The Holy Spirit and the World (John 16:5-11)

The Saviour has given many difficult teachings to his disciples, particularly his soon departure to heaven and the intense opposition they are going to face from the world. If

probably replied that they wanted Jesus to remain with them. His insistence that he would soon depart filled them with sorrow. This emphasis by Jesus gives us a window into his priorities.

The priorities of Jesus

First, Jesus was always aware that he was here on a mission, that he had been sent by his Father to accomplish salvation. This was the desire of Jesus’ heart, not only because he loved those for whom he was going to die and so rescue from the state of sin, but also because he loved the Father. Jesus was determined to finish his task.

Second, Jesus was also aware that his departure would benefit his disciples because it would mean that he would send the Holy Spirit to them. The arrival of the Spirit would result in many benefits and the one that is in view here is his help in enabling the disciples to witness effectively for Jesus in a hostile environment. At the end of chapter 15, Jesus had told his disciples that they were to witness for him to those who opposed him, but they would not witness alone because the Holy Spirit would simultaneously and powerfully witness along with them.

This coming of the Spirit does not mean that he was not working in the world before he came at Pentecost. No one in Old Testament times ever believed in the future Messiah without the illumination of the Spirit. No one during these periods made progress in sanctification without the work of the Spirit. David was led to repent of his sin by the work of the Spirit in his heart (Ps. 51:11). Moses was guided by the Spirit (Isa. 63:10). Having said that, it is clear that now in the New Testament period the Spirit has been given in more abundance than happened in Old Testament times. This is true geographically (he works all over the world), numerically (he works in more people), and internally (he gives greater understanding and greater assurance to New Testament believers than was known by Old Testament saints). At the same time, we must realise that what we experience of the Spirit today is only a foretaste and a sample of our experience of him in the world of glory to come.

The rebuke of Jesus

Jesus also gives a mild rebuke to his disciples because they failed to ask him where he was going. Their silence in this regard had contributed to the intense sorrow that they were experiencing. The implication is that more information would have reduced, if not removed, their confusion and sadness. Of course, this neglect is not limited to the apostles. We often are confused and sad because we have lack of information. Although we cannot physically ask Jesus a question, we can pray that he would enlighten us in what the Bible teaches.

Of course, Jesus knew that his disciples could not accomplish by themselves the task that he was giving them to do. He had told them that without him they could do nothing. Although he was leaving them, he was also sending an equivalent Person to be with them, the divine Holy Spirit.

The purpose of the Holy Spirit

The word that is used for the Holy Spirit can be translated in a number of ways, depending on the context. It can mean advocate, counsellor, helper as well as comforter. Literally, it means ‘one who comes alongside’. He comes as a friend, as a guide, as an equivalent replacement for Jesus.

Yet when Jesus describes what the Spirit will do, he does not first mention what he will do in believers. Instead he mentions the objective that the Spirit will pursue with regard to the world. The objective is to convince it of three factors – sin, righteousness and judgement – and along with each factor he gives an explanation.

The objective of the Spirit is to convince the world. Usually the term translated ‘convince’ or ‘reprove’ was used in a legal sense of a lawyer convincing or refuting another person. Given that the Saviour desires the salvation of sinners, it is likely that the convincing and refuting is designed to change their thinking and actions and bring them to repent of such behaviour and beliefs. But it is important to note the difference between the way the Spirit deals with the world and the way he deals with disciples. Concerning the world, he is the prosecutor who is against them, but concerning believers he is the counsellor who is for them.

It is also likely that Jesus is stressing that the only Person that can bring about this change in people is the Holy Spirit. We know that there are some court cases that require very efficient barristers because the issues are so big they cannot be left with minor lawyers. In spiritual things, the disciples are minor lawyers who in themselves will be unable to convince the world. But they have a Barrister (the Holy Spirit) who takes the case and brings about the desired conviction.

In the context, the disciples, as they bear witness to the world, will have spoken to them about sin, righteousness and judgement. Yet they find their efforts are having little effect. But along with their witness comes the witness of the Spirit, and when that happens people begin to understand what the disciples are saying.

Sin

So the Spirit will convince people about the nature of sin and will do so in the context of their refusal to believe in Jesus. This implies that they have previously heard about Jesus from the disciples and what he has done for sinners. I don’t think it means that the Spirit will convince of his sins a person who has never heard of Jesus.

I suspect that this particular sin of unbelief is mentioned because they are refusing to accept the message of the gospel from Christ’s disciples. They have been told about the remedy for all their sins and they refuse to take it. When that happens, the witness of the disciple will not go further until the Spirit comes in with his witness. The Spirit testifies powerfully about Jesus as the Saviour of sinners. He makes Calvary real to the sinner, shows to him the beauty and attractiveness and glory of the cross. At the cross, the sinner sees the awfulness of sin, and what a price had to be paid in order for sinners to be forgiven.

Righteousness

The second factor about which the Spirit convinces the world is righteousness, with the explanation being that Jesus is going to the Father. This is a reference to the exaltation of Jesus which happened at his ascension. This reference to righteousness can have several meanings.

First, it can refer to the Spirit convincing sinners about the truthfulness of Jesus; in other words, the Spirit vindicates the claims of Jesus. Jesus had stated that he was the promised Messiah, but sinners refused to believe this claim and instead put him to death. The proof that he was right is his resurrection and subsequent glorification. The Father raised Jesus from the dead because he was the Righteous One, and the Spirit convinces sinners about the true identity of Jesus.

Second, it can refer to the Spirit illuminating sinners regarding the pathetic state of their self-righteousness. When they hear the gospel invitation to sinners, they may conclude that it is suitable for criminals. But they think that they don’t need it because they think their own good living is sufficient. The Spirit instructs them that their best deeds are filthy rags in God’s sight. The only people that can get to the Father are those who are as righteous as Jesus. And, there is no one who is like that in himself or herself.

Third, it can refer to the Spirit revealing to sinners that, although they are unrighteous, they will be given the righteousness of Jesus as their personal standing before God. Jesus did not only live a righteous life for himself, he also did it on behalf of others. His perfect life is reckoned as theirs when they put their trust in them. Condemnation is removed and this new standing of acceptance before God is bestowed.

Judgement

The third factor that the Spirit convinces the world about is judgement, and the explanation is that the devil has been judged. When Jesus was speaking, this judgement was imminent. It took place at the cross where Jesus defeated the devil. In Colossians 2:15 Paul refers to this judgement when he says that Jesus destroyed the principalities and powers. Jesus did so by removing the record of our wrongs for which the devil was insisting that we should be punished.

The cross was also the fulfilment of the promise made in the Garden of Eden that there would come a Champion who would destroy the devil and be bruised in the process. Satan has been judged and his arguments have been nullified because Jesus paid the penalty for sin. The Spirit informs sinners that there is a way to escape the sense of condemnation that the devil can bring into their hearts when they hear the gospel. He will highlight their sins and suggest that there is no forgiveness for them. But the Spirit comes and strengthens the witness of the disciples to the victory of Jesus over the intrigues of the devil.

Conclusion

My closing comments assume that we, as Christ’s disciples, will function as witnesses, speaking about Jesus to others on suitable occasions.

Firstly, the Holy Spirit convinces effectively. He has never lost a case yet concerning a person he was determined to save. Further he will be so effective that at the end of the day he will have convinced millions and millions of sinners. We have no reason to despair at the success of the gospel.

Secondly, our confidence should be in the Holy Spirit. People are not converted because a witness is intelligent or persuasive, although it is important that the disciple tells the truth about Jesus. Our confidence is to be in the unseen Witness and not in the visible witness.

Thirdly, we should pray earnestly that the Holy Spirit would bless our witness. Jesus promises that the Spirit will be given to those that ask for him (Luke 11:13). In connection to this, we should ensure that we are not doing anything that grieves the Spirit and causes him not to work through us.

Fourthly, how do we know that the Spirit is working? We know he is working not because we have peculiar experiences but because we are drawn to Calvary, because we desire the righteousness of Jesus, and we long to be forgiven our sins. These desires never arose in a heart in which the Spirit is not working.