Perry Mason, Matlock, LA Law, Boston Legal, The Practice, Law and Order and various other television shows have enjoyed varying degrees of success focusing on the law and legal matters. Often times you have one of two scenarios playing out. You have the innocent person who looks guilty or the guilty person who appears to get off for their crime. In either case, you will have lawyers on both sides doing their best to win the case. It can often make for some very gripping and entertaining television. The other day, I saw a fellow Christian ask, on a public forum, the following question:
"Does the Holy Spirit convict a believer of sin?"
Of course this has led to a back and forth over the answer to this question that has produced well over 100 replies at last count. All of the respondents are passionate about their beliefs with most falling into the category that affirms the belief that the Holy Spirit convicts of us sin. The best answer I have heard on the subject states that the Holy Spirit does not convict a believer of sin. The answer goes something like, "The Holy Spirit does not convict a believer of sin. The Holy Spirit leads a believer into the truth of who they are in Christ. If it convicts a believer of sin then there must be a resolution for that sin."
"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me..." John 16: 5-9
Think back to those legal shows for a moment. When I think of conviction, I think of a defendant trying to prove his or her innocence, but having convincing evidence of their guilt presented against them. This ultimately leads to a guilty verdict (i.e. a conviction). And then you have to render a punishment. No true believer in Christ will try and deny that they have sinned. Therefore, we don't need to be convicted of it. Rather, we recognize we have sinned and then turn to the Holy Spirit, or approach the throne of Grace, to find mercy in our time of need. It is there that we are instructed as to who we are in Christ and why we weren't trusting Him when we sinned. When a defendant is found guilty, there punishment lies ahead of them. As a Christian, the punishment for our sin has already been taken by Christ. God has already judged the world for its sin. The verdict was guilty. The penalty was death. Jesus Christ took that penalty on our behalf. There is nothing more for us to take. Therefore, we live in thankfulness the rest of our lives while we try and trust Him with our lives in the midst of our sins. The Holy Spirit, like a lawyer, is our Counselor. He instructs us in how we should live our lives as Christians. And that is in total dependence on Him. Unbelievers, on the other hand, need to be convicted of their sin, unbelief in Jesus Christ, so that they will turn to Him for salvation. Unbelief is the only sin that Jesus didn't die for on the cross.
"Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage." Jude 1:14-16
Rarely does an unbeliever do anything they believe to be wrong at the time they are doing it. Scripture says that people do what is right in their own eyes. If someone thinks what they are doing is wrong, chances are they won't do it. For many unbelievers, they don't share the concept that they are sinners in need of redemption. That is why they need to be "convicted" of their sin. Just before dying on the cross Jesus said, ""Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34)." At the time Jesus said these words, the Holy Spirit had not indwelt anybody. Therefore, nobody was being led by Him. Those crucifying Jesus thought what they were doing was right. Some, like the Jewish leadership that tried Him, even thought they were doing God's work. But, that is what is to be expected from those in the darkness. They are the ungodly and we should not be surprised that they act in such a manner. But, you should also see why the Holy Spirit needs to convict the world of their unbelief. They need to be convicted of their sinful condition of spiritual death and be made aware of God's only provision of forgiveness and spiritual life in Christ. Once a person has come to Christ by faith, they don't live from sin to sin and conviction to conviction. A Christian lives by faith in Jesus Christ to lead them into all truth through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
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