powers of evil. Micah shows the same Spirit at work centuries earlier, filling the prophet "with strength, with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin" (Micah 3:8).
The Wesleyan tradition has a name for this work. ΒΆ102 of the Book of Doctrines and Discipline calls it convincing grace, which "leads us to what the Bible terms 'repentance,' awakening in us a desire to 'flee from the wrath to come.'" The paragraph adds that Wesley counted repentance among the three main doctrines of Methodism, with faith and holiness, and called it "the porch of religion." Conviction is grace because it comes before any merit: God is already at work in the sinner who feels convicted.
A Methodist should therefore welcome conviction rather than dread it. When a sermon, a passage of scripture, or a prick of conscience shows a person their sin, the Spirit is at work, and the right response is honest confession and a turning toward Christ. The catechism places this question directly after the Spirit's deity so that no one mistakes the uncomfortable work of conviction for anything other than the love of God drawing a sinner home.