NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — “But I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when that One comes, He will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment. Concerning sin, because they do not believe on Me; concerning righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” John 16:7-11

It was indeed necessary for Christ Jesus to return to the Father, for if He did not suffer and die for the sins of the world, rise again and ascend to the right hand of the Father, the Holy Spirit could not be be given and carry out His ministry and work in this world.

“And when that One comes, He will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment.” And, what does this mean? The Holy Spirit was given that He might convince the world (all people in this world) of their sin and guilt before God because they have not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God (John 3:18,36). He convinces them that the righteousness of Christ which is imputed and received by faith is the only righteousness which avails before God (cf. Rom. 4:1-8; Phil. 3:8-9). He convinces them that, unless they repent and look to Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice upon the cross, they stand condemned, for the ruler of this world - the devil - is already overthrown, judged and condemned by Christ.

We see the Spirit’s mighty working in the hearts of men when Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, pointing out that the people had rejected the Lord’s Christ and crucified Him, but that God had raised Him up and exulted Him to His right hand, from which He will come again to judge the living and the dead (cf. Acts 2:22ff.); for when they heard these things, “they were stabbed in the heart, and said to Peter and to the other apostles, Men, brothers, what shall we do?” (v. 37). It was then, that Peter directed them to “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (v. 38). Peter pointed them to Jesus and His shed blood for forgiveness, righteousness before God and eternal salvation. And, through the Spirit’s working, about 3,000 believed and were baptized.

And the Spirit continues this work in the world even yet today. We are called to testify to the truth of God’s Word and point people to Jesus; but without the Spirit’s working, no one would believe. He continues to convince people of the truth that they are lost and condemned sinners apart from Jesus, that Jesus is righteous and accepted of the Father and only His righteousness avails before God, that the devil and this world stand judged and condemned and only in Jesus is there salvation!

O Spirit of God, convince us of our sin and condemnation but comfort us with the good news of forgiveness and life in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quotations from Green’s Modern King James Version (MKJV).

Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr., All rights reserved.

Jay P. Green Sr., Lafayette, IN. U.S.A. 47903.]

Community, Pages 4 on 05/30/2012