Conviction of the Holy Spirit Part 2

Conviction of the Holy Spirit Part 2

Yesterday I ended the blog by mentioning the third voice, our conscience, that directs our decisions. I want today’s blog to continue in that vein. However, I am going to do some more clean-up work from yesterday. This morning, I received a text from a dear brother in Christ, who had some concerns about what I wrote. Before he said what the concerns were, I told him that I already knew what his concerns were. Now I love this brother in the Lord. He has the same passion for Truth that I do, and so I welcome his critique (Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend). His assertion is that believers can be “convicted” by the Holy Spirit, and I understand his position. However, I started this blog at God’s direction, with the intention of dispelling commonly held beliefs that are not consistent with the Scriptures. And this is one of them. So, let’s go back to the word “conviction” again and start from there, because I know what his concern is. His concern is in the understanding of the word “conviction” as we have grown to use it in western culture.

The Oxford Dictionary defines “convict” this way: declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law (as a verb) and a person found guilty of a criminal offense and serving a sentence of imprisonment (as a noun). The word was derived from a Latin word meaning “to convince.” In a trial of guilt or innocence, each side attempts to convince their side of the story. After the case from each side is presented, the judge or jury considers the arguments of both sides and declares guilt or innocence. If the defendant is found innocent, he/she is released. If the defendant is found guilty, the person is sentenced and becomes a convict.

Now let’s look at the word “conviction.” Oxford Dictionary defines conviction this way: a formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense, made by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law and a firmly held belief or opinion.

So, let’s launch this discussion from there. I will start by saying that my position is based on the Scriptures, and only the Scriptures. I do not bend the Word of God to accommodate western culture or language. In the text we reviewed yesterday, I focused on John 16:8-10.

John 16:8-10; 8 "And  when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 "of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

In the context of this passage, John is describing three distinct parties. As a believer, I no longer identify as “the world.” Unbelievers cannot be described as “righteous”, and neither unbelievers nor believers hold the identity of “the ruler of this world”. John is distinctly addressing three different parties and the purpose of the Holy Spirit’s coming for each one. The three purposes are not aimed at all three parties. If they were, then you would have to accept that the role of the Holy Spirit to impart righteousness would apply to the ruler of this world (Satan) as well. And we know that is not true. Satan will never be found righteous. So, each party clearly receives only the role of the Holy Spirit for which He was sent. Now I want you to catch the last three words of the previous sentence and hang on to that.

During my conversation with this brother, his position was that the Holy Spirit was in the world even in the Old Testament and he is right. Genesis 1:2 tells us that the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Additionally, we know that all Scripture was written by men under the inspiration of God, and the writings of the Old Testament were written by men who lived during the times of the Old Testament. However, the Holy Spirit was not given as a “seal” of salvation until after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. This is made clear in the verses immediately preceding John 16:8.

John 16:6-8; 6 "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

This is Jesus speaking and He states that He must go away, or the Spirit cannot come. The Holy Spirit was given permanent residence inside of believers for the first time at Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-4; 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

Before Pentecost, the Holy Spirit had certainly inspired men to act, speak, write, and heal. But He did not reside in man as a permanent seal until after Jesus’ ascension. That is why Jesus said that He must ascend so that the Holy Spirit could descend and carry out His roles (I can already see that this subject is going to have a Part 3 😊).

Yesterday I wrote that believers will never be convicted by the Holy Spirit. For clarification purposes, after someone becomes a believer, they will never again be convicted by the Holy Spirit. When we were in the world and part of the world, the Holy Spirit convicted us of our sin just like it states in verse 8 above. But when we accepted Jesus as our Savior, we were saved out of the world and no longer a part of it. I am only going to give you this one verse in John 17, for the sake of keeping this blog within a time parameter. However, I highly recommend you read and meditate on the entirety of John 17 on your own. It is a beautiful prayer of Jesus for His church, you. John 17:16 says this:

John 17:16 "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."

Let me ask this question. How many times does a believer get saved? Is it once or do we have to profess Jesus as our Savior all the time in order to receive salvation? It is only once. The Scriptures tell us that.

Ephesians 1:13-14; 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Two words in the above passage are indisputably clear: “sealed” and “guarantee.” Now let’s circle back to the word or words in question: “convict” and “conviction.” Even in English, these words are defined as either the sentencing of someone for doing wrong or in the noun form, a person that has already been sentenced. Before we accepted Jesus as our Savior, we were sentenced to death, or we can say we were convicted to death. But when we believed, our conviction was overturned. We were saved and “sealed” with a “guarantee” of our inheritance. We cannot ever again be convicted, sentenced, or punished for sin. The Holy Spirit cannot “convict” you of sin any longer. All your sins were nailed to the cross: past, present, and future. The Holy Spirit is the very seal and evidence that you are saved, so if He is present inside of you, how can he sentence you (convict you) to death? He cannot and He will not. He is the One that reminds you that you have been saved by grace, and that you are the righteousness of God in Christ. When Satan comes against you and accuses you, the Holy Spirit is the One that reminds you that you belong to Jesus. How can He play both the role of the accuser and the role of the “evidence” of your innocence? He doesn’t.

Now let’s examine the definition of “conviction” that my brother and others assert into this context to justify the use of the phrase, “the Holy Spirit convicted me” or similar phrases. To reiterate, Oxford Dictionary describes “conviction” as a strongly held belief. I wholeheartedly agree with that definition. But (and there is always a but), ask yourself this question. Who can hold that belief? Can I hold your beliefs for you? Can you hold my beliefs for me? No, of course not. The very definition of conviction, in the context for which the assertion is made, is that the Holy Spirit can “convict” a believer of sin and that is contrary to that assertion. My brother in Christ that is persistent in his stance is standing his ground, because he holds his own convictions on the subject. I am adamant of my point of view because of the dearly held convictions and beliefs that I hold true. He cannot make me agree with him nor can I make him side with me. We hold our own convictions. In like manner, neither does the Holy Spirit force His convictions on any person. That is why it is called free will. Just like the Holy Spirit will never forcibly enter an unwilling recipient so that they have to be saved, neither will He make you, by shame or any other coercive measure, make you feel guilty for the very sin for which Jesus already paid. That is a complete contradiction. Would Jesus say, “Father, I saved Alex from all his sins, past, present, and future. But I want the Holy Spirit to go down to earth, live inside of him and convict him of the very sins I told him I died for, and the very sins that I said I would bury at the bottom of the deepest ocean to be remembered no more”? Does that sound like Jesus? Or does that even sound logical? Of course not.

So, that begs the question. What is the Holy Spirit’s role in chastising us or directing us (which admittedly feels like a stern conviction coming from inside us)? Well, let’s see what the Scriptures say.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Scriptures above tell us both Who inspired the Word and the purpose of the Word. The Spirit of God gave us His Words for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness. And where is that Word? Let’s let the Scriptures tell us.

Romans 10:8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

It is in us. And how did it get there? Let's examine the Old and New Testament.

Jeremiah 31:33-34; 33 "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 "No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

And Jesus fulfilled that according to the New Testament.

Hebrews 8:6-13; 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- 9 "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. 10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 "None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

This is how the Holy Spirit corrects us according to the Scriptures. He gave us the Word. Then when we accepted Jesus, He put those laws in our minds and wrote them on our hearts.  When you feel that conviction, it is the blessing of God giving you guidance and direction through the Word that is in you. The Holy Spirit will remind you of what His Word says. He does not point at your sins and say, “Look at you! You messed up again! I am convicting you of your sins so that you will change your thoughts and behavior!” That does not line up with anything in Scripture. Can you imagine being the Holy Spirit and hearing a child of God say, “the Holy Spirit is convicting me of my sin”? He is probably thinking to himself, “No I am not. That is not my role for you. My role for you is to convict you of your righteousness just like I inspired John to write.” Think about this and let the Spirit dictate to you what is right. The same Holy Spirit speaking through Paul on countless occasions had Paul write incessantly about believers no longer being under the law, stressing that those who put themselves under the law have rebuilt that which brought them death, stressed that to put yourself under the law is to fall from grace, calls the law the ministry of death, that same Holy Spirit, does it make any sense at all that He would say to you, "You are breaking the law"? Just meditate on that question for a while and let the Holy Spirit dictate if that is cohesive with the totality of the Scriptures.

This went long and I didn’t even get to the third voice, our conscience. We will address that next time.

I hope this helps. Jesus loves you.

One last note. I have been typing this blog for a couple of hours now and the entire time I was thinking of the brother that I discussed this with this morning. My conscience tells me that I did not handle the conversation in a loving way, and I want to take this opportunity to both thank him for reading my blog and bringing his concerns to my attention. But I also want to apologize for not allowing him the opportunity to express his own convictions. The Holy Spirit didn’t have to tell me I should have handled it better. My conscience has been all over me since this morning.  I am sorry, brother. I will work on my delivery.