He Doesn't Convict You of Sin by Pastor Chris Oyahkilome

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:31-32).

It’s not the ministry of the Holy Spirit to convict God’s people of sin. The Bible says the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, not the Church. For the Church, the Bible says, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (1Corinthians 11:31). That means by our own spirits, we can tell when we’ve done something wrong, and our own spirits will judge us. We let our spirits judge us, so that we might not be judged of the Lord. Your spirit has the nature of God.

When you do wrong, what you need is to act on the Word of God: receive forgiveness. You don’t ask for forgiveness, which is where a lot of people miss it. The Bible didn’t say that you ask for forgiveness; rather, it says in Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Did you notice it doesn’t say, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, and ask for mercy?" Instead, it says "to obtain," that is, collect it.

You may have done something wrong and prayed to God to forgive you, and in your heart, you knew He forgave you. Some days later, the guilt of what you did weighs down on your mind and it seems as though He didn’t quite forgive you, so you find yourself asking for forgiveness again. The truth is, He isn’t responsible for the accusation you felt in your mind, because it’s not part of His ministry to convict you of sin.

Jesus is your advocate with the Father. Thus, when you say, "Father, I receive forgiveness for what I did," immediately, you’re forgiven. The Bible says He is faithful and just to forgive us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It didn’t say He’s quick to judge us and convict us. Your spirit does that; but God is greater than your spirit (1 John 3:20-21).

Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of righteousness bestowed on me in Christ Jesus. I function in righteousness, because I have the nature of Christ. My heart and conscience are purified in Christ. I walk in the reality of the life of righteousness, which I have in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

further study: 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:7-10; Hebrews 4:15-16

: Numbers 6 Mark 9:1-13

: Acts 22:22-30 Psalm 48-49