…and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
So far the Spirit has proven the world wrong about sin and righteousness. God defines what is sin, not the world. Righteousness is a matter of what comes out of the heart and not the things one does to mask what is in the heart.
Now the Spirit takes on the world about their definition of judgment. How does He prove the world wrong here?
It was the world (Jesus’ term for those opposed to God) who condemned Jesus to die on the cross. The world judged Jesus unfit to live because he would not submit to the prince of this world, Satan. Jesus rejected the outward symbols of righteousness embraced by the Pharisees. Jesus held to God’s definition of sin rather than the world’s.
Because Jesus would not submit to the world’s rule, he was judged and condemned. Because Jesus overcame death and ascended into heaven, he has demonstrated his power over the world. Because the Father has given all things into his hands, Jesus has the authority to condemn the “prince of this world.”
Since the Holy Spirit testifies to these truths and affirms them, and since Jesus has spoken of them and demonstrated his power over them, the matter has been proved. The court rests. Jesus is God. Jesus is the Judge. It is the world that now stands condemned.
Food for thought: How does knowing that the world stands condemned affects your desire to be accepted by the world?
It not only renders it a vanity and foolishness but contrary to the spirit we are born of. I think of 1 John 2:15-17 as well:
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
NMOP3PISdn,
It is interesting that you mention how the Spirit stands in contrast to the vanity and foolishness of the world. Thank God! We can rely on the Spirit to lead us in the right directly. 🙂