Conviction of Sin
As we grow in God's grace, HE will teach us how to change. He will bring us conviction of sins we never knew we had. We may have something in our lives that we never thought of as sin, but as we walk with the Lord, and let His Holy Spirit fill us, we will come to know these things. These things are "conviction".
1. How anxious is God to deliver man from the consequences of transgression?
“Lo, all these things works God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit.” Job
33:29,30.
2. What appeal, therefore, does He make to the sinner?
“Thus said the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.” Haggai 1:7.
“Have you ever been able to trace the conversion of anyone directly to a single sentence you uttered?” a ministerial friend once asked C. H. Spurgeon. “Never,” he answered, `so far as 1 can remember, to any special sentence of my own; but often to a verse from the Word of God. In my experience that has always been the arrow of conviction.” - Quoted in “The Life of Faith.”
3. What part has the Spirit of God in convincing men of sin?
“And when He [the Spirit] is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness,’ and of judgment.” John 16: 8.
4. For what response does He look?
“I will be sorry for my sin.” Psalm 38:18.
C. F. Andrews describing his conversion in boyhood days says: “Then without warning the strong conviction of sin and impurity came upon me with such overpowering strength that every shred of false conviction was torn aside and I knew myself as I really was.”
5. In what way does godly sorrow differ from that of the world?
“For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to he repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10.
6. How does God relate Himself to those who truly sorrow for sin?
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18.
7. What will godly sorrow further evoke from the sinner?
“I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my
transgressions unto the Lord.” Psalm 32:5.
“Confession of sin should be free, particular, full, penitential, earnest, accompanied with heartfelt hatred to sin, supplication for mercy, forsaking sin, and an implicit faith in Christ for the forgiveness of the same.” - John Bute.
8. To whom else beside God should confession be made?
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed.” James 5:16.
“A revival of religion may be expected when Christians begin to confess their sins to one another. When there comes an ingenuous breaking down, and a pouring out of the heart in-confession of sin, the flood-gates will soon burst open, and salvation will flow over the place.” - Dr. Finney.
9. How specific should be the sinner’s confession?
“And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing.” Leviticus 5:5
.
10. By what will true confession be accompanied?
a. Restoration where possible.
“Then it shall be, because he has sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he has deceitfully gotten.” Leviticus 6:4.
b. Forsaking of evil.
“He that covered his sins shall not prosper: but who so confesses and forsakes
them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13.
11. What is God willing to do for those who truly confess and forsake their sins and invoke the Savior?
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9.
12. How foolish are those who, in spite of all the efforts of God, remain not convicted of sin?
“If a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceived himself.” Galatians 6:3.
13. What do those who fail to heed the Lord’s appeal despise?
“He that refused instruction despised his own soul.” Proverbs 15:32.
14. Whit fate do they invite upon themselves?
“He, that being often reproved hardened his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Proverbs 29: 1.
15. What admonition, therefore, should we earnestly heed?
“See that you refuse not Him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spike on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from heaven.” Hebrews 12:25.
16. Because we know not when our probation may close, how urgent is the gospel call?
“Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” (“Today is the day of loving
welcome.” Weymouth’s translation.) Hebrews 4: 7.
Hand over to Him all your sins and all your sorrows. He takes away the sin of the world. Do not wait till your sins have accumulated into a cloud or a mountain. Do not tarry till the time has come for evening prayer. Do not delay till you are alone. But as swiftly as you are conscious of any burden, pass it on to Jesus.... So soon as you give, He takes; and what He takes He also undertakes; and will see it made right for you, to your rejoicing and to His glory.
1. How anxious is God to deliver man from the consequences of transgression?
“Lo, all these things works God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit.” Job
33:29,30.
2. What appeal, therefore, does He make to the sinner?
“Thus said the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.” Haggai 1:7.
“Have you ever been able to trace the conversion of anyone directly to a single sentence you uttered?” a ministerial friend once asked C. H. Spurgeon. “Never,” he answered, `so far as 1 can remember, to any special sentence of my own; but often to a verse from the Word of God. In my experience that has always been the arrow of conviction.” - Quoted in “The Life of Faith.”
3. What part has the Spirit of God in convincing men of sin?
“And when He [the Spirit] is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness,’ and of judgment.” John 16: 8.
4. For what response does He look?
“I will be sorry for my sin.” Psalm 38:18.
C. F. Andrews describing his conversion in boyhood days says: “Then without warning the strong conviction of sin and impurity came upon me with such overpowering strength that every shred of false conviction was torn aside and I knew myself as I really was.”
5. In what way does godly sorrow differ from that of the world?
“For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to he repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10.
6. How does God relate Himself to those who truly sorrow for sin?
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18.
7. What will godly sorrow further evoke from the sinner?
“I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my
transgressions unto the Lord.” Psalm 32:5.
“Confession of sin should be free, particular, full, penitential, earnest, accompanied with heartfelt hatred to sin, supplication for mercy, forsaking sin, and an implicit faith in Christ for the forgiveness of the same.” - John Bute.
8. To whom else beside God should confession be made?
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed.” James 5:16.
“A revival of religion may be expected when Christians begin to confess their sins to one another. When there comes an ingenuous breaking down, and a pouring out of the heart in-confession of sin, the flood-gates will soon burst open, and salvation will flow over the place.” - Dr. Finney.
9. How specific should be the sinner’s confession?
“And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing.” Leviticus 5:5
.
10. By what will true confession be accompanied?
a. Restoration where possible.
“Then it shall be, because he has sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he has deceitfully gotten.” Leviticus 6:4.
b. Forsaking of evil.
“He that covered his sins shall not prosper: but who so confesses and forsakes
them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13.
11. What is God willing to do for those who truly confess and forsake their sins and invoke the Savior?
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9.
12. How foolish are those who, in spite of all the efforts of God, remain not convicted of sin?
“If a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceived himself.” Galatians 6:3.
13. What do those who fail to heed the Lord’s appeal despise?
“He that refused instruction despised his own soul.” Proverbs 15:32.
14. Whit fate do they invite upon themselves?
“He, that being often reproved hardened his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Proverbs 29: 1.
15. What admonition, therefore, should we earnestly heed?
“See that you refuse not Him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spike on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from heaven.” Hebrews 12:25.
16. Because we know not when our probation may close, how urgent is the gospel call?
“Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” (“Today is the day of loving
welcome.” Weymouth’s translation.) Hebrews 4: 7.
Hand over to Him all your sins and all your sorrows. He takes away the sin of the world. Do not wait till your sins have accumulated into a cloud or a mountain. Do not tarry till the time has come for evening prayer. Do not delay till you are alone. But as swiftly as you are conscious of any burden, pass it on to Jesus.... So soon as you give, He takes; and what He takes He also undertakes; and will see it made right for you, to your rejoicing and to His glory.
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Sunday, June 05, 2005
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