What is the meaning of John 16:10?

in regard to righteousness

Righteousness is God’s unwavering standard of moral perfection. The Spirit comes to expose any counterfeit and highlight the real thing—Jesus Himself.

• Reveals Christ’s flawless life: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).

• Exposes humanity’s deficit: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

• Offers the divine exchange: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

• Grants righteousness by faith, not by effort: “The righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22).

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because I am going to the Father

Jesus’ return to the Father seals the truth that His righteousness is complete and accepted in heaven.

• Vindicated: “He was taken up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16).

• Enthroned: “After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).

• Qualified to intercede: “He always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

• Positioned to send the Spirit: “Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).

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and you will no longer see Me

With Jesus physically absent, the Spirit continues His witness.

• Faith relies on testimony, not sight: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

• The Spirit keeps Christ before us: “He will testify about Me” (John 15:26).

• We walk by faith: “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

• Christ’s righteousness now shines through believers: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

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summary

John 16:10 teaches that the Spirit convicts the world of its need for true righteousness, found only in Jesus. The ascension proves Jesus’ righteousness is perfect and accepted by the Father, while His physical absence means the Spirit now spotlights Christ, calling the world to faith and molding believers to reflect His righteous life.