CONVICTION

Jesus told his followers just before His passion and return to heaven, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (the Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the (heavenly) Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” John 16:7-11

Pastor Bruce in his sermon on Sunday said, “Nobody gets saved unless they first get convicted!” Think about that… Unless we get judged in our own hearts as guilty, convicted of being sinners, missing the mark or standard of God’s righteousness; and knowing that we know that we aren’t right before God, then we won’t be ready to accept God’s pardon, Jesus’ grace, or unmerited favor in his atoning sacrifice, to be born again to new life.

Are you born again of the Spirit of God through the grace of Jesus Christ? Are you in His family now following Him? Were you convicted of your sin? Are you now a saint, because you are an Ex convict, that is, convicted of your sin, judged with the penalty paid once and for all by Christ?

If we are His, the Holy Spirit keeps on convicting us daily so that we may crucify our flesh, or natural man, and put on Jesus’ character and life. Paul says, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

If you are a Christian, it means you’ve first been convicted!