Conviction of sin

This is my third and final installment of this series on
sin. I hope it has help you in your
relationship with God.

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am
going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go,
I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in
regard to sin and righteousness and judgment…” (John 16:7-8)

Conviction can be a powerful thing in the life of a
Christian. The Lord himself purchased us
with His blood (Acts 20:28), and we are no longer our own. We belong to the Holy One of Israel. Since we are no longer our own and since we
belong to God, He has taken up residence in us. As Jesus said in John 14:23, “If
anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will
come to him and make our home with him.” God lives in us.

Even as Christians, we sometimes sin. Such acts of rebellion against God brings about
a sense of conviction in our hearts where the Holy Spirit prods our hearts, sometimes
gently, sometimes with strength, and brings us to the place of confession and
repentance. This sometimes distressing
conviction of the Holy Spirit is a wonderful thing, no matter how unpleasant it
is at the time. But that is the nature of many good things; they are
sometimes better when gained through distress.

God loves us enough not to leave us alone. He has our best interest at heart. He does not want us to participate in the
things that sadden Him and bring harm to us. This is why Jesus said that He would not leave
us alone, but that He would send the Comforter who would help us and guide us.
(John 14:26) This Comforter is the one
who gives us the promise of our salvation so that we might know we possess
eternal life. (1 John 5:13) He also anoints us and teaches us. (1 John
2:19) And, He constantly and lovingly convicts us of our sins. Why
does he do this? Again, to bring us to
confession and repentance.

How is your relationship with God? Is it such that even your minor sins brings an
uncomfortable awareness of guilt? Do
your sins result in conviction in your soul? If you do not experience this, then you are
either not saved or you are in need of repentance. Or, perhaps you are so dedicated in your walk
with the Lord that you rarely sin. Perhaps,
it is possible. But in my life, I have
yet to arrive at such a place. In my
life the Holy Spirit is active in a wide variety of ways. Conviction is
simply one of them by which He ministers holiness to me, and for that I’m
thankful.