Conviction vs Condemnation

[warriorofprayer]

It is my beleif that for one to be able to kick their bad habits, and/or change their way of life and thinking, is to be convicted by the Holy spirit.

Conviction is fromt the Holy Spirit. Condemnation is from the devil. And the devil will use anyone he can to try and make the Children of God to feel condemned.

How can one tell if they are feeling conviction or condemnation?

I believe there are times when someone is not really aware of the lies of the devil and can honestly believe that their condemnation is a conviction from God.

My dad is a smoker, and as much as I would love to scream at him and ask him what he is doing to himself, I can't. I can express my concern, but nothing more. Until he feels the Holy Spirits conviction to stop smoking, I don't think it will happen.

I would like to get other peoples thoughts on this.

[Tavita]

It is my beleif that for one to be able to kick their bad habits, and/or change their way of life and thinking, is to be convicted by the Holy spirit.

Conviction is from the Holy Spirit. Condemnation is from the devil. And the devil will use anyone he can to try and make the Children of God to feel condemned.

How can one tell if they are feeling conviction or condemnation?

I believe there are times when someone is not really aware of the lies of the devil and can honestly believe that their condemnation is a conviction from God.

My dad is a smoker, and as much as I would love to scream at him and ask him what he is doing to himself, I can't. I can express my concern, but nothing more. Until he feels the Holy Spirits conviction to stop smoking, I don't think it will happen.

I would like to get other peoples thoughts on this.

Hi warriorofprayer,

It's fairly difficult to explain. I know that when I came to the Lord I smoked. I did have this heavy feeling that I 'should' give it up because other people told me that's what was expected now that I'm a Christian. If you feel a pressure coming from man's expectations then it's not the conviction of Holy Spirit.

I waited for God to convict me, and He did, six months later, and I just knew it was Him and not something coming from man or my own internal 'law' system, which produces a heavy type of guilt, which is condemnation. His conviction was lighter, more loving and more 'pointed'. And in the decision to repent and do as He asked, the enabling power of Holy Spirit came.

Pray for the conviction of Holy Spirit for your father, it may take some time, but it will happen.

[MoNiCa4316]

I agree with you...I think that when we feel like we should repent or change, it's probably conviction from the Holy Spirit. But when we feel like our sins can't be forgiven by God, that's condemnation from the devil, because God's love is stronger than sin :) In the case of smoking, condemnation would probably make you feel hopeless and miserable, and conviction would give you a positive desire to change.

God bless :)

[Tavita]

You said that very well!

[Naxus]

To me smoking is not a sin in of itself. Is it unwise to smoke? yes! Is it unwise to not brush your teeth? yes. God doesn't sweat the small stuff. My opinion but i am not with out wisdom in these regards. The focus is to love God and your neighbor.

[Tavita]

To me smoking is not a sin in of itself. Is it unwise to smoke? yes! Is it unwise to not brush your teeth? yes. God doesn't sweat the small stuff. My opinion but i am not with out wisdom in these regards. The focus is to love God and your neighbor.


Rom 14:23 But, the one doubting, if he eats, he has been condemned, because it is not of faith; and all that is not of faith is sin.

When the Holy Spirit convicted me, it became sin.

[Tenebrae]

It is my beleif that for one to be able to kick their bad habits, and/or change their way of life and thinking, is to be convicted by the Holy spirit.

Conviction is fromt the Holy Spirit. Condemnation is from the devil. And the devil will use anyone he can to try and make the Children of God to feel condemned.

How can one tell if they are feeling conviction or condemnation?

I believe there are times when someone is not really aware of the lies of the devil and can honestly believe that their condemnation is a conviction from God.

My dad is a smoker, and as much as I would love to scream at him and ask him what he is doing to himself, I can't. I can express my concern, but nothing more. Until he feels the Holy Spirits conviction to stop smoking, I don't think it will happen.

I would like to get other peoples thoughts on this.

Convviction from God, about a choice or a course of action, always leaves me feeling hopeful and that while I may not have handled things in the best way, that I can learn from my mistakes and move on, rectify what I need

Condemnation leaves me feeling hopeless and in despair, like there is nothing I can do to change the situation

[tapero]

It is my beleif that for one to be able to kick their bad habits, and/or change their way of life and thinking, is to be convicted by the Holy spirit.

Conviction is fromt the Holy Spirit. Condemnation is from the devil. And the devil will use anyone he can to try and make the Children of God to feel condemned.

How can one tell if they are feeling conviction or condemnation?

I believe there are times when someone is not really aware of the lies of the devil and can honestly believe that their condemnation is a conviction from God.

My dad is a smoker, and as much as I would love to scream at him and ask him what he is doing to himself, I can't. I can express my concern, but nothing more. Until he feels the Holy Spirits conviction to stop smoking, I don't think it will happen.

I would like to get other peoples thoughts on this.

I agree that God does in no way condemn us (Christians) at all.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

When God convicts it aligns with the truth, the bible.

When satan condemns it is a lie. So, need to have above verse in mind when having trouble discerning.

Plus, when satan condemns or accuses rather; lies also further are in thoughts now on top of original problem.

Such as, you aren't even saved, look at what you do, type thing.

The safe thing to do, is no matter what, bring conviction and condemnation (accusations) to God.

God I am thinking this way, help me to discern what is going on. The bible has the truth. And again, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

satan does nothng for our good but is a deciever, liar and destroyer, so satan could care less that we sin, but does wish to weaken our walk with God and worse.

When we sin, we hide from God, and can also do things we wouldn't normally do when walking close with God.

I'm a smoker. Been a Christian 20 years. When I first came to Christ, I was convicted of everything and immediately ceased all outward things, including smoking, and many other things.

Smoking is not a sin to my knowledge, but I knew way back then was not a good testimony to God. Started smoking again later.

Let's say smoking is a sin (which again I don't believe it is.)

So if it's a sin, and now after 20 years of God speaking to me on it, I would have had to harden my heart to God long ago and He does not go against our will and again, when our hearts are hardened to sin, we no longer hear God's conviction, we justify what we do.

So, if your dad is a Christian, I doubt conviction will occur due to what I wrote above.

However, is possible he goes to a doctor or something and for some reason due to what is said, his heart opens to this 'sin' and he sees it's a sin, and then hears God speaking on it, for now he is willing to hear God.

It may well be God uses another person, such as occured with the prophet to David.

You have sin in your life as well. We all do. You can say, dad, this worries me so, please quit, I'm so worried about your health.

If you see your dad as sinning in smoking and believe that because he's smoking he's sinning against God and hence must stop, well, such is not how to go about things, as all we need is look in the mirror of our hearts and actions and we see the very many sins of our own.

Whether our sin is evident to ourselves or not, we all sin and our hearts are full of sin, tho we have a new heart, we still struggle with many sins and always will.

Jesus says clean the inside of the cup and the outside will be clean also.


Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.


I don't know your beliefs which may well affect why you asked this question.

For example, if you don't believe once saved always saved then I can see why you are so worried.

I believe once saved always saved, so do not have a problem as I know all sin is forgiven past present and future upon belief; however in no way are we to abuse the grace in Christ we have and continue in sin, yet we do sin, every one of us.

Most smokers hate smoking and some times love smoking, but mostly we hate it.

I do know if I so desired I could ask God to help me in stopping smoking and pray each time I desire a cigarette, instead of lighting one up. Or ask God to take the desire from me.

If my friend sins (and she is a Christian) I don't need say a word, she already knows she's sinning. And will confess sin to me as I do same with her.

What we do is encouarge each other by reminding them of Gods love as my friend surely does not wish to persist in this sin; not condemn as they already know what they are doing is wrong.

So, we remind them God loves them, as when we sin, is possible to doubt such, and that God will help you through this. And depending on how the talk goes is how much is said. Quick to listen, slow to speak.

A person committing adultry knows they are sinning (at least a Christian does.)

Saying stop sinning to another doesn't mean much as we ourselves are sinners.

But counseling does much. That is speaking in love and tyring to help a brother or sister who persists in a sin by perhaps explaining the consequences of what could occur in a lovng way.

If your wife finds out, you'll be all alone, no house, pay child support, lose your children's trust, and perhaps love, and since the woman you're with is committing adultry also, how can you ever trust her either.

Ultimately, it's up to them. Don't know why David didn't think it a sin to have Bathsheebas husband put on front line so he would be killed and prior to that taking his wife and having sex with her. No clue. But did occur. He either justified it as he was King and could do whatever he liked; or he closed his ears to God.

It does say that David had the Holy Spirit, however, we don't know if back then the Holy Spirit came and left a person. This may well be why David didn't feel convicted.

All believers in Christ are indwelled with the Holy Spirit who never leaves us, is a mark, a seal, guaranteeing our redempton (salvation.) Ephesians. paraprased

And you see how gentle the prophet spoke:


The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.
4 "Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."


Davids anger burns against such injustice.

Then the prophet reveals Gods words and judgement.

Then David says:

Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."


He was convicted at this point.

So, in answer, gently explain why your so worried about him smoking, and no need to call it sin, as you have sin also and he may say right back to you; well your 30 pounds overweight, your a glutton, or whatever..

Nothing wrong with calling sin sin. But God teaches us to honor our parents, gently rebuke an older man, etc.

But personally, and only when asked will say yes, it's a sin.

I do not condemn any man for their sin or point it out to them as I preach Christ, and it's Christ that saves them; stopping a sin or many sins in no way saves any man.

If it's a non christian, will share God if person is open. They have many misconceptions of God and Christians and the bible and so have many stumbling blocks to overcome due to such.

Again, I go with answer and then reply to next question; no lectures; as they have to come to things themselves and ask, is this wrong?

And if yes, I would say, yes, but so is this wrong, showing my own sin. But never would I leave a non christian alone with such, as would then have to explain, it's not doing right that saves us, it's belief in Christ, and after such our walk begins and we turn from sin, but will battle with it all our lives and will still sin.

I always point to Christ as is only things saves.

It's God who does the change in our lives. The deep, inner change which is what Jesus taught much of as well did the Father.

Man can tell another to stop doing something, but it is short lived.

Only God enables us to be free of something as we will to be free as God does not go against our will and does not go where we won't let him in.

Anyone can stop doing anything, non christians can stop abusing their spouse (beating them) by counsel if desires so.

Christians can do same but we have God helping us.

A pastor convinced a Christian who is an alcoholic to stop drinking. The Christian was not convicted by God, but by the legalism the pastor taught him with. This was a legalistic church and pastor.

The Christian quit drinking for a time, but see since it did not come from God but from legalism, it doesn't last, tho may for some, but not most.

Sorry for the long answer.

I only read your post, so didn't read others, so hope this is okay.

blessings,
tapero

[james415]

I agree with you...I think that when we feel like we should repent or change, it's probably conviction from the Holy Spirit. But when we feel like our sins can't be forgiven by God, that's condemnation from the devil, because God's love is stronger than sin :) In the case of smoking, condemnation would probably make you feel hopeless and miserable, and conviction would give you a positive desire to change.

God bless :)
I agree with you 150% :thumbsup:

[warriorofprayer]

I agree that God does in no way condemn us (Christians) at all.


Smoking is not a sin to my knowledge, but I knew way back then was not a good testimony to God. Started smoking again later.

For example, if you don't believe once saved always saved then I can see why you are so worried.


So, in answer, gently explain why your so worried about him smoking, and no need to call it sin, as you have sin also and he may say right back to you; well your 30 pounds overweight, your a glutton, or whatever..

blessings,
tapero

Why did you just pick on the smoking part? I never said it was a sin, I said it wasn't healthy! This was only an example, yet you made it out that I was calling it a sin and that I don't think I have sin in my life. Sounds a bit judgemental to me. IMO.

In fact, I don't see the word SIN in my original post anywhere. Please enlighten me!?

Once saved, always saved? So if someone who became saved, decided to sell their soul to the devil, is he still saved?