Conviction of Sin

[thecherb]

I think most would agree that in order to have faith in Christ, one must first be convicted of sin. Convinced that he/she has committed a transgression of the Law that He has given us to live by. So my question is this - why doesn't the Holy Spirit convict everybody of their sin? Or, does he in fact convict everybody, but only some are willing to listen? Your thoughts....

 

[Frisbee]

Think of sin less as something that brings shame and dishonor, and more like a naturally occurring malfunction. To be convicted of sin is to be made aware of the malfunctioning aspect of human nature, and growing in Christ as that which restores one to purity in the sense that you freed from the problems that go along with the original malfunction.

Let’s say you’re a car that was designed to run at 3,500 RPM at 65 MPH on a straight flat highway. In a perfect world. Well the world, outside of your control and through no fault of your own, didn’t turn out like that. You are still in the car designed for the perfect world, but the one you find yourself is hilly, curvy, has varying speed limits and the engine is taken from idle to 5,000 RPM instead of the steady 3,500 it was designed for. The Holy Spirit is like the onboard mechanic who keeps us tuned up and rolling along so that we can make it to the finish to be with Jesus, and at times He performs nothing short of miracles to get us there.

So what does sin look like now?

If you put it in the perspective of a naturally occurring malfunction and the Holy Spirit being our personal onboard Helper till we arrive at Jesus, then we begin to see it for what it is. Sin is a deteriorative and corrosive negative power in life that constantly is at work to keep us from reaching our goal. The reason that the Holy Spirit isn’t everybody’s onboard mechanic and Helper is that they never invited Him on board and have no desire to go to Jesus. There’s nothing to help them with until the chose the right destination. Until then He would only be fixing up a broken car so it could travel down the road 90 miles and hour right off the cliff at the end of the wrong highway.

It’s not a perfect analogy. But it works for me!

 

[nzguy]

I believe the Holy Spirit gives every person a chance to receive the free gift of eternal life through drawing them to Him by various means. Even someone who has no knowledge of Christianity I believe can see the biblical God thru God's creation to the point of knowing they need God in their lives to save them.

So the Holy Spirit does convict people, and then it is their choice whether they respond to it, or choose to go their own way.

 

[Kutte]

Frisbee,

You gave an interesting definition of "sin", sin being a "malfunctioning aspect of human nature".

However, in my book sin still relates to breaking a law or certain tabus which actually does not relate to "malfunctioning" but rather to a willfully committed action.

Kutte

 

[Frisbee]

The part that is broken is the willful part isn't it? Is it a sin to accidentally do things or to do them unaware that you've done anything wrong?

Anyhow, like I said it isn't a perfect analogy. The reason I look at it like that is that folks, myself included, have a natural tendency to equate sin with our senses of feeling guilt or pride in how good we perceive ourselves to be, and it doesn't work like that. Folks who operate like this often are struggling with incorrect notions of self righteousness on one end, and feelings of remorse for struggling through things with God's help on the other. We aren't perfect, but we're supposed to look to God to work through the problems with us. Life is a process, not an achievable state... that will happen when the perfect comes!

 

[jeremyloo]

I think most would agree that in order to have faith in Christ, one must first be convicted of sin. Convinced that he/she has committed a transgression of the Law that He has given us to live by. So my question is this - why doesn't the Holy Spirit convict everybody of their sin? Or, does he in fact convict everybody, but only some are willing to listen? Your thoughts....

Joh 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
Joh 16:9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
Joh 16:10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;
Joh 16:11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

In John 16, our Lord Jesus showed us the purpose of the Holy Spirit when He comes.

In this passage, we have to look into context who the Lord is speaking to. He was speaking to His disciples.

The Holy Spirit convicts 3 issues. 1. Sin, 2. Righteousness and 3. Judgment.

Joh 16:9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;

Firstly, "concerning sin", because "they"...the Lord use the word "they"..."they" are the world. He never use "you" or "you all". The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin.

Joh 16:10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;

Secondly, "concerning righteousness", He used "you". "You" is referring to the disciples or "believers". He will convict the believers on righteousness because of the cross and He is with the Father being justified.

Joh 16:11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Thirdly, "concerning judgment", the Holy Spirit convict Satan that he is being judge.

Be Bless,

Jeremy Loo

 

[jesusfreak4lifenow]

the bible says some sear their conscience, harden it, desensitize it in other words. and some people like the pleasures of sin for its season, because many sins are pleasurable for a while. but the bible tells us the final results so we don't need to envy that. I'm sure after Judgment Day we'll understand all these things better.

 

[Psalms34]

I think most would agree that in order to have faith in Christ, one must first be convicted of sin. Convinced that he/she has committed a transgression of the Law that He has given us to live by. So my question is this - why doesn't the Holy Spirit convict everybody of their sin? Or, does he in fact convict everybody, but only some are willing to listen? Your thoughts....

I agree, it's because we are all sinners to begin with, and it is what separates us from God. So to have faith we must break through that denial of being sinners, and thus repent and be granted even a mustard seed of faith.

Why not all? Some have a conscious seared by the hot iron. While others are just tough hearted, so takes a lot of work to get to that point. Then there are those that hear the message over and over, don't respond to the pulling of the Holy Spirit, thus become hard in the heart over time.

However, I'd be careful with wielding the word "law", only the Jews were bound by the law of Moses, not the gentiles. But they have what is right and wrong ingrained into them, into their conscious, such as the things that are also written in the ten commandments, well at least nine of them excluding the Sabbath since that is about Mosaic law. But then in a sense, they give no time for God, so that is a supplement to that at least.

 

[Svt4Him]

He does, that is why we are without excuse. When we sin, we violate our conscience, and our conscience is the knowledge we've done something we shouldn't. If we do it long enough, we don't worry anymore.

And the law is perfect to convert the soul, so I'd wield it more. We can't know what we're saved from if we don't know we're sick. And the sabbath law is for man, whether jew or gentile.

 

[iamjcs]

why doesn't the Holy Spirit convict everybody of their sin? Or, does he in fact convict everybody, but only some are willing to listen?

1st of all, God created each & every human with a conscience that will prod the person if they've done wrong or are thinking of doing wrong.

The Holy Spirit points the way (for Christians & unbelievers), but
the people must pay attention to Him to see it.

I know the Holy Spirit Himself convicts Christians & all tuned to His frequency, but not sure beyond that if just conscience.
-

 

[IamRedeemed]

Joh 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
Joh 16:9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
Joh 16:10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;
Joh 16:11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

In John 16, our Lord Jesus showed us the purpose of the Holy Spirit when He comes.

In this passage, we have to look into context who the Lord is speaking to. He was speaking to His disciples.

The Holy Spirit convicts 3 issues. 1. Sin, 2. Righteousness and 3. Judgment.

Joh 16:9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;

Firstly, "concerning sin", because "they"...the Lord use the word "they"..."they" are the world. He never use "you" or "you all". The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin.

Joh 16:10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;

Secondly, "concerning righteousness", He used "you". "You" is referring to the disciples or "believers". He will convict the believers on righteousness because of the cross and He is with the Father being justified.

Joh 16:11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Thirdly, "concerning judgment", the Holy Spirit convict Satan that he is being judge.

Be Bless,

Jeremy Loo

 

[IamRedeemed]

Yes, as it is written in Romans 2:14-15

"Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.
They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right."

He does, that is why we are without excuse. When we sin, we violate our conscience, and our conscience is the knowledge we've done something we shouldn't. If we do it long enough, we don't worry anymore.

And the law is perfect to convert the soul, so I'd wield it more. We can't know what we're saved from if we don't know we're sick. And the sabbath law is for man, whether jew or gentile.

 

[IisJustMe]

I think most would agree that in order to have faith in Christ, one must first be convicted of sin. Convinced that he/she has committed a transgression of the Law that He has given us to live by. So my question is this - why doesn't the Holy Spirit convict everybody of their sin? Or, does he in fact convict everybody, but only some are willing to listen? Your thoughts....

The level of conviction and the ensuing response is as varied as is humanity. Some feel no conviction whatsoever. Some have a tug at their conscience but choose to ignore it. Still others think maybe they ought to do something about their lives but don't, for various reasons. Many walk around in guilt and shame yet continue in their sin. And lots of people respond to the call of God through the Holy Spirit and give their lives over to Christ. There are even varying reactions within that set of saved people -- from occasional unintentional sin to those who struggle with strongholds and those who are what many mistakenly call "carnal Christians" who in reality are true believers who have never let themselves be transformed to be conformed to the image of God.

What I'm saying is, there is no good single answer. I believe the Holy Spirit calls to everyone, but not all respond in the way God desires them to respond.

 

[InHisLovingArms]

To me, full conviction by the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ is the point of salvation. To where we're revealed exactly who He is and who we're not....God. At that point, there's no other way than to believe He is the Christ as in Matthew 16:15-17

Matthew 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

and furthermore...
Luke 10:22 "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."

Amen,thank You Jesus!