Conviction
John 16:7.15

THE MOST painful wound in the world is the stab of the conscience. Before men can be converted to Christ, they need conviction of sin in their hearts. At Pentecost those listening to Peter's sermon "were pricked in their heart" (Acts 2:37). When Peter preached before the council "they were cut to the heart" (Acts 5:33). At Pentecost three thousand did turn to the Lord, but after Stephen's sermon, recorded in Acts 7, "they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth" (v. 54). Preaching makes men glad or mad. When men are convicted they may turn to Christ or turn on the Christian.

"When he [the Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove [convict] the world of sin" (v. 8). Only one Person can convict of sin--the Holy Spirit. No amount of blasting or berating a sinner will convict. There must be a dependence on the Holy Spirit to do what He came to do, and God is faithful. You can be sure of that. He convicts "of sin, because they believe not on me" (v. 9). Christ is the issue. To win people to Christ, present Him clearly.

For men to be "cut to the heart" or "pricked," "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6: 17), must be wielded in witnessing. Never underestimate the power of the Word. Once Dwight L. Moody talked with a man about Christ. To each argument presented Mr. Moody simply quoted him John 3: 16. In disgust the man went away thinking bow ignorant Mr. Moody was. That night the man could not sleep but kept hearing this same verse run through his mind until he was convicted and received the Lord Jesus as his Saviour.

"We know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully" (I Tim. 1:8). The law was given "that every mouth may be stopped and ali the world may become guilty before God . . . for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:19, 20). "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Rom. 3:24). Using the Word of God as it should be used will convict the sinner and bring him to Christ. Some see so little conviction because they use arguments rather than the armament of the Word. Memorize the Word, then wield it with holy boldness.