THE WORK OF CONVICTION
When he comes, he wll convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:
John 16:8 (CSB)
Conviction is a critical work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works through conviction in both the believer and the unbeliever. The Holy Spirit convicts the believer when sin is present. The Holy Spirit works in the unbeliever's life by revealing their condition of sin. The work of conviction is tied to the Spirit’s work of illumination and inspiration as the Spirit reveals the righteous metric of the Lord.
THE RIGHTEOUS METRIC
The righteous metric refers to the measurement of righteousness that reveals the ways, will, and expectations of the Lord. When we engage with truth and listen to the movement of the Spirit in our lives, we face the righteous metric of the Lord. It serves as a metric because it provides a means of measuring our lives against the Lord's expectations. The metric is deemed righteous because it originates from the Lord, who is perfect in righteousness and defines it. We must recognize that when the righteous metric is applied, we become aware of our waywardness and sin.
CONVICTION AND INSPIRATION
The Holy Spirit inspired the authors who penned the Word of God. The act of inspiration is linked to conviction because the Word of God presents the truth of the Lord and declares how followers of Christ must live. As the Spirit inspired authors to instruct believers in their waywardness, their call to guard themselves spiritually, and the manner of living, the framework is set by which conviction occurs. Inspiration empowers conviction because it enabled the giving and communicating of the revealed Word of God.
CONVICTION AND ILLUMINATION
The Holy Spirit illuminates the truth in one’s life and allows individuals to understand and see what was previously hidden. When discussing illumination, we often refer to how the Holy Spirit reveals the truth of God’s Word that we did not understand before. However, the Spirit also sheds light on the reality of our lives. He brings the light of truth into the areas of our lives where darkness prevails, helping us recognize our true state. This illumination encourages a response of seeking forgiveness in the believer and prompts a moment of decision for the unbeliever.
When we consider the work of conviction by the Holy Spirit, we must understand that it does not stand alone; rather, it is part of the overall work of the Holy Spirit, linked to His other works of inspiration and illumination. The conviction from the Holy Spirit is not meant to cause defeat; instead, it is a tool to bring us into victory.
QUESTIONS
How does inspiration and illumination combine with the concept of a righteous metric when considering how the Holy Spirit convicts?
How would you define conviction as beneficial to the life of the believer and the unbeliever?
