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Session 4 - Conviction of Sin (Part 2)

Series: Is It So? Reconsidering the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

Speaker: Dr. Randy White

Date: December 1, 2024

Introduction

• Recap of Part 1 (Session 3):

• Examined John 16:8-11 and its three aspects:

1. Israel's rejection of their Messiah.
2. Christ's vindication through His ascension.
3. The judgment upon the world system and its ruler.

• Proposed that the Holy Spirit's convicting work in this passage refers to a specific ministry directed at Israel during a transitional period, rather than a universal, timeless work.

• Purpose of Part 2:

• Build on the previous discussion by exploring how the Spirit’s work of "reproving" (elengchō) was fulfilled in Acts 2–7.

• Critique the traditional evangelical interpretation of the Spirit's convicting work and propose an alternative, scripturally grounded view.

Seeing the Spirit’s Work Fulfilled: Examples from Acts 2–7

1. Acts 2:14–41 (The Day of Pentecost)

• Conviction of Sin: Peter accuses the crowd of crucifying Jesus (Acts 2:22-23).

• Conviction of Righteousness: Proclaims Jesus’ resurrection and ascension (Acts 2:24, 32-33).

• Conviction of Judgment: Declares Jesus as both Lord and Christ, condemning rejection of Him (Acts 2:34-36).

• Result: The crowd is convicted and repents (Acts 2:37).

2. Acts 3:11–26 (Peter’s Sermon at Solomon’s Porch)

• Conviction of Sin: Confronts Israel for denying and killing the "Prince of life" (Acts 3:13-15).

• Conviction of Righteousness: Points to Christ's resurrection as proof of His righteousness (Acts 3:15-16).

• Conviction of Judgment: Warns the people to repent to avoid judgment (Acts 3:19-20).

3. Acts 4:8–12 (Peter Before the Sanhedrin)

• Conviction of Sin: Rebukes the leaders for crucifying Jesus (Acts 4:10).

• Conviction of Righteousness: Declares Jesus as the cornerstone (Acts 4:11).

• Conviction of Judgment: Proclaims salvation exclusively through Jesus (Acts 4:12).

4. Acts 5:27–33 (Peter Before the Council)

• Conviction of Sin: Confronts the council with the guilt of crucifying Jesus (Acts 5:30).

• Conviction of Righteousness: Declares Jesus exalted as Savior to give repentance to Israel (Acts 5:31).

• Result: The council resists the Spirit’s conviction and reacts with rage (Acts 5:33).

5. Acts 7:51–60 (Stephen’s Martyrdom)

• Conviction of Sin: Exposes Israel’s rebellion and rejection of Jesus (Acts 7:51-53).

• Conviction of Righteousness: Stephen’s vision of Jesus at God’s right hand confirms His righteousness (Acts 7:55-56).

• Conviction of Judgment: The crowd’s violent response reveals their hardness of heart and anticipates their judgment (Acts 7:57-60).

The Evangelical View of Conviction

1. Key Points of the Evangelical Perspective
1. Conviction of Sin: The Spirit reveals individuals’ guilt and unbelief in Christ as the fundamental sin.
2. Conviction of Righteousness: Testifies to Christ’s perfect righteousness through His ascension.
3. Conviction of Judgment: Warns of eternal consequences of rejecting Christ, as evidenced by Satan’s defeat at the cross.
4. Emphasis on Mysticism

• Evangelicals view conviction as a mystical, emotional experience prompted by the Spirit.

• This interpretation makes the Spirit’s work essential for the gospel’s effectuality, aligning closely with Calvinistic theology.

If My View Is Correct

1. The Nature of Conviction
2. Grounded in Truth:

• Conviction arises from understanding the truth of God’s Word, not mystical or emotional experiences.

• The Word itself, as the "sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17), reveals sin and the need for salvation.

3. Examples of Word-Based Conviction:

• Nehemiah 8:8-9: The people wept upon hearing the Law, convicted solely by the Word of God.

• Psalm 19:7-8: Declares the Law’s power to convert the soul and enlighten the eyes.

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17: Scripture is sufficient for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction.

4. Rejection of Mystical Conviction

• Evangelicals have grown accustomed to a mystical view of conviction, relying on emotional appeals or experiences.

• The sufficiency of God’s Word challenges this reliance, emphasizing a reasoned response to biblical truth.

Practical Implications

1. Centrality of Scripture in Ministry

• Preaching must focus on clear, faithful biblical teaching rather than emotional or manipulative techniques.

• Conviction comes through the objective truth of Scripture, not through subjective emotionalism.

2. Caution Against Manipulation
1. Worship Practices:

• Modern "seamless worship" techniques manipulate emotions through orchestrated music, lighting, and atmosphere.

• Churches should return to heartfelt singing and clear biblical teaching.

2. Invitation Practices:

• The "altar call" often relies on emotional intensity to "draw the net."

• Preachers should trust the sufficiency of God’s Word, dismissing people and letting the Word do its work.