But Christ also explained the important work the Holy Spirit would carry out in the lives of unbelievers: He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. But convict or convince is the thing intended; and as the one expresses the work of the Spirit on the unbelieving portion of mankind, and the other on the believing, it is better not to restrict it to either. Heavenly Father, thank You that while I was still a sinner Christ died for me and thank You that the Holy Spirit convicted me of sin and righteousness and judgement. he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment: by "the world" is principally meant, the Jews; the world among whom Christ personally was, who knew him not, disbelieved him, rejected him as the Messiah, hated and persecuted him, even unto death; though not to the exclusion of the Gentiles, the whole world that lies in wickedness; since both joined, and were concerned in these things, and reproved of them; which "reproving", as it may respect different persons, may intend both such reproofs and convictions, as are not attended with conversion, and issue in salvation; and such as are powerful, spiritual, and to saving purposes: the several things the Spirit of God is said to reprove of, being repeated in the following verses, with reasons or specifications annexed to them, will be there considered. Paul would later remind the carnally-minded Christians at Corinth, as an important incentive to live godly lives and to eschew evil. Although much of the mystery of Church age doctrine would not be revealed to them, until it was later given through the apostle Paul, nevertheless the Lord did disclose quite a lot about the coming Spirit of Truth - Who was already with them but would one day dwell within them. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. For much of His ministry the Lord Jesus was teaching the gospel of the kingdom to none but the lost sheep of the house or Israel, but as the animosity and hatred towards their promised Messiah became increasingly evident among the Jewish leaders, Jesus began to prepare His little band of disciples for the significant changes that were about to take place after His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. He would initially be sent to the Church as a body on the day of Pentecost, when He first started to take up residence within the bodies of all believers. But you know Him: they were told.. because He abides with you and will be in you, Christ explained. The permanently indwelling Spirit of God was an entirely new thing that did not happen in Old Testament times, but is one of the main benefits of the New Testament Church. Praise God that we have come to a saving knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ and we pray that many who have not known Christ as Saviour and received the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting are convicted of sin - of righteousness and of judgement in the days that lie ahead - before it is too late. (b) He refers to the time that followed his ascension, when as all those opposed were manifestly reproved, through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the Church: so that the very enemies of Christ were reproved of sin, in that they were forced to confess that they were deceived, in that they believed not, and therefore they said to Peter in Ac 2:37, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Answer: In John 16:8, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit: “When [the Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (ESV).In this verse, we see a three-fold ministry the Spirit will perform in relation to the unsaved world. (3) The Spirit of God works so mightily by the preaching of the word that he forces the world, whether or not it wants to, to confess its own unrighteousness and Christ's righteousness and almightiness. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; For much of His ministry the Lord Jesus was teaching the gospel of the kingdom to none but the lost sheep of the house or Israel, but as the animosity and hatred towards their promised Messiah became increasingly evident among the Jewish leaders, Jesus began to prepare His little band of disciples for the significant changes that were about to take place after His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: And when he is come, he will reprove the world. One vital work of the Holy Spirit in this Church age is to convict unbelievers of their many sins and their own deeply rooted sin nature. He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to You, were Christ's encouraging words to His confused disciples. Righteousness. 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. This is to be understood of the judiciary power and authority of Christ, who has "all judgment" committed to him by the Father, as Mediator; has all power in heaven and in earth; and as he is appointed, so he is a very fit person to judge the world at the last day. All men are by nature sinners, and the term the world may be applied to them all, John 1:10; John 12:31; 1 John 5:19. he will reprove—This is too weak a word to express what is meant.