Jesus' Mission to Convict Sin and Unrighteousness
Jesus' mission includes the conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment, a role that the Spirit continues to fulfill in the world [2, 12]. This conviction is a legal term, implying that the world, which once tried Jesus, now stands trial before the Spirit, and its guilt is proven [12].
The conviction of sin involves unveiling its true nature. Sin is understood as disobedience to God's law [4]. It is not merely external acts but also the deeper intent of the heart [11]. All human beings are born with a sinful nature [5], and sin can manifest as vanity or sinful acts [6]. Deliberate sins often stem from an insolent or arrogant attitude, representing rebellion against God [8]. The first sin of humanity, as described in Genesis, involved a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude, and disobedience [7]. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the universal sinfulness of both Gentiles and Jews, stating that all are under sin's power and cannot earn God's favor through their own actions [9]. To claim one has not sinned is to make God a liar [10].
Regarding righteousness, Jesus' mission reveals that true righteousness is found only in God [12]. Righteousness is defined as obedience to God's law [4]. Christ himself fulfilled all righteousness [4]. He is made righteousness to his people and is the end of the law for righteousness [4].
Finally, the conviction of judgment highlights the coming judgment that has already begun to penetrate the darkness of the world [12]. God's anger is a necessary response to sin, and the Old Testament frequently depicts this wrath and predicts a decisive outpouring of it at the end of history [9]. The book of Jude speaks of executing judgment on all the ungodly for their ungodly works and the harsh words they have spoken against God [1]. Condemnation, which is the sentence of God against sin, is universal due to Adam's offense [3]. It is an inseparable consequence of sin and is increased by impenitence, unbelief, pride, oppression, and hypocrisy [3]. However, those who believe in Christ are delivered from condemnation [3]. Christ's first coming was to take away the sins of many, and his second coming will not be to deal with sins, as that has already been accomplished, but to bring salvation to those awaiting him [13].
Sources
- Jude “to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” -- Jude 1:15”
- John “When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; -- John 16:8”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Condemnation — The sentence of God against sin -- Mt 25:41. Universal, caused by the offence of Adam -- Ro 5:12,16,18. Inseparable consequence of sin -- Pr 12:2; Ro 6:23. Increased by Impenitence. -- Mt 11:20-24. Unbelief. -- Joh 3:18,19. Pride. -- 1Ti 3:6. Oppression. -- Jas 5:1-5. Hypocrisy. -- Mt 23:14. Conscience testifies to the justice of -- Job 9:20; Ro 2:1; Tit 3:11. The law testifies to the justice of -- Ro 3:19. According to men's deserts -- Mt 12:37; 2Co 11:15. Saints are delivered from, by Christ -- Joh 3:18; 5:24; Ro 8:1,33,34. Of the wicked, an example ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness — Is obedience to God's law -- De 6:25; Ro 10:5; Lu 1:6; Ps 1:2. God loves -- Ps 11:7. God looks for -- Isa 5:7. Christ Is the Son of. -- Mal 4:2. Loves. -- Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9. Was girt with. -- Isa 11:5. Put on, as breast-plate. -- Isa 59:17. Was sustained by. -- Isa 59:16. Preached. -- Ps 40:9. Fulfilled all. -- Mt 3:15. Is made to his people. -- 1Co 1:30. Is the end of the law for. -- Ro 10:4. Has brought in everlasting. -- Da 9:24. Shall judge with. -- Ps 72:2; Isa 11:4; Ac 17:31; Re 19:11. Shall reign in. -- Ps 45:6; Isa 32:1; Heb 1:8. Shall execute.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 5:27: 5:27-30 Jesus’ righteousness uncovers sin at a deeper level than the external; he reveals the true intent of the law.”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 16:8: 16:8-11 One of the Spirit’s roles is to convict the world. Convict is a legal term: The world had conducted its trial of Jesus, examining the evidence for his case (his signs and claims). Now the world would stand trial before the Spirit, and its guilt would be proven. 16:8 The Spirit unveils to the world the real nature of its sin, the truth about righteousness found only in God, and the coming judgment, which has already dawned on the world as light penetrating the darkness.”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 9:27: 9:27-28 Christ’s first coming was to take away the sins of many people. When he will come again, it will not be to deal with sins, since that has already been accomplished. Instead, he will bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him (see study note on Gal 5:5).”