The Work of Conviction

"I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal." Deuteronomy 32:39

The work of grace in the soul, in its very beginnings, penetrates deeply into its inmost substance. It wounds and lays open the conscience to the eye of infinite Purity and Holiness. "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple," (Psalms 119:130). "The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart," (Hebrews 4:12).

All conviction, to be true conviction, must be thorough. The field must be ploughed, broken up, and furrowed, before the seed can find a home, it must become a seedbed for the seed to fall into so as to germinate and grow. There is much to be done in a sinner's heart before Christ can dwell in him by faith, or be formed in him the hope of glory. The heart is naturally very hard. Thorns, thistles, and briars overspread its surface, and the noxious weeds of pride and lust have taken deep root. Much grubbing up of these bosom sins, our inbred self-righteousness and fleshly holiness, our creature strength and self-sufficiency is needed to prepare us to receive a free grace salvation, separate us from the world and false professors, embitter to us the loved things of time and sense, and lay us suing for mercy at the foot of the cross.

The first work, therefore, of conviction must be deep, or at least thorough, in order to make room for Christ and his salvation. So it is with any manifestation or discovery of the Lord Jesus Christ, any application of his blood, any visitation of his presence, or any shedding abroad of his love. These divine realities do not float upon the surface, but sink deep, and penetrate into his heart of hearts, into a man's inmost and deepest soul.

How soon is all lost and forgotten, but what the blessed Spirit writes himself in the heart! People say, "How well we have heard!" but all is lost and dropped before they get home from the house of prayer. They read a chapter, close the Bible, and with it, all they have read is closed too. Many have passing pangs of conviction, and passing desires, who give little proof of living under the Spirit's anointings. That divine Spirit does not let the saints of God off so easily. He holds them fast and firm to the work of conviction until he has slain them outright; and when he blesses he heals as deep as he wounds, and reveals the gospel as powerfully as he applies the law.

- J.C. Philpot, Through Baca's Vale, February 21

 

Yes witnesses need to till the ground, plant the seed and water. And yes, the initial soil is not all good soil, ready or even able to receive the gospel. But since the fields are white for harvest, there are plenty of lost souls receptive to God's word. Thus when witnesses, indwelt with the Holy Spirit, present the gospel of Christ, from the inspired word wrought by the Holy Spirit, heart-felt conviction does occur.

 

note: HOLY SPIRIT INFLUENCES on the lost that leaves them lost.
&
HOLY SPIRIT INFLUENCES on the lost that God later Saves.

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