Using Scripture to Navigate the Grey Areas Part 2 - Convictions, Standards, & Conscience
The work of the Holy Spirit The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer cannot be over-stated. Guard against a culture moving more toward New Age thinking and pantheism. The Holy Spirit is not the god within us which we possess via our own natures, nor is he some amorphous feeling or active force. We often blame the Holy Spirit for our own decisions.
John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:25-26 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (see also vs. 16)
John 16:7-15 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Romans 8:9-11 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
I Corinthians 2:10-16 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
II Cor 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
1. Our positive responses to the Holy Spirit: He quickens us (makes alive) He is our teacher He is our guide to complete understanding He reveals Christ (truth) to us He convicts He seals us
2. Our negative response(s) to the Holy Spirit: We can lie to Him We can quench Him We can grieve Him We can resist Him We can dull our hearing of Him
What is a conviction? Conviction and convict comes from the word convince. A conviction is an idea/truth about which I have been convinced of its application to my life.
How do I get Convictions? Through the teaching of the Holy Spirit in my spirit and His cleansing of my conscience. God is the only valid source of morality; He is the only one who has the right to bind the conscience. I do not have the freedom to set my own convictions. If I violate a conviction the Holy Spirit has given me, He will convince me of sin, and I will have guilt in my conscience.
1. a commitment to Scripture as my authority 2. the consent to specific beliefs and truths based on that authority by the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit in me - When one is persuaded by the evidence it results in conviction. Once we see truth, we can t unsee it. 3. the courage to act in obedience on those convictions in faith
It is imperative that we be a willing participant in developing convictions through what the Bible calls a proving process rationally examining the evidence: Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. I Thes 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world:but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Phil 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
What is the Purpose of convictions? To conform me (inside and out) to the image of Christ I Thes 4:7-8 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ
Convictions acted upon can be a means for protecting our families. Convictions enable us to stand alone. Convictions enable us to successfully resist temptations from the world, the flesh and the devil and to avoid experiencing the reproofs of life caused by the consequences of disobedience. A consistent godly example can serve as a great encouragement to the people of God.
Necessity of Biblical convictions Doctrine (applied) always leads to moral behavior. What is the opposite of having a conviction? The Law of Spiritual Deterioration - Failure to yield to the Spirit s conviction leads to a turn in the opposite direction. Polluted thinking leads to polluted living.
Convictions vs Standards A conviction is developed (from within) a standard is taught A conviction cannot be commanded in others A conviction is owned and applied, a standard is learned Both are necessary
Am I yielding to the convictions the Holy Spirit is reveling to me? Have my convictions changed as I have matured spiritually? If I wish to know the truth, I must be willing to obey it (John 17:7) If we fail to obey what we know to be true, we can t grow spiritually. If we fail to obey an enlightened conscience, we can make a ship wreck of our faith (1 Tim. 1:19)