Conviction
CONVICTION
In general, is the assurance of the truth of any proposition. In a religious sense, it is the first degree of repentance, and implies an affecting sense that we are guilty before God; that we can do nothing of ourselves to gain his forfeited favour; that we deserve and are exposed to the wrath of God; that sin is very odious and hateful, yea, the greatest of evils. There is a natural conviction which arises from natural conscience, fear of punishment, moral suasion, or alarming providences, but which is not of a permanent nature. Saving conviction is the work of the Spirit, as the cause; though the law, the conscience, the Gospel, or affliction, may be the means, Joh 16:8-9. Convictions of sin differ very much in their degree in different persons. It has been observed that those who suffer the most agonizing sensations are such as never before enjoyed the external call of the Gospel, or were not favoured with the tuition of religious parents, but have neglected or notoriously abused the means of grace.
To these, conviction is often sudden, and produces that horror and shame which are not soon overcome; whereas those who have sat under the Gospel from their infancy have not had such alarming convictions, because they have already some notion of these things, and have so much acquaintance with the Gospel as administers immediate comfort. As it is not, therefore, the constant method of the Spirit to convince in one way, it is improper for any to distress themselves because they are not, or have not been tormented almost to despair: they should be rather thankful that the Spirit of God has dealt tenderly with them, and opened to them the source of consolation. It is necessary however to observe, that, in order to repentance and conversion to God, there must be real and lasting conviction, which, though it may not be the same in degree, is the same in nature. Evangelical conviction differs from legal conviction thus: legal arises from a consideration of God’s justice, power, or omniscience; evangelical from God’s goodness and holiness, and from a disaffection to sin: legal conviction still conceits there is some remaining good; but evangelical is sensible there is no good at all: legal wishes freedom from pain; evangelical from sin: legal hardens the heart; evangelical softens it: legal is only temporary; evangelical lasting.
Fuente: Theological Dictionary
Conviction
The first stage of repentance, when a penitent is led to see the evil nature of sin, and has been proved, to himself, guilty of it. SEE REPENTANCE.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Conviction (2)
in general, is the assurance of the truth of any proposition. In a religious sense, it is the first degree of repentance, and implies an affecting sense that we are guilty before God; that we can do nothing -of ourselves to gain his forfeited favor; that we deserve and are. exposed to the wrath of God; that sin is very odious and hateful, yea, the greatest of evils.
There is a natural and just conviction which arises from natural conscience, fear of punishment, moral suasion, or alarming providences, but which, is not of a permanent nature. Saving conviction is a work of the Holy Spirit, as the cause; though the conscience, the law, the gospel, or affliction, may be the means (Joh 16:8-9).
Convictions of sin differ very much in their degree and pungency, in different persons. It has been observed that those who suffer the most agonizing sensations are such as never before enjoyed the external call of the gospel, or were favored with the tuition of religious parents, but have neglected or notoriously abused the means of grace. To these, conviction is often sudden, and produces that horror and shame which are not soon overcome; whereas those who have sat under the gospel from their infancy have not often such alarming convictions, because they have already some notion of these things, and have much acquaintance with the gospel, which administers to a believing heart immediate comfort. As it is not, therefore, the constant method of the Spirit to convince in one way, it is improper for any to distress themselves because they are not, or have not been, tormented almost to despair: they should be rather thankful that the Spirit of God has dealt tenderly with them, and opened to them the genuine source of consolation in Christ. It is necessary, however, to observe that, ill order to repentance and conversion to God, there must be real and lasting conviction, which, though it may not be the same in degree, is the same in nature.
Evangelical conviction differs from legal conviction thus legal arises from a consideration of the divine law, God’s justice, power, or omniscience; evangelical, from God’s goodness and holiness as seen in the cross of Christ, and from a disaffection to sin; legal conviction still conceives there is something remaining good; but evangelical is sensible there is no good at all; legal wishes freedom from pain; evangelical from sin; legal hardens the heart; evangelical softens it; legal is only temporary; evangelical lasting.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Conviction
Of sin
– General references
Gen 4:13; Deu 28:65-67; Job 40:4-5; Psa 31:10; Psa 38:1-22; Psa 51:1-4; Psa 51:7-17; Isa 6:5; Lam 1:20; Eze 7:16-18; Eze 7:25-26; Eze 33:10; Mic 7:17; Luk 5:8; Act 2:37; Act 9:6; Act 16:29-30; Rom 2:15; 1Co 14:24-25 Sin, Confession of
– Instances of:
b Adam and Eve, after their disobedience
Gen 3:8-10
b Joseph’s brethren, on account of their cruelty to Joseph
Gen 42:21-22; Gen 44:16; Gen 45:3; Gen 50:15-21
b Pharaoh:
b After the plague of hail
Exo 9:27-28
b After the plague of locusts
Exo 10:16-17
b After the death of the firstborn
Exo 12:31
b The Israelites:
b After being rebuked and punished for worshiping the golden calf
Exo 33:4
b After the death of the ten spies, and their being sentenced to wander forty years
Num 14:39-40
b After their murmuring against God and being bitten by fiery serpents
Num 21:7
b Saul, after sparing Agag and the best of the spoils
1Sa 15:24
b David:
b After the pestilence sent on account of his numbering the people
1Ch 21:30 Psalms, Penitential
b Widow of Zarephath, when her son died
1Ki 17:18
b Belshazzar, when he »saw the part of the hand that wrote«
Dan 5:6
b Darius, when Daniel was in the lions’ den
Dan 6:18
b Mariners:
b After casting Jonah into the sea
Jon 1:16
b At the preaching of Jonah
Jon 3:1-10; Mat 12:41; Luk 11:32
b Jonah, in the whale’s belly
Jon 2:1-10
b Herod, when he heard of the fame of Jesus
Mat 14:2; Mar 6:14; Luk 9:7
b Jews, when Jesus commanded the guiltless man to cast the first stone at the woman taken in adultery
Joh 8:9
b Judas, after his betrayal of Jesus
Mat 27:3-5
b Saul of Tarsus, when he saw Jesus on the way to Damascus
Act 9:6
b Felix, under the preaching of Paul
Act 24:25
b Philippian jailer, after the earthquake
Act 16:30 Wicked
From God
– General references
Job 33:14-30; Joh 6:44-45; Joh 16:7-11; Act 16:14 Penitent; Remorse; Repentance; Sin, Confession of
Unjust, of innocent persons
Accusation, False; Indictments
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Conviction
in general, is the assurance of the truth of any proposition. In a religious sense, it is the first degree of repentance, and implies an affecting sense of our guilt before God; and that we deserve and are exposed to his wrath.