Convicted...By Whom?

One of the most common things I hear Christian people say is "God really convicted me the other day"....or "when the Holy Spirit convicts you.." It's one those Christiany things we say because we have never thought it through, or worse because we have actually never read the verse where that concept comes from in context. So let's do that now...

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment..(John 16:7-8, NKJV)

Jesus is speaking of sending the Holy Spirit when He departs. But look closely to who He says the Spirit will convict-the world! He does not say He will convict the believer, but the UNbeliever or those still dead in their sins. It is impossible for the Spirit to convict the believer of sin because they have already been forgiven! Isn't that what Jesus said on the cross? "It is finished"? Isn't that why He sat down at the right hand of God-because His work as our Great High Priest was finished? Look at Hebrews 10:1-2:

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.(Hebrews 10:1-2, NKJV)

These verses are trying to show the inability of the old sacrificial system to take away sin. If this system truly had any power, then the high priest wouldn't have had to continually perform the rituals. By comparison, then, when Jesus came and died ONCE-then our sins were ACTUALLY removed and forgiven. That's why He could sit down at the right hand of God. So if His work is finished, and the sins are forgiven, then we should have no consciousness of sins at all. Therefore the Holy Spirit has nothing to convict us of.

This begs the question-then if it isn't the Holy Spirit convicting me, then who is it? Well, ask yourself this-who benefits from you constantly being reminded of the sins that have been forgiven? Who benefits from you still acting like you are under the law and the world system? Satan. He is a liar and a thief. He lies about your standing before God and he tries to steal your security and peace. So you have a choice-are you going to believe what he says or what the Word says?

One final point as I know this post is running long.. Since the Spirit doesn't convict, what does He do? He edifies, He encourages, He empowers. Here's a simple test to know if what you are "feeling" is from the Spirit or from Satan-if you feel drawn to God and empowered, it is the Spirit. If you feel removed from God and defeated, then it is from Satan. It's that simple.