Dear Christian friends:

In our text Jesus talks about sin, righteousness and judgment. What do you know about these three things? There is much misunderstanding in the world about these three things. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit corrects the world about these things. Maybe we need some correcting, too.


The Holy Spirit corrects the world about sin.

What do you know about sin? The world misunderstands about sin. People think that people go to hell because they sin. That's not reason why. The_Bible says, "All have sinned; is none that does good, no, not one." (Psalm 14:1-2) Only one reason why men go to hell: Jesus says, “because they believe not on Me." (verse 9) “He that believes not shall be damned, Jesus says in another verse. (Mark 16:16)

So, the Holy Spirit must work hard to correct us about that. We easily forget that. He also corrects us about another important thing.

The Holy Spirit corrects about righteousness.

What do you know about righteousness? The world misunderstands about righteousness. Many people think they can make themselves righteous before God. Big mistake! The Holy Spirit uses God's Word to correct us about that. He teaches us that we must be perfectly righteous to stand before God in heaven. The world thinks some righteousness is enough. People think and say, "If I do the best I can, God will be satisfied with me and accept me. But God says, "You must perfect, for I the Lord, your God, am perfect" (God to Abraham) But is anyone perfect? Are you perfect? Isaiah says, "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." David asks,"Who can understand his faults? Cleanse me from secret faults."

Who is perfectly righteous? Only Jesus. He says here in the text, "Holy Spirit will correct the world about righteousness, because I go to the Father and you see Me no more." (verse 10) Jesus by His suffering, death, resurrection and ascending into heaven has won perfect righteousness for all people. So, the Holy Spirit teaches us to give up arguing our own righteousness, and begin to argue Jesus' righteousness. St. Paul writes, "Put off the old man(self), which is corrupt, full of deceitful lusts, and put on the new man(self), which, like God, is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Sign "Just As I Am" verse 1 and "Rock of Ages" verses 2&3 and tell parable of the "Guests At the Wedding Feast.")

Whenever you think you not need to go to church or Lord's Supper remember your Baptism; when you think you are good enough without Jesus and His work, you make a big mistake, like the unbelievers in the world. Let the Holy Spirit, God's Teacher correct you and teach you daily to take off your own imperfect righteousness, and by faith put on Jesus' perfect righteousness. Then you will not be afraid to die or afraid of the judgment. That's the third important thing the Holy Spirit corrects us about.

The Holy Spirit corrects us about judgment.

What do you know about Judgment Day? Are you afraid of Judgment Day? Many people are afraid of the Judgment Day, because, they, misunderstand about that or because they believe Satan's_lies about that. As I preached last Sunday, when, in trouble, when sick or dying or other trouble we begin to feel that God has forsaken us. Satan also tells us that big lie. He says, "You are a sinner; you can't go to heaven; God doesn't want you. You broke your marriage vow. You cheated on your husband. You stole some money. You did not help the poor. You cheated on your income tax," etc. "God will get you and judge you and condemn you to hell."

But he lies to, us. True, we, deserve to go to hell because we sin like Satan says, and our conscience agrees. But Jesus has lived and died for us to win forgiveness of sins and give us His perfect righteousness. This we easily forget in time trouble and while dying. So, we need the Holy Spirit continually with us during our whole life. Then we will not be deceived by Satan or our own evil thoughts, but will have peace and hope and joy, because we know that God loves us and shows mercy to us. We need the Holy Spirit daily to correct us about these three important things: sin, righteousness and judgment. Keep the Holy Spirit with you always by hearing and reading God's Word each day.

Amen.