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 1:15
Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?
Proving someone guilty of a crime
Deuteronomy 19:15 See also Exodus 22:9; Leviticus 17:3–4NUM Leviticus 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6 2 Samuel 14:13; Psalm 5:10, Psalm 109:7; Proverbs 24:25LUK Proverbs 23:4, Luke 23:14, Luke 23:22; John 18:38ACT John 24:13, Acts 25:7
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
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 parallel Psalm 53:1–3; Psalm 140:3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 59:7–8; Romans 3:10–18
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
He also declares the consequences of their guilt
Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:17–19; Romans 1:32, Romans 5:12, Romans 5:16–19; 1 Corinthians 15:22
Conviction as holding a strong belief
Romans 14:5 See also Genesis 45:28; Matthew 17:20; Luke 20:6 parallels Matthew 21:26, Mark 11:32 The people were convinced that John was a prophet; Luke 16:31ACT Luke 17:4, Acts 19:26, Acts 28:24 Acts 26:9, Acts 26:26; 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, 2 Timothy 3:14
One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
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 10:101SA Judges 15:24, 1 Samuel 24:17, 1 Samuel 26:21 Matthew 27:3–4 Judas Iscariot; Acts 24:25 Governor Felix
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said. “The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
Examples of conviction leading to repentance
Acts 2:37 2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51:3–4; Matthew 26:75 parallels Mark 14:72, Luke 22:62 Peter; Luke 15:17–18, Luke 15:21; Acts 16:30 the Philippian jailer; Romans 7:9
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.