Convinced and Convicted
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1. Introduction 2. To Convince 3. To Convict 4. Signs of True Conviction 5. The Power of Conviction 6. Conclusion |
Introduction
Zahakiel: Well, let’s begin, then. Luke, will you offer our opening prayer?
Qinael: Our most holy and
gracious Father,
We thank you for the blessing
of this New Moon day. We thank you for
this special time you have set aside for the sanctification of your people, for
their gathering and communing with one another and with You.
We ask for the blessing of your Spirit among those present, giving thanks in the knowledge that it has been already granted to us in the name of your Son. In the name of Yahshua we pray, amen.
Naraiel: Amen.
Ye: Amen.
Kimberly: Amen.
Guerline: Amen.
Happy Rock: Amen.
Rita: Amen.
Barb: Amen.
Zahakiel: In today’s study we are going to look at the difference between two very similar-sounding terms. In fact they are used interchangeably in some contexts; yet, as we will discover, understanding the difference between these two words will mean the difference between eternal life and eternal damnation for those who hear the Gospel message.
The two terms we are going to study are “convinced” and “convicted.” Now, it is important to understand that the Bible itself generally uses the same word in Greek (elegcho) for both these terms, so what we will actually be studying is the contextual meaning of these ideas. The translators, understanding that there seemed to be a difference in intent and intensity, gave the word, which is usually translated as “reprove” or “convince,” the interpretation “convicted” in this verse: “And they which heard [the words of Christ], being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last; and Yahshua was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” (John 8:9)
From the concordance, we find the most common definition of this term to be: “to convict, refute, confute,” also “to find fault with, correct.”
Contextually, what we find is this: the word elegcho is translated as “convince,” “reprove,” “rebuke” and so on when there is an external source of correction, but as “convict” when the understanding comes from within. Now again, we cannot build firm doctrine merely on the choice of a translator’s words, but at the same time, there IS a difference in our English language between merely being convinced of something and being convicted of it, and we can find support for the conceptual difference in the Word of Yahweh.
Zahakiel: Are there any questions about today’s topic?
Rita: None.
Qinael: No.
Naraiel: No.
Happy Rock: No.
Ye: No.
Guerline: No.
Barb: No.
To Convince
Zahakiel: Yahshua asked the critics of His message, “Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?” (John 8:46) In other words, “which of you can show me where I am making a mistake?” Since none were able to do this, it was made apparent to onlookers that those who heard His doctrine and did not accept it were not being resistant for any logical reason, but because it was contrary to their desires.
Again we read, “[Apollos] mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the Scriptures that Yahshua was the Messiah.” (Acts 18:28) Paul educates one of his students in the practice of Church-building, explaining that a bishop or elder must intimately know and understand the faith, “that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” (Titus 1:9)
Note the common threads: when there is convincing going on there is an external source of understanding, there is an agreed-upon standard of truth being employed in order to do the convincing, and there is no guarantee that the hearers will act upon the information being provided.
In the first case, Yahshua is asking the religious experts (an external source) if they can indicate to Him any mistakes He is making in the doctrine (a common basis of truth). Even if they were to show Him something they believed to be an error, however, there would even then be no compulsion for Yahshua to submit to their understanding. We believe this as an absolute truth, because He was the very author of the doctrines’ traditional bases, but even the Sadducees and Pharisees had enough experience with Him at that point to know better.
Zahakiel: We read, for example, of one of the first meetings between the Savior and those placed in charge of the House of Jacob: “And it came to pass, that after three days [Joseph and Mary] found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.” (Luke 2:46, 47)
Even at a very young age the Son of Yah had made quite an impression on the doctors of Moses’ Law; He would have made quite a student of the religious hierarchy if He had indeed come to be a student. Instead, because Yahshua had come to be a guide, a “light to them that sit in darkness,” (Luke 1:79) and because this light revealed and reproved the deeds of unrighteousness in those around Him, conflict was sure to follow.
To a lesser degree, it was much the same with Apollos. He was an external source of knowledge, showing the Hebrews that Yahshua was indeed the fulfillment of the Messianic promise by means of the Scriptures (an agreed-upon doctrinal basis). Yet it is certain that not all who heard him became Christians, or Paul would have had little work to do in the same city a short time later. (Acts 19:8) Many, no doubt, were intellectually favorable to the idea of Yahshua as the Messiah, but then the questions would come, such as, “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on Him?” (John 7:48)
Titus was informed that a bishop’s purpose was to convince the erring of their faults from the Scriptures, but they were never to employ force in order to secure obedience. It is not the place of the evangelist to make a man a convert in the strictest sense, only to provide the convincing, the means by which the heart may be touched (i.e., convicted) and the soul enlightened.
Naraiel: The Holy Spirit and the Word of God are the only means that can convict someone
Zahakiel: Right. And actually, what we are discussing here is that the Word by itself can only convince. You’ll see the distinction more plainly as we continue.
Ellen White indicated much the same when writing of the purpose of Adventist Colleges, although the principle has a very broad application. Giselle and I have been reading through Testimonies to The Church Volume 5 before the next camp meeting, and we came upon this passage today that is exactly in line with one of the study’s major points. We read, “It may seem that the teaching of God’s word has but little effect on the minds and hearts of many students; but, if the teacher’s work has been wrought in God, some lessons of divine truth will linger in the memory of the most careless. The Holy Spirit will water the seed sown, and often it will spring up after many days and bear fruit to the glory of God.” [5T, p. 26]
We see that it is the work of the messenger to provide the information, to make it available, but true conviction that leads to a change of life must come from the work of the Holy Spirit acting within upon the seed that is sown. Both those elements must be present.
Does everyone understand all this?
Rita: Yes.
Happy Rock: Yes.
Ye: Yes.
Guerline: Yes.
Naraiel: So no one can be convicted of something if they don’t first hear the convincing statements. The Word of Yah is provided to those who don’t know anything so the Holy Spirit can convict them, right?
Zahakiel: That is the process.
Naraiel: Ok.
Zahakiel: Yahshua taught this relevant parable, which we have all studied before, and with which we should all be very well familiar: “Hearken; behold, there went out a sower to sow. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.” (Mark 4:3-8)
Say when you have read that.
Rita: When.
Barb: Finished.
Pastor “Chick”: Finished.
Crystle: Finished.
Naraiel: Finished.
Guerline: Done.
Happy Rock: Finished.
Ye: Done.
Kimberly: Done.
Zahakiel: In the interpretation of the teaching, given a few verses later, Yahshua begins by saying, “The sower soweth the Word.” (Mark 4:14) But now, to whom is the Word available? We are told, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Mat 22:14)
Of course the absolute predestination camp will take that verse and say, “See, those who will be saved are those who are ‘chosen,’ not those who ‘choose.’” In a sense that is true, because salvation is initiated by Yahweh, yet this undeserved love is that very grace that “hath appeared to all men.” (Titus 2:11) The grace that those who reject free will emphasize so much is not the choosing, but the calling. Peter tells us “make your calling and election sure.” (2Pet 1:10) The election provided to us is the hearing of the Word, for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom 10:17)
Of course, and again, not everyone who merely hears the Word develops faith. As we see in the Sower’s Parable, some of the seeds are immediately snatched away by the unclean and hateful birds. These are they who do not even allow the Word to “sink in” and reach their minds. They are not even convinced; they dismiss the Gospel immediately, and thus have no protection from the dark wings and cruel mouths of the enemies of souls.
But the next two types of seeds represent those of whom we have been particularly speaking. These are they who have been convinced of the truth of the Gospel, and decide to act on it to some degree.
The second type begins indeed to grow, to manifest evidence of the truth working in the life, but this kind “had not much earth,” and although it began to work quickly (one might even say fanatically, as if compensating for a lack of faith by zealous actions) it could not survive the Refiner’s fire. We read, “‘Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow,’ saith Yahweh of Hosts; ‘smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land,’ saith Yahweh, ‘two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say, “It is my people,” and they shall say, “Yahweh is my Elohim.”‘“ (Zech 13:7-9)
Zahakiel: The sword comes; the sun rises on those who begin to grow, and unless they have a strong connection to the source of living water, they scorch and wither away. Mere intellectual agreement with the truth is not enough for a human to withstand the necessary trials and hardships of the Christian life.
Are there any questions on this point?
Rita: None.
Naraiel: No.
Happy Rock: No.
Guerline: No.
Crystle: No.
Zahakiel: The third type has a deeper understanding of truth. It sets down its roots and begins to flourish. It survives the trials and difficulties, because it believes that there is success to be had in this new life. Tribulation only strengthens the resolve of this third type of plant, and makes it more determined to overcome. Yet Satan has prepared a different kind of snare for this class of disciple. We read of his method of dealing with the third crop of seeds in the parable where “the thorns grew up, and choked it.”
Where obstacles fail, distractions and temptations may succeed. Bad company, a poor choice of environment, a failure to remain “unspotted from the world…” (James 1:27) each takes its toll upon the young plants, and they also fall victim to the destroyer. The disciple was convinced; he knew the power of the truth. The Book of Hebrews says of these very ones that they “have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come.” (Heb 6:4, 5) Yet because of their greater knowledge, their fall also is correspondingly great. Those who have truly known of the truth and turned away find themselves all too often in Lucifer’s lot.
To Convict
Zahakiel: The good news is that a fourth of the seeds did survive; they “fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.” (Mark 4:8) A third of those in Zechariah’s vision went through the refining process and were purified, surviving until the harvest. But notice: there is no difference in the symbols and proportions used by Zechariah and Yahshua. In the New Testament parable the entire world is being considered, including those who turn away very shortly after hearing the Gospel. Zechariah’s parable, by contrast, is concerned primarily with those who are already following “my shepherd, […] the man that is my fellow.” (Zech 13:7) It is from among these who claim to follow Yahshua – being convinced at least mentally – that the third that survive are drawn. It is the same people being described: a quarter of all who hear the Word, (from Christ’s lesson) and a third of those who have committed to following (from Zechariah’s prophecy).
Crystle: About the second group that did not have much soil... Could there be any hope for any of them to return to the fold or do they stay in Satan’s lot?
Zahakiel: It would seem that it’s easier for them to return than the third group, since they never got a full understanding in the first place. They said, “This seems to be the truth, we will follow it,” but there was no heart in it. This is why the troubles so quickly turned them out of the way.
About that third group... that may depend upon their individual level of understanding. We know that Ellen White, for example, said to some who did have a previous understanding that if they heard the call of the Spirit today they must immediately repent and respond, because they might not hear it tomorrow. [The Signs of the Times, August 29, 1892]
Pastor “Chick”: Are you seeing a connection with the “Three angels” here? (Recalling that when all are received “in their order,” a sealing occurs).
Zahakiel: I didn’t when writing this, but that may be something worth fleshing out at some point.
Pastor “Chick”: Ok.
Zahakiel: Considering that idea, it may be that there is a characteristic “temptation” against receiving the angels in their proper order. I’ll have to think about that a bit.
A note here: as we begin to speak more about “conviction,” I need to specify that we are speaking primarily in a spiritual and not a legal sense. Whereas being convinced of something is the accepting of an external source of knowledge, conviction comes from within, from “the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2Cor 1:22) “working in you that which is wellpleasing in [Yahweh’s] sight, through Yahshua the Messiah; to whom be glory for ever and ever.” (Heb 13:21)
In the world of men, conviction may come from without. If one goes to trial, he may be “convicted” of an act of wrongdoing. This means that other people consider him guilty. He does not, in fact, even need to be “convinced” that he has done wrong, but he may nevertheless be convicted and punished for his crimes. In Yahweh’s Kingdom, which is entirely free of the need for civil power, being established upon Agape and not upon might or merit, conviction is an act of the “self,” a correction based upon the desire to do right, rather than a submission to the will of others.
Convincing involves the head, while convicting involves the heart. As I mentioned previously, the Scriptures themselves make little distinction between these two words. They do, however, draw an extremely sharp line of distinction between the two ideas, and this line of distinction serves easily to demonstrate the difference between the sheep and the goats.
Pastor “Chick”: “Conviction” (to me) does not necessarily imply a motive to follow in righteousness... I recall that Judas, for example, was “convicted” at the last supper, but followed on in unrighteousness.
Zahakiel: Right. It does not have to be a positive thing. It does, however, have something to do with “sealing” someone into a course of action.
Motive is a good way to look at it, whether positive or negative, because it is motive that often draws the line between sheep and goats, as I was saying above there.
It is written, “When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the
holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory. And
before him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall separate them one from
another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And He shall set the sheep on His right
hand, but the goats on the left.
“Then
shall the King say unto them on his right hand, ‘Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I
was an hungred, and ye gave me meat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink. I was
a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me. I was sick, and ye
visited me. I was in prison, and ye came unto me.’
“Then
shall the righteous answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and
fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and
took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in
prison, and came unto thee?’
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’” (Mat 25:31)
As you know, of course, He turns to the goats and says just the opposite, that they did none of those things. And just as the righteous are unaware of the full impact of the deeds they performed while on earth, so the unjust are shown for the first time just how their works have offended Him who is Love. But is it really true that the just have such complete ignorance of the nature of their works? Or is it true that the wicked do not know that their neglect is evil?
Zahakiel: We may certainly know when we are acting properly, for Paul instructs the believers to “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” (2Cor 13:5a) The words of the righteous indicate not ignorance, but surprise. Certainly, most if not all will be aware of the very passage in Matthew 25! Yet even knowing this, the wonder of seeing the glorious King praise them for their works is made all the more amazing by the fact that He is complimenting them, rewarding them, for acts that they have performed as a matter of course.
We read, “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8, 9) Why, then, do we hear of works in Matthew 25? Why are the works of some accepted, and the works of others rejected? Cain and Abel both offered the best of their accomplishments, but Abel’s was accepted and his brother’s was not. “Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous,” (1John 3:12) the Bible tells us, is why this difference existed.
Cain’s works were evil because he was merely offering the works. Like the nation of Israel at times, his offering was not “mixed with faith” (Heb 4:2) as they are in the sacrifices of the righteous.
Works that are done in faith become something greater than mere works. Acts of true obedience are not about responding to external pressures, but responding to the spirit of love that touches the heart and refines the mind. These are the acts of “conviction.” Works done from obligation, on the other hand, are mere forms, and do nothing to bring the soul into communion with Yahweh. This is the difference between the sheep and the goats. Both may perform righteous acts. Both may say, “Lord, Lord,” but “without faith it is impossible to please Him.” (Heb 11:6, cf. Mat 7:21)
Zahakiel: We read in the Scriptures, “be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.” (Eph 3:12) “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” (2Cor 4:15, 16) “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” (1Tim 1:5)
Again, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” (Psa 51:6) These verses all speak of conviction.
Again, being convinced involves the head, the intellect. It involves a surface-agreement that may indeed be powerful enough to motivate right actions and lead to an outward appearance of righteousness. Yet this kind of obedience, unrefined by the presence of pure faith, is not the kind that will endure unto the end. Hardships may shake the disciple’s confidence; temptations or distractions may weaken the resolve, and when the “roaring lion” comes near, the one who is following mere forms, or because “it is the right thing for a Christian to do” will find no effective defense against evil.
Being convicted, on the other hand, involves the heart, the “inner man.” It involves not only agreement, but also genuine knowledge of the right path to take. It motivates right actions for the right motives, and not merely to fulfill the requirements of some external cause. The obedience produced by conviction is faithful obedience; it can survive any temptation and overcome any obstacle. Those who act from conviction do the right thing naturally, desiring truth “in the inward parts,” and seeking it with a proper balance of zeal and wisdom.
Guerline: Amen.
Signs of True Conviction
Zahakiel: Paul instructs us to examine ourselves. We can do so quite easily for, as I have mentioned, the Bible is not unclear about the difference between these ideas we have been studying. We can readily find Biblical examples of individuals who have acted from mere academic accord and those who felt a powerful urge toward the right actions due to their willingness to be led by Yahweh.
The Scribes and Pharisees faithfully paid their tithes, but there was evidence from their other activities that they were merely convinced of the value of this act rather than knowing it for themselves. (Mat 23:23) One faithful widow, on the other hand, gave all she had because she wished to benefit her people. (Mark 12:42-44)
Paul admonished the Ephesians not to be mere “men-pleasers” who obeyed for the sake of gaining reward or avoiding punishment. (Eph 6:6) He tells Timothy of the better way, however, that “godliness with contentment is great gain,” (1Tim 6:6) regardless of the opinions of others.
In a more general sense, Yahshua criticized those who make public displays of their righteousness, “that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” (Mark 6:2) Those who pray and do their charity work in secret are the ones whom Yahweh praises. (Mat 6:3, 4)
The Nation of Israel during the time of the Judges demonstrated that, rather than being convicted of the need for purity and loyalty toward Yahweh, they were merely convinced of His power to save them from calamity. This book-knowledge did not prevent them from falling into idolatry every time the current crisis (caused by their own lack of consistency) was resolved. (Judges 3:12, 4:1, 8:33, 10:6, 11:8, etc.) Those of the New Covenant, by contrast, are described as those who “shall not depart from [Yahweh].” (Jer 32:40)
Yahshua spoke strongly against those who merely followed the letter of the Law while ignoring its spirit. (Mat 5:21, 22, 28) Paul points out that the letter of the Law serves only to convince us (outwardly) of sin, and that by itself it has no power to purify the heart or justify the man before the Almighty. (Gal 3:19, Rom 3:20) That is the work of the Spirit upon a willing heart through faith in Yahshua. (Rom 10:4, Gal 3:24)
Zahakiel: What we see, based upon the above Scriptures, is that those who follow Christ merely because they are convinced they should may demonstrate one or more of the following characteristics:
- They may act holy, just and proper in some areas, but they are not balanced. Good deeds in one area of the life but evil ones in others indicate only a formal obedience to the Gospel.
- They will be men-pleasers as the Ephesians are warned not to be. They participate in the works of Christianity in order to gain approval or moral standing in their community, whether that community is the Church setting or the place in which they reside.
- They will make public displays of piety, but in truth they are using religion as a means to an end, as a way to gain some advantage in life or in order to relieve their sense of guilt for some unforsaken sin.
- They may act righteously under the threat of punishment, and when there is a promise of reward, but when these threats and enticements are removed we may see acts of an entirely different nature.
- They will stick to the “letter of the law” regarding the instructions to which they have submitted, but will rarely go beyond the bare minimum requirements as they understand them to be.
Those who are acting from conviction, however, demonstrate all of these traits:
- They will have a life that demonstrates balance and consistency, not being overly developed in one aspect of sanctification while very deficient in another. It is true that there are different levels of understanding among Christians, and some will grow faster in certain areas than others, but overall progress will demonstrate the principle that we “are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2Cor 3:18)
- They will do rightly even when none are present to give applause, because it is the act itself that benefits others, not the demonstration of that act.
- They will see the good deeds that they perform as natural consequences of their character, and as ends unto themselves, rather than as stepping-stones to some distant or future goal.
- They will see the benefit of the instructions given by heaven on an intellectual level, (the intellect is not ignored in true Christianity, it is merely harmonized with faith) and obey out of love and gratitude to the One to whom we mean so much.
- They will operate according to the spirit of the Law, manifesting Agape toward all, whether or not they are “instructed” to do so. They will go beyond the stated requirements of the Law in order to help or bless the lives of others. (e.g., Mat 12:11, 12)
Are there any questions about these lists?
Rita: None.
Naraiel: No.
Guerline: No.
Happy Rock: No.
Ye: No.
Qinael: No.
Crystle: No. I do believe I understand better now because of these lists.
Rita: Me too.
Zahakiel: Ok, good.
The Power of Conviction
Zahakiel: How does what we have been discussing lead to eternal life or eternal damnation? It all has to do with a hearer’s response to the Gospel. All those who hear the Word of Yahweh have a series of choices to make. If they reject It altogether, they become like the first kind of seed in the Parable of the Sower. They are snatched away and have no opportunity to even begin to see life.
But once one is convinced of the Scriptures, then we find a decision just as important, if not more so. Being convinced of the Scriptures’ accuracy makes us accountable for the information they contain. We read, “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:47, 48) Now it is true, those who reject the Gospel are accountable for what they had the opportunity to learn; they are beaten with some strips according to the parable above. Furthermore, we read “the Lord Yahshua shall be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Yahshua the Messiah.” (2Th 1:7, 8)
But even that powerful statement does not describe the punishment for those who fully know the truth and obey it not. Those who reject the Gospel right away are punished for acts done in relative ignorance, and because they neglected the path of life. Those who are accountable and yet do not obey are punished for acts of not only neglect, but for acts of willful neglect. And further, they manifest not just indifference, but actual hatred of their brethren, for while they had knowledge of the remedy for the coming destruction they withheld that great healing for what can only be considered selfish reasons.
Zahakiel: When one hears the Word of Yahweh, and becomes aware that is true, he may either allow it to convict him, and thus enter the path to life, or may be convinced but go away uncommitted, because the cares of this world are more important than those of the world to come. We have the choice, to a large degree, to allow ourselves to be convicted – to be convinced not only in our heads, but also in our hearts, that a thing is surely so. It is the power of this conviction that allowed the men and women in the Scriptures to perform miracles of faith, and to enter into the counsels of Yahweh concerning their fellow men.
As we, as ministers of the Gospel, share this word with others, it is important that we carry with us a testimony of our own. The minister of the Gospel must be able to say, “I read these things, and knew they were so. I let the Spirit do Its work in me, and I could not turn away from the call Yahweh had sent to me in mercy.” It is the Holy Spirit, working along with the knowledge we gain from the Word of Yahweh, which enlightens the conscience, corrects the course of life in righteousness, and allows a human being to act from true conviction.
Conclusion
Zahakiel: In conclusion, Yahshua said this to His antagonistic hearers, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (Mat 23:25-27)
Yahshua rebuked many who were not following the path of Agape. He often did so gently, patiently, and with the impression He would give to onlookers always present in His mind. One class of people for which He demonstrated little tolerance, however, was the hypocrites. These were they who were convinced that the mode of religion in which they were instructed was true; yet they did not act upon these principles with a convicted heart. These the Savior rebuked openly, and without much apparent mercy. Yet here, as always, He had in mind those who would witness His words and deeds. We are told, “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” (1Th 5:20)
To those who are just learning the truth and may not fully know the path to walk, those novices who are convinced but not convicted must be dealt with gently, patently. But those who in a position to know better, yet neglect duty for these same reasons, not only are they in great personal peril, but they make the walk of others toward the Kingdom of Heaven more challenging also. Unto such only a very stern rebuke may allow a change in the mode of life, and an invitation to the Spirit to once again bring conviction to that heart.
Zahakiel: On a more positive note, we who have a testimony such as that described above have all come to the place where we have heard the Word of Yahweh, we have believed it, and then we have taken the next step. In accepting the truth and being convinced of its accuracy, we have not hidden ourselves nor run away from what these things must mean for our lives. Instead, we have accepted the authority of Yahweh upon us, both by creation and redemption, and we have let the Spirit of Yahweh convict us at our innermost level that there is a work to be done, and we are invited to take part in this glorious labor.
It is only conviction that makes a saint, and only conviction that drives the actions of the true evangelist. It is conviction that allows us to sustain our faith in the midst of trials and temptations, and ultimately to overcome as did Yahshua the Son. It is conviction that allows our work in the Gospel to have power, that it may be fulfilled according to the promise: “Wherefore thus saith Yahweh, The Almighty One of Hosts, ‘Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.’” (Jer 5:14) It is our prayer that those who hear these words at our mouths should be devoured by the fire of conviction, that they may be spared the coming flames of wrath.
Are there any questions before we close?
Rita: None.
Qinael: No.
Guerline: Amen and Amen.
Happy Rock: No.
Ye: No.
Zahakiel: Then, will you offer the closing prayer, pastor?
Pastor “Chick”: Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Thank you for a conviction
that cannot be repented of. May all who
come into the sphere of our influence become convinced of the conviction of
YAHshua, and embrace that conviction to the saving of the soul.
All of this we thank you for and praise your Holy Name-- In the blessed name of YAHshua, we pray, AMEN!
Rita: Amen.
Qinael: Amen.
Naraiel: Amen
Guerline: Amen.
Barb: Amen.
Ye: Amen.
Zahakiel: Amen.
Happy Rock: Amen.
