because he was himself with them to instruct, guide, and comfort them, and then they needed not the promise of the Spirit’s extraordinary presence.

This is why it is better for us that Jesus has departed for heaven: he has sent the Holy Spirit, who performs the work of conviction that is essential to any sinner’s salvation. While on earth, Jesus accomplished our salvation, chiefly by dying for our sins. But now he has gone to heaven to send the Spirit, who applies what Jesus achieved to the individual soul through the gift of faith.

The sin here primarily intended, is that of the Jews, in disbelieving, rejecting, and crucifying Christ; and which the spirit of God, by Peter, charged upon them on the day of Pentecost, and fully proved against them

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

the spirit of God, convinces men of the insufficiency of their own righteousness for such purposes; that they have no righteousness that deserves the name of one, and that what they have will not justify them before God, and entitle them to heaven: and this he does, by shewing them the corruption of their nature, their daily sins and infirmities, in thought, word, and deed; the purity of the divine perfections, and the spirituality and extensiveness of the law of God; which when a man is thoroughly apprized of, he can never hope for and expect justification before God by his own righteousness: hence the spirit of God proceeds to convince men of the glory, excellency, fulness, and suitableness of the righteousness of Christ; which he does, by revealing it to them in the Gospel, setting it before them, and working faith in them to lay hold upon it; when they desire to be found in Christ, not having on their own, but his righteousness; which convictions appear by the mean thoughts they have of their own righteousness, by hungering after Christ’s, by disclaiming all but his, by their constant mention of it, dependence on it, and satisfaction in it; and thus to convince of it, is the peculiar work of the spirit, since naturally men are fond of their own righteousness, are ignorant of Christ’s, and set against it.

The righteousness of Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God. The world would not receive the Son of God (John 1:10), so He has returned to the Father. When He was here on earth, He was accused by men of being a blasphemer, a lawbreaker, a deceiver, and even a demoniac.

Just after Jesus declared that the hour had come for the Son of Man to be glorified (12:23), He also declared, “Now is the judgment [krisis] of this world; now the ruler of this world [ho archōn tou kosmou toutou] shall be cast out” (12:31; see Rev 12:7–12). Based on the parallel expressions in John 12:31 and 16:11, the judgment in view in 16:11 appears to be the cross. At this judgment, the ruler of this world has been condemned (16:11) and cast out (12:31). Jesus triumphed over the ruler of this world at the cross, and the Paraclete will demonstrate to the world its culpability with reference to the cross. As Brown writes, “In condemning Jesus the world itself was judged.”

The progression outlined for the Spirit’s convicting ministry helps us to see the relevance of this final conviction for the lives of Christians. We are first convicted of our sin and guilt, and then of forgiveness and righteousness through Jesus Christ. What conviction do we then need as we live as Christ’s people in the world? We need the Spirit’s conviction that the reign of Satan really is over.

These three prepositional phrases are therefore related as follows: the world’s chief sin is failure to believe in Jesus (3:18; 16:9); the world will be convicted by the display of the righteousness of God and Christ on the cross (16:19); the judgment in view is also the cross (16:11). The world stands condemned by the righteousness manifested in God’s judgment of sin at the cross because it has not believed in Jesus. The Paraclete will show the world its culpability—that it stands guilty for not believing in Jesus. The judgment at the cross typifies the judgment that is to come (see Rev 20:2, 10–15). If the world continues in its rejection of Jesus, it will face judgment on the last day and be condemned by the righteousness of God and Christ seen at the cross.

The only person who can rescue him from such a horrible situation is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. There can be no conversion without conviction, and there can be no conviction apart from the Spirit of God using the Word of God and the witness of the child of God.

Witnessing is a great privilege, but it is also a serious responsibility

It is not possible even to be a Christian and to be saved from God’s wrath without being convicted of sin and righteousness: we must confess our sins and seek refuge in Christ’s blood. But if we want to be greatly used by the Spirit today—and his work of conviction always takes place through the witness of Christ’s people—then we must also be convicted concerning the judgment of this world. Satan is defeated. The reign of sin is broken in Christ. The world’s siren song of death need not be heeded.