Conviction Of Sin - Being Convinced of Righteousness And A Transformed Life

BEING CONVICTED OF SIN, CONVINCED OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRANSFORMED

The ministry of God by his Word and Holy Spirit in a persons life will lead to a deep, impactful and transformative conviction (an awareness or a realization) of their sin and to a totally God changed life.

In our world today such thought...the thought of being so convicted of sin and being dramatically transformed by God are foreign...and sadly to say...this belief is even held and evidenced in many of our churches in America today.

When a person is truly convicted of their sin and wickedness by God and the Holy Spirit their thoughts or concerns are not about themselves or their comforts or happiness...that they think or feel sadness for...nor it is not about their getting right with God so that they might feel happy and blessed only...

No when the true, deep and lasting convicting work of God through the power of the Holy Spirit comes into a person's life their thoughts are about how their sin has affected a Holy God and others. That person is made aware that their sin is an affront and offense to a Holy and Righteous God and the only way to make things truly right with God is by accepting the gracious gift of Salvation by Jesus Christ through faith (Ephesians 2:8) and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit and by being changed (transformed)...being "born again" (John 3:3)...being convicted of sin and convinced of righteousness in such a way as there is a true, lasting and permanent change.

And this person's thoughts or concerns are not about themselves and the discomfort or pain that they feel for their sin but rather their thoughts and deepest concerns are about a Holy God and about the people they have sinned against and it drives them to their knees before God and to repentance...to a change in their mind and life (at the very core of their being) leading to such a change that they are now a totally "new" person and no longer the person they once were. (II Corinthians  5:17)

There is no lightness of heart or frivolity at this point in time in their life but rather there comes upon this person that God is dealing with such a measure of sobriety, sorrow, mourning and depth of pain and conviction that sometimes they wonder if they can handle the load of the sorrow and pain they are feeling.

It is at that point in time they have come to the conclusion and are fully persuaded that sin is such a hateful and despicable thing that it is inconceivable to them that they could ever sin against God or another person again. And the coming to this conclusion causes them godly sorrow and possibly a moving of themselves to tears...an evidence of their being dealt with by God, of their conviction of sin, being convinced of righteousness and of their salvation. 

With such conviction will most likely come this emotional reaction; however, an emotional reaction alone is not sufficient enough as to indicate a person's true conviction of sin; being convinced of a need for righteousness or personal righteousness and conversion. No...with their tears will be evidenced a transformed life...a life that has passed from the old to the new...again let it be stated "old things have passed away and behold all things have become new." (II Corinthians 5:17). Anything less should be viewed with suspicion and caution by ministers and members of the Body of Christ as anything less may just be evidence of the mere stirring of the person's emotions without the results of a deep, transformative and permanent spiritual conversion and change of heart and life. May God help us and give us wisdom to know the difference. And J. C. Ryle, (Anglican Bishop wrote, " Let us beware of a repentance without evidence." Amen and Amen! The quote is taken from the book 1001 Unforgettable Quotes About God, Faith & The Bible by Ron Rhodes. Harvest House Publishers  is the publisher. To order a copy of the book click on the link 1001 Unforgettable Quotes About God, Faith, and the Bible

Ministry Resource: Center for Reformed Apologetics and Theology

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Live gloriously! Live victoriously today!

Just a Pilgrim, 

Harold
Philippians 1:21
Email: haroldcameron56@gmail.com

Comments

[Juicy Couture Handbags]

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[A Facebook User]

Hi,
I thought I might offer this message for your consideration.

Christians are righteous and NOT sinners.
Consider 1Peter 4:18 “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear”.
Clearly there are 2 different groups described here.
Group 1: Righteous (and saved).
Group 2: Ungodly/Sinner (unsaved).
Either we are righteous (in Christ) OR we are sinners. We CAN"T be both.

Unfortunately most Christians misunderstand "sin" because they follow man's vague/ambiguous definitions of sin. But God gives us definitions of sin and they are the ONLY ones to use to understand His word.

God’s definitions of sin are basically covered by the following examples:

1: Mark3:29 Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. This sin will not be forgiven. Christians do not commit this sin.

2: John16:9 Unbelief in Jesus. This is the sin the world is convicted of. Christians do not commit this sin either.

3: 1John 5:17 “all unrighteousness is sin”. Christians are righteous in Christ so here we do not sin.

4: 1John 3:4 “Sin is transgression of the law”. This is breaking the 10 commandments resulting in a death penalty for transgression.
Christians cannot be accused of sin here as we are not under the law of sin and death. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus SETS FREE from the law of sin and death, (Romans 8:2).

Regarding the law of sin and death it should be noted that:
“whatever the law says it says to those who are UNDER IT” (Romans 3:19,20).
“the law was NOT MADE for a righteous person (Christians), but for…the ungodly and for sinners” (1Tim 1:9).
“where there is NO LAW there is NO TRANSGRESSION (SIN)” (Rom4:15).

We know sin was dealt with once and for all on the cross.
And “Our old man is crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be destroyed” Romans 6:6.
Hence we see in 1Peter 4:1 “Therefore, since Christ suffered (crucified) for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind (our old man crucified with him. Romans 6:6), for he who has suffered in the flesh (Romans 6:6) has CEASED from sin,”.

Of course we still see Christians doing wrong (erroneously referred to as sin under man’s ambiguous definitions), but as sons of God we are chastised for our wrong.

Romans 6:2 asks “HOW shall we that are dead to sin, live in it any longer?”.
1John 3:9 answers this question. “Whoever has been born of God DOES NOT SIN, for His seed remains in him; and he CANNOT sin, because he has been born of God”.

Truly Jesus set us FREE from sin (John 8:36).

Blessings

Harold

[Harold Cameron]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me in regards to the matter of Christians being "sinners." I do know that we are reighteous because of the finished work of Christ on the cross and that is how God sees us; however, I have always believed though "righteous in and because of Christ" we can and do still sin as Christians thus leaving us as "saved" sinners. I will give your comments some serious and prayerful study of God's Word and see what the Word of God states. Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts with me and my readers.