This is part 2 of a 6-part series. View the entire series here.
“But now I am going away to the one who sent Me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. – John 16:5-8 NLT
What Is Conviction?
Conviction has several meanings depending on its context and use. Let’s briefly look at two of the most prevalent uses in culture. In a court of law, conviction is the formal declaration of one’s guilt in committing a crime. Use the same word when discussing your thoughts toward something, and conviction becomes a descriptor for a firmly held belief. But when you overlay their uses, you begin to see a crossover of sorts: conviction captures a sense of morality and justice.
In the context of our faith, conviction is the condition of feeling remorse for wrongdoings according to God’s law. It is seeing the gap between our moral code and God’s, admitting that we are on the losing side of God’s justice. Or more plainly put, conviction is admitting we’ve done something God has told us not to do or are not doing something God wants us to do. Conviction goes much deeper than just feeling bad. Beyond intellectual understanding of wrongdoing or the weight of emotional guilt, conviction is a spiritual experience that is part of the life of all followers of Jesus.
How Does God Convict Us?
Conviction does not and cannot occur in the life of any individual without divine help. In John 16, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will enter into the lives of the disciples and be their Helper. During this time together, Jesus explains what the Holy Spirit will do: He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness…(John 16:8).
The Spirit would come in Jesus’ absence and continue to show the world God’s standard of morality and justice. He would teach us about God’s righteousness and show where we’ve gone astray. Conviction may seem like a frightful part of our spiritual life. Who wants to be told where they’re messing up? But conviction––true Holy Spirit conviction––is an act of love. A nudge that steers us back toward the heart of God when we’ve found ourselves wandering astray.
How do we know when the Spirit is convicting us? It doesn’t always come in a sudden wave of realization, but rather in slow increments as we learn more about God and His desires for holy living. In the same passage of Scripture, Jesus tells the disciples that the Spirit would guide them into all truth. As truth becomes more clear and central in our lives, the Spirit will pair that with moments of awakening––realizations that we need to turn from sin. This is conviction.
How Does Conviction Differ from Condemnation?
If you’ve ever had a moment when you feel awful about something you’ve done, you’ll likely be familiar with the proverbial fork in the road: deciding to move forward with an attitude of growth, or getting stuck, trapped in your own guilt and shame. The choice is yours to make. And if you’re like most people, it’s probably not the most glamorous choice. But usually it feels like the easier one (or perhaps the one we deserve).
By bringing ourselves down into the pit of guilt, we subconsciously seek to punish ourselves––forcing ourselves to feel the weight of what we’ve done in hopes that we’ll never do it again.
We might think these are both a result of conviction that leads us to change and make better choices. But when we remember the role of the Spirit—to draw hearts closer to Jesus—there is no margin for error when it comes to discerning conviction. Conviction leads us forward. It is a call to submit to the work of the Spirit of God who is transforming us at all times into the image of Jesus. When we face feelings of guilt and shame, we must identify them for what they truly are: a result of condemnation. These feelings may be enough to spur us into fear of making mistakes, but they will never give us the tools we need to start living for God with confidence and joy.
Condemnation says, I am bad and will always be bad––it’s best to stay in the dark.
Conviction says, What I did was bad but I can do better by God’s grace––it’s time to step into the light.
What Should We Do When We’re Convicted?
It is a painfully beautiful moment when we feel conviction. The sudden epiphany of our shortcomings may try to grip our hearts with fear. But inviting the Spirit into that moment turns the tides for the glory of God. Because what was once a moment of failure now has the potential to be a radical demonstration of God’s immense power to redeem.
When you find yourself facing conviction, turn to God’s truth and allow it to light your path forward (Psalm 119:105). Pray without ceasing that the One who started a good work in you will be faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6). Repent––turn away from your sins––and turn toward Christ. Receive both His forgiveness and heed His call to go and sin no more (John 5:14; 8:11).
Conviction isn’t bad. It shouldn’t be a source of worry or anxiety. Conviction is a sign that God loves you enough to lead you into His presence. Learn to embrace conviction. Pray that it would be a source of comfort, evidence that the Spirit of God is with you and will never leave you.
