Conviction

[swishboyd2010]

So here's a thread that might prove interesting. And I said *might* for a reason. So any of you "trigger happy" posters that I have encountered in the past who may disagree with my ideas, please note the above disclaimer and put your pistols back in their holsters. I have no desire that this should become a theological grenade-launching competition. In fact, I hope it to be the opposite (with a healthy dose of the reality that this may last a few posts in and then will no doubt somehow morph into round 150,452 of the Calvinists versus the Arminians.) But perhaps in the few brief posts we will have available some good may result.

Here's some questions to start the conversation: Do we (Christians) really love the conviction of God's Spirit? Do we understand that His conviction is a source of life and blessing, whereas ignoring His conviction brings about the opposite effects? Can we agree that His conviction is good, regardless of how it feels to our flesh? When we read His Word and see that our lives aren't measuring up in one way or another, how do we respond? Does it really matter how we respond?

[Bully6319]

Hello swishboyd2010,Greetings from Austria;

First let`s define the meaning of Conviction in a Human and Biblical sense:

καταδικάζω-convict/verb-meaning condemn;sentence;doom;denounce
κατάδικος-convict/adjective-meaning condemned
καταδικαστεί-convicted/meaning like a long time sentence

πείθω-convince/verb-meaning persuade;satisfy;assure;induce;
καταπείθω-convince/verb-meaning persuade;satisfy;assure;induce;

*What is a conviction? One person says that it is no more than a personal opinion. Others define it as those things for which you would be willing to die; all else is a preference. Some teach that convictions are based on direct scriptural teaching. Others teach that convictions are not even scriptural. Why all the confusion? What is a good biblical approach to the concept of convictions?

The word "conviction" is not found in the Bible and this is the source of much of the confusion. It is, however, related to two biblical words: convict and convince.

•The word convict is only used once in the Bible where the men who accused the women of adultery were "convicted by their own conscience" (John 8:9).
•The word convince is used seven times (Job 32:12; John 8:46; Acts 18:28; 1Corinthians 14:24; Titus 1:9; James 2:9; Jude 15). This word (convince) is the key to understanding the other two words. One who is convicted is convinced of sin or error. In its simplest meaning, a conviction is something about which we are convinced. In most of the cases where convince is used in the Bible, it is similar to our use of the word convict. It usually deals with those who are convinced of sin.
This being the case, we need to ask, are convictions a biblical concept? I think they are—at least, in the way we commonly use the word. If we use it correctly, we use it to describe the work of our conscience in making personal decisions of right and wrong in areas not specifically detailed in scripture. A conviction is a convinced conscience.

Please note that a conviction is not needed where the Bible is specific in its command. We need only to obey in those areas. Perhaps we need to be convicted of our disobedience. But we do not need to have a conviction about it. A conviction is only needed in those areas where biblical precepts (by definition, general principles) need to be applied to particular circumstances. Does God teach us to do this? Yes. (1Corinthians 2:14-15); (Romans 14:5);(1John 3:20-21); (1Thessalonians 5:21); (Philippians 1:9-10); (Romans 14:22-23);(Hebrews 5:14);(Acts 24:16).

The Bible clearly teaches that the conscience is not a perfect indicator of right and wrong. It can be weak (1Corinthians 8:12), defiled (Titus 1:15) and even seared with a hot iron (1Timothy 4:20). However, when fed a steady diet of the word and submitted to God in a pure heart, it can help to guide us in many circumstances. It can tell us that things are wrong before we know why they are wrong. It can act as an early warning system against sin. It can help us to establish personal convictions that guide us as we walk through the pitfalls of this life.

A conviction is a convinced conscience. Some may say that all we need is the Bible and the conscience is thereby made superfluous. Yet, it is the Bible that tells us that God uses the conscience. Our convictions will not always agree because they are personal. They do not carry the authority of scripture and may be faulty. But, as we submit to God and exercise ourselves in His word, we are to keep our consciences clean by establishing convictions in our lives and by avoiding offense to our consciences. By the way, we are also to allow others to live according to their conscience without molestation—as long as their convictions do not directly oppose God's word.

1.Do we (Christians) realy love the conviction of God`s Spirit?

Well;that`s a hard one!This Question can be answered only and solely by the Individual only.Every Human Being has His or Her own individual "Human Make Up" if i may call it that way.Therefore everyone reacts differently to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and He also deals differently with us.
As for me-depending on the Situation and seriousness don`t always like(love) it.

2.Do we(Christians) understand that His conviction is a source of life and blessing;whereas ignoring His conviction brings about the opposite effect?


4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13"Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.(Heb.12:4-13)


It does not always feel good;but let`s not forget that our feelings are fickle.We are to trust in Faith that God knows what He is doing through His Word.
If we yield to Him right away and do listen to what He(maybe through someone else?) has to say about a certain issue we enjoy His forgiveness and Peace-if we do not yield;then we will prolong this situation and His chastisement will be stronger and more painful.
But let us not forget that God,who created us,knows what we are made of-we are fallen,through and through sinful Human Beings;as Believers we are forgiven and Born Again through Christs sacrifice and resurrection-Nevertheless;daily we will struggle and fight with that Old Nature,the World and Satan.BUT GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!

14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.(Rom.7:14-25)

3.Can we (Christians)agree that His conviction is good?

Absolutely!!!!!!!-It does not always(mostly)feel good but that does not change the fact that it is good.
See also Question and Answer Nr.2

4. When we read His Word and see that our lives aren't measuring up in one way or another, how do we respond? Does it really matter how we respond?


We should respond immediately;however that does not always happen depending on our "Human Make Up"(here it is again)-In short or long time this could happen:

19 Do not quench the Spirit;do not despise prophetic utterances.But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
abstain from every form of evil.(1.Thess.5:19-22)

5.Does it realy matter how we respond?

Yes!!!

If we choose not to respond in a Biblical Way(meaning not Gods way) then we will suffer not only the consequences but we will have to endure what ever means God chooses for our chastisement so that we will learn to do it His way.

Also,a Christian(just like non believers)will have to reap what he or she was sowing.
God can not be mocked!!!!

7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.(Gal.6:7-10)

If we choose not to respond to Gods way then it will come back to haunt us until we deal with it in His way.
However that does not mean that if we do it His Way immediately that we don`t reap what we where sowing.Sometimes we still have to set things straight and get things right.

But through it all He will never leave us or forsake us.Let us trust and believe Him.He will carry us through it all; till one day when He calls us Home.
Life in this World isn`t easy and the Lord Jesus Himself said that in this World we will encounter Trials and Tribulations;but be of good cheer I have overcome the World.

Brotherly Love,in His service Peter

[elisheva]

"Therefore everyone who hears these Words of Mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the Rock." When we hear the Spirit of God speak to us from His Word, we must choose. We will either accept and act on them or ignore and reject them. "I hastened and did not delay to keep Your Commandments."

"Everyone who hears these Words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand... and it fell - and great was it's fall."

[swishboyd2010]

Peter,

Thank you for posting the scriptures you did. You seem to have a love for the truth and a desire to be obedient to the commands of Christ, and for that I am truly glad.

I appreciate your thoughts on what conviction is, and how we should define it. Having a convinced conscience in regards to sin is rather close to how I would define conviction, save that I would include that it is God's Spirit (often through His Word) that prompts such a notion within our conscience. I do not mean to suggest that you disagree with this portion at all, just adding that to clarify my understanding.

And I agree that there is no blanket answer for my question of whether or not we really love His conviction. That was intended to provoke individual thought rather than general thought.

Thanks again for your thoughts and scriptures you posted!

God bless you,
Swishboyd

God bless you,
Swishboyd

[Bully6319]

Hello and Greetings swishboyd2010,

Thank you for your thoughts and input and I also want to say thank`s that you did not
jump on my post immediately but apparently gave it much thought.

swishboyd2010Having a convinced conscience in regards to sin is rather close to how I would define conviction, save that I would include that it is God's Spirit (often through His Word) that prompts such a notion within our conscience.

You are absolutely right-below please see part of my post.

Bully6319Please note that a conviction is not needed where the Bible is specific in its command. We need only to obey in those areas. Perhaps we need to be convicted of our disobedience.

The Holy Spirit convicts us through His Word (Scriptures always have to be the source of all truth); other people,situations and life`s experiences!

Joh 16,8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:..........

1Thess 1,5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.

Hold on to what is good and discard that which is not!

Love in His service,peter

[JohnOxios]

Hello and Greetings swishboyd2010,

Thank you for your thoughts and input and I also want to say thank`s that you did not
jump on my post immediately but apparently gave it much thought.

swishboyd2010Having a convinced conscience in regards to sin is rather close to how I would define conviction, save that I would include that it is God's Spirit (often through His Word) that prompts such a notion within our conscience.

You are absolutely right-below please see part of my post.

Bully6319Please note that a conviction is not needed where the Bible is specific in its command. We need only to obey in those areas. Perhaps we need to be convicted of our disobedience.

The Holy Spirit convicts us through His Word (Scriptures always have to be the source of all truth); other people,situations and life`s experiences!

Joh 16,8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:..........

1Thess 1,5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.

Hold on to what is good and discard that which is not!

Love in His service,peter

Hi Peter,

Conviction for me is gut wrenching... who likes to be told what they're doing is wrong? There's usually an initial feeling After the wrong but then we minimize it, put it on the back burner and disobey anyway.
God allows us to go free til our cups runneth over, and then "That gut wrenching feeling that I am in sin" too me it hurts. the Bible says to hold on to what is good, but in the physical world we want our ake and eat it too! There are a lot of people who upon conviction of the Holy Spirit who come to grips ask for forgiveness, accept that God's forgiven them BUT don't forgive themselves. and carry shame and guilt a lot longer than necessary. Guilt is of God, it lets us know we made a mistake. Shame is of the devil which says we are a mistake.

som people have trouble with the difference.Judas repented, to the High priests, than hung himself. If only he went to Christ?

God bless,
John

[Bully6319]

Greetings John,

by JohnOxios » Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:15 am

There are a lot of people who upon conviction of the Holy Spirit who come to grips ask for forgiveness, accept that God's forgiven them BUT don't forgive themselves.

Is that not reason enough that we as followers of Christ who carry His Name stay focused in our calling!?!?

Sometimes we as believers forget that there are true believers who are very confused to the point of giving up on their faith (I am speaking of personal experience)! Desiring the pure "Milk" of the word but what they get is many Times defiled.Throwing scriptures and quotations at them;teachings and a bright shining mix of all kinds of stuff.
We have to ask our selfs one question: DO THEY UNDERSTAND?

All of us who are true Believers are being bombarded every day with so called "TRUTH"!
Don`t believe me?-Turn on the TV and switch to a Christian Channel-Everyone claims to have the "TRUTH" and if we as believers don`t watch ourself we will get confused! How much more those who are still "baby's" in Our Lord Jesus!

WHY?

Todays Christianity has become a "SUPERMARKET"-pick what you like and pay later!
What a high price to pay for the sake of God`s truth revealed to us in His Word!!!!!!

Even on platforms like this forum I have read stuff that just downright scares the H...... out of me. There are posts that are insulting to individuals;personal attacks on their believes and so on..............!
Instead of attacking them we need to find out why they belief what they belief-asking our Lord Jesus for wisdom in certain matters and His Guidance!!!
He will hold us responsible for what we are posting!

And most important! I am sure that even non believers have visited this platform!! WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF US!!!

So;let us keep the message simple;stick to the truth as revealed in Scripture!!!
When posting asking our selfs "WILL OTHERS UNDERSTAND?"

MARANATHA-please come Lord Jesus!

love peter