John 16:7-11

⁷ Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰ concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; ¹¹ concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

 

Sin.     Righteousness.     Judgment.

These are the three things the Holy Spirit is to convict the world about.

What in the world does this mean?

Concerning Sin

The Holy Spirit gives us an awareness of our fallen-ness.  We are so utterly depraved that we cannot even see how deplorable we are as a people without the grace of the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us.  Yes, it may seem some people are amazing people but that is often because we compare them to other people – not a holy God of love.  But here is the even better news: God does not simply leave us with this awareness; NO, he has given Jesus as a way for those who believe in the resurrection to be free from this fallen-ness and live in abundant life as the Holy Spirit indwells us – changing us into holy loving children of God!

This is where the next role of the Holy Spirit shows up in our passage today.

Concerning Righteousness

The Holy Spirit helps us see what it looks like to live as Jesus lived and be Holy, as God is holy.  Not only this, but the Holy Spirit begins to transform us more into righteous people as well.  We no longer have Jesus physically among us to show us Holy living and empower us in this endeavor.  However, we now have the Holy Spirit.  A good friend and mentor of mine once said “If you have the Holy, Righteous one dwelling in you then you will naturally become more Holy and Righteous because of His presence.”  This is what the Holy Spirit brings us “concerning righteousness”.

Concerning Judgment

Okay, this part of our passage is actually pretty interesting but you have to understand some grammar.  Stick with me.  The verb (the ruler of the world is judged) is not actually in the present tense.  In Greek it is “Perfect Passive” which would best translate – Has been judged.  This is very important for at least two reasons.

First, the judgment on the “ruler of this world” has already happened.  Satan has already been judged.  He is guilty.  His reign is already being counted down.  There is an end in sight and Satan cannot get out of the hole he has dug for himself.

Second, we are not the ones who have made this call – God has.  God is the judge.

Now, the great news in this (which I believe is why the Holy Spirit shares the truth concerning judgment with us) is: a new world free of this junk is coming!  The evil and fallen nature of the world around us is slowly being done away with as the Kingdom of God continues to break into this world through the power of the Holy Spirit and, there will be a day in the future when the Kingdom of God is completely restored and our enemy (“the ruler of this world”) will be done away with for good!