What does John 16:10 mean?

The Holy Spirit will come after Jesus leaves earth (John 14:16–17, 26; 15:26–27; 16:7). This arrival will fully occur at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4). Jesus has noted that the Holy Spirit will "convict" the world (John 16:8). This implies something different than the way the Spirit influences the thoughts and feelings of Christians (2 Corinthians 2:14–16). The prior verse specified the first of three ways in which the Holy Spirit convicts the world: about sin (John 16:9). Here, Christ explains the second aspect: conviction about righteousness.

Legitimate influence from the Holy Spirit will always lead a person towards truth. Jesus often stressed the importance of His followers living out the goodness of God (John 13:35; Matthew 5:11–16). The influence of the Holy Spirit, in the lives of godly people, is meant to demonstrate God's will and His truth—often to the frustration of nonbelievers (1 Peter 4:3–4). Reliance on the Holy Spirit, leading to obedience to God, eventually proves itself as righteousness (Matthew 11:18–19).

Whether it's by upholding the goodness of godly behavior, or proving the evil of sin, the Holy Spirit will "convict the world" on the subject of righteousness. Christ's resurrection from the dead was miraculous proof that His enemies (John 11:53) were wrong about Him, and about their own righteousness (1 Corinthians 15:19–20).