Does God convict people?

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

dev553344

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2020
14,519
17,183
113
USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
This is a serious question as I've heard people say "God convicted me" or "God convicted you so listen". So the question I have is does God do that? And what actually is someone experiencing during the conviction? I'm asking because I don't believe God has ever "convicted" me of anything.

Now I have had a harsh caution when I'm saying something mean. Like "you're doing evil" so then I stop and think.

Most of the messages from God have been full of the fruits of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

This is in the debate area for a reason.

Please let me know what denominations support the idea of "conviction".
 

Lambano

Well-Known Member
Jul 13, 2021
6,393
9,188
113
Island of Misfit Toys
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
"Conviction" is just a Christianese term that means, "I feel guilty; I realize I've done something wrong, and I think it is the Holy Spirit who's telling me this."

Whether it actually is the Holy Spirit doing the convicting, or "merely" the human conscience, I don't know; God knows.

I guess that's your question: Does the Holy Spirit tell you when you've screwed up? Denominationally, I can't think of any that would say the Holy Spirit DOESN'T work on our consciences. I'm trying some searching on the word "conscience" in Bible Gateway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dev553344

Scott Downey

Well-Known Member
Dec 19, 2021
4,852
2,893
113
64
New Brunswick
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Rebuke is a word to consider here.
re·buke
[rəˈbyo͞ok]

VERB
  1. express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions:
    "she had rebuked him for drinking too much" · "the judge publicly rebuked the jury"
    SIMILAR:
    reprimand
    reproach
    scold
    admonish
    reprove
    chastise

NOUN
  1. an expression of sharp disapproval or criticism:
    "he hadn't meant it as a rebuke, but Neil flinched"
Mark 16:14

The Great Commission​

Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

Luke 9:55
But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.

Then Luke 24, Jesus is also harshly speaking directed towards the disciples calling them foolish ones.

The Road to Emmaus​

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was [e]seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you [f]walk and are sad?”

18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

19 And He said to them, “What things?”

So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He [g]expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

The Disciples’ Eyes Opened​

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He [h]indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was [i]known to them in the breaking of bread.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dev553344

dev553344

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2020
14,519
17,183
113
USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Rebuke is a word to consider here.
re·buke
[rəˈbyo͞ok]

VERB
  1. express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions:
    "she had rebuked him for drinking too much" · "the judge publicly rebuked the jury"
    SIMILAR:
    reprimand
    reproach
    scold
    admonish
    reprove
    chastise

NOUN
  1. an expression of sharp disapproval or criticism:
    "he hadn't meant it as a rebuke, but Neil flinched"
Mark 16:14

The Great Commission​

Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

Luke 9:55
But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.

Then Luke 24, Jesus is also harshly speaking directed towards the disciples calling them foolish ones.

The Road to Emmaus​

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was [e]seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you [f]walk and are sad?”

18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

19 And He said to them, “What things?”

So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He [g]expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

The Disciples’ Eyes Opened​

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He [h]indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was [i]known to them in the breaking of bread.
Yes I think this is what I have experienced when I'm being mean talking to someone, I get a mixture of feelings from the spirit, like "stop,you're doing wickedness, I do not approve". Rebuked.
 

dev553344

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2020
14,519
17,183
113
USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
"Conviction" is just a Christianese term that means, "I feel guilty; I realize I've done something wrong, and I think it is the Holy Spirit who's telling me this."

Whether it actually is the Holy Spirit doing the convicting, or "merely" the human conscience, I don't know; God knows.

I guess that's your question: Does the Holy Spirit tell you when you've screwed up? Denominationally, I can't think of any that would say the Holy Spirit DOESN'T work on our consciences. I'm trying some searching on the word "conscience" in Bible Gateway.
Yes I see your point. I think perhaps I consider similarly. Sometimes I wonder how much conviction is done by the persons own conscious. And that seems to be a difficult place as one can consider something wrong that isn't. Or they can consider something right that is wrong.

I'm envisioning a new Christian hearing about conviction and making their conscious do the talking and really mess themselves up.