“…but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” John 16.5-11
Advocate. Resurrection. Belief. Satan. Sin. Judgement. Righteousness. Reward. How can this much be found in just seven verses of scripture?
Jesus has just mentioned twice within moments of each other about the Advocate– the sending of the Holy Spirit. As he speaks of his coming death, he comforters his hearers by talking about the Comforter. He talks about his going away and how this will be good for us because unless he leaves, the Advocate will not come. Who is this Advocate? He is the Παράκλητος, parakletos– the “Helper.”
The Helper will do more than send us warm fuzzies, he will “prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement.” He will reveal that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and he will expose the deeds of the “prince of this world,” who is the devil.
The Helper, Holy Spirit, Advocate, will affirm the message of Jesus and drive home everything Jesus taught as well as the will of the Father. Either we are living according to this Spirit, or we are abiding by the spirit of the world which promotes sin, disobedience and suggests that humans are equal to God.
So how do we know what Spirit we are following? Are our words, deeds and actions consistent with Scripture? Is Jesus Lord? Is righteousness a priority? Are we seeking holiness according to Scripture? Are we living set a part from the world, it’s wants, will and desires?
It boggles me not that non believers abide by the world but that Christians do. I mean, certainly we all sin and battle with living according to the Spirit, but what happens when we accept sin as normative? When adultery, homosexuality, polygamy, idolatry and paganism become accepted within the church? That’s when we know the enemy (i.e. prince of this world) has established a firm grasp on God’s people.
Paul’s letters to the early churches suggest such temptations are not beyond Christians. Yet “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6.1-4)
The Advocate has come that we might stop sinning and live this new life that Jesus has given to us.
Is this true of you?
“O Lord God, you have saved us from our sins! You went to the cross on our behalf. You rose again that we might live according to your Spirit. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill the church with your truth! Help us find meaning in your Word and joy that stems from obedience. Thank you for saving me and for helping me turn from sin and toward the light of your love. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen