John 16:5-15.
But now I go unto him that sent me: and none of you asked me, Whither goest thou? but because I spake these things unto you, your heart was filled with sorrow. But I tell you the truth, it is good for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he cometh, he shall punish the world for sin, and for righteousness, and for judgment. For sin, that they believe not on me. And for righteousness, that I should go unto the Father, and ye should not see me henceforth. For the judgment, that the prince of this world is judged. I still have much to say to you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and what is to come, that shall he declare unto you. The same shall transfigure me: for of mine he shall take, and shall declare unto you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said, He will take it from mine and proclaim it to you.
1. Christ speaks to the disciples out of great emotion, because he sees that they are so sad because of his departure; as if he wanted to say: You hear that I will go away from you and leave you. This grieves you indeed, so that you do not worry because of sadness where I am going; because you think that where I am going, whatever it may be, is rather to be despised than that I should leave you; but you are mistaken, and do not know what good is to be found in my going away. For after my departure and departure the greatest salvation will be given you, because the Comforter will come, who, if I stay, will not come nor can come. But here you may ask: What will he do when he comes, since you are absent and we are abandoned by you as wretches? I answer, He will set up a new kingdom for me over the whole world, because he will subdue the whole world to me and to you, not by rights and weapons, but by word. For he shall not fight with the sword, but shall subdue them with the word.
*) Cf. Erl. A. opp. var. arg. VII, 407 sq. D. Red.
that is, by the word he will condemn them and make them guilty and thus humiliated subject to me, so that my kingdom will be exalted above all kingdoms etc. And here is the clear difference of the kingdom of Christ and the world, in the word:
2. "He will punish," which is well to be remembered. But he will punish three things: first, for sin, that is, that all are sinners apart from Christ; second, for righteousness, that is, that all are justified through faith alone in Christ alone, who suffered and was raised from the dead; third, for judgment, that is, that all are condemned who condemn this doctrine. Because the world holds above these three things which are against the first tablet, namely: 1) it does not want all that it does to be sin; 2) it does not want faith alone to be righteousness, but good works also to be something etc.; 3) it does not want to suffer the doctrine of these two articles, but condemns and persecutes them. So these three pieces are to be done: 1) sin is to be revealed; 2) righteousness is to be shown; 3) it is to be taught that the cross must be endured with patience.