Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  6000 Sin and salvation  »  6600 Aspects of salvation  »  6632 conviction

The proving of a person guilty of sin or a crime. Scripture stresses that God has declared the guilt, together with its consequences, of sinful humanity. The term can also refer to a state of being convinced; i.e., the holding of a strong belief, especially a conscious awareness of one's guilt and the atoning death of Jesus Christ as the means of remission of that guilt.

Conviction is proving a person guilty of sin or a crime

Proving someone guilty of sin

John 8:46 See also John 16:8-9 NIV footnote at verse 8; 1 Corinthians 14:24; James 2:9; Jude 15

Proving someone guilty of a crime

Deuteronomy 19:15 See also Exodus 22:9; Leviticus 17:3-4

The death penalty only to be on the testimony of two or three witnesses:

Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6 2 Samuel 14:13; Psalm 5:10; Psalm 109:7; Proverbs 24:25

Pilate found no basis for the charges against Jesus Christ:

Luke 23:4,14,22; John 18:38

There was no proof for the charges against Paul:

Acts 24:13; Acts 25:7

God's conviction of sinful humanity

He declares them to be guilty

Romans 3:19-20 See also Psalm 5:9; Psalm 10:7; Psalm 14:1-3 pp Psalm 53:1-3; Psalm 140:3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 59:7-8; Romans 3:10-18

He also declares the consequences of their guilt

Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 1:32; Romans 5:12,16-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22

Conviction as holding a strong belief

Romans 14:5 See also Genesis 45:28; Matthew 17:20; Luke 20:6 pp Matthew 21:26 pp Mark 11:32 The people were convinced that John was a prophet; Luke 16:31

The conversion of those who were convinced by Paul's preaching:

Acts 17:4; Acts 19:26; Acts 28:24 Acts 26:9,26; Romans 2:19; Romans 4:21; Romans 8:38-39 Paul's conviction that it is impossible to be separated from God's love; Romans 14:14 Paul's personal convictions about food regulations; Romans 15:14; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Philippians 1:25; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:5 Paul is convinced by Timothy's faith; 2 Timothy 1:12; Timothy 3:14

Conviction as the conscious awareness of one's guilt

Examples of conviction not resulting in repentance

Exodus 9:27 See also Exodus 10:16; Numbers 14:40; Numbers 22:34; Deuteronomy 1:41; Judges 10:10

Saul:

1 Samuel 15:24; Samuel 24:17; Samuel 26:21 Matthew 27:3-4 Judas Iscariot; Acts 24:25 Governor Felix

Examples of conviction leading to repentance

Acts 2:37

David:

2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51:3-4 Matthew 26:75 pp Mark 14:72 pp Luke 22:62 Peter

The prodigal son:

Luke 15:17-18,21 Acts 16:30 the Philippian jailer; Romans 7:9

See also

3248  Holy Spirit, conviction
3296  Holy Spirit in the world
5031  knowledge of sin
5210  arrows
6172  guilt
6626  conversion
6732  repentance
7712  convincing
7751  persuasion
8112  certainty
8630  worship, results