The Conviction Of
Sin
John 16:9
Salvation does not come by anything the
natural man can do. A person cannot be saved by repeating a prayer,by walking a church aisle, by making a decision, or by
being baptized and joining the church. Salvation comes to helpless, dead
sinners only by the mighty, effectual operations of God the Holy Spirit.
Salvation is the result of Holy Spirit conviction. Our Lord Jesus declares that
when the Spirit of God comes in saving grace to a sinner he will convince that
person "of sin, because they believe not on me." Martin Luther wrote,
"The recognition of sin is the beginning of salvation." But that
recognition of sin is much more than just the recognition that you have
committed a sin, or a number of sins. It is a recognition
of your nature, your inward corruption and depravity. When the Spirit of God
convicts a person of his sin the convicted sinner is graciously forced to see
and acknowledge his guilt before the holy God (Psa. 51:3-5). And he sees that
he is utterly without ability to change his nature.
I know that the whole world has sinned and
is guilty before God. But the Lord God has graciously shown me that I am
guilty, deserving of his wrath, and without excuse before him. The evidence is
all in. It is irrefutable. I am convinced. I am guilty. From the depths of my
filthy soul I cry, "God be merciful to me, the sinner!" This
conviction is contrary to nature. It is the work of God the Holy Spirit.
The specific issue of conviction is
unbelief. All men know by nature that such things as robbery,adultery
and murder are sin.But it is a supernatural work of God the Holy Spirit that
convinces us that unbelief is sin. Indeed, unbelief is the greatest of all
sins, and the most damning. Unbelief is the heart of man declaring that God is
a liar (I John
Don Fortner