Summary of passage: Jesus explains the Counselor (Holy Spirit) will come to them once he is gone, which is for their good. The Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Questions:
3a) Because only then can the Holy Spirit come to guide them and indwell and convict the world of sin, expose righteousness, and judge the devil.
b) Personal Question. My answer: In person. Then I would know without a doubt my life would be Christ led. I think I would have less doubts. But there are advantages and disadvantages either way. In reality, we have the Holy Spirit only so growing that is the key.
4) Sin: The Holy Spirit shines light in the darkness, exposing the evil. With the Holy Spirit, one lives by the truth and by the light, which can be plainly seen to unbelievers. The Holy Spirit cleanses unbelievers to live a sanctified life.
Righteousness: Sins pollute us and make us feel unclean and prideful. The humble are exalted and those who admit they are sinners. Those who keep the law and God’s commands become conscious of sin, repent, and therefore righteous before God.
Judgment: God judges sinners but those who confess in faith are sanctified before God. The devil blocks unbelievers from seeing the light. Through faith, grace, and mercy, we became alive in Christ and obedient to God.
Conclusions: Back to John after 1 John is such a relief. Much smaller chunks of the word to intake and digest.
End Notes: Peter had asked this question earlier (John 13:36) and Thomas asked a similar question (John 15:5). Peter was diverted immediately and he made no real attempt to find out where Jesus was going. He had been concerned with the thought of parting with Jesus, not with that of the Master’s destination. He was only thinking of what it meant for himself for Jesus to leave. Grief had distracted them.
Jesus does not say why the Holy Spirit would not come until after his departure.
Nevertheless (But in the NIV) is one of the great words of the Bible, meaning despite all of that. “It tell you the truth” is to emphasize Jesus’ words.
The Holy Spirit will be better for believers than his physical presence–Jesus could now be with every believer every moment of the day. Our belief is greater since we can’t see Jesus. We understand Jesus better. We obviously are closer to him.
Sin is the truth about man, righteousness is the truth about God, judgment is the inevitable combination of these two truths. Apart from sin’s convicting work, people can never see themselves as sinners.
“Convict” in the Greek means to expose, refute, and convince. The Holy Spirit would bring the truth and a realization of man’s shame and hopelessness without God in their lives.
Sin is unbelief, the rejection of God and His Son, which the Holy Spirit reveals. Jesus was righteousness which the Holy Spirit reveals. The Holy Spirit reveals that Satan will be judged. The Holy Spirit works in the world and in hearts to reveal these truths to all.
