Pneumatology 2024/25 Discussion Board 1

[pastorderrick]

Refer to an instance of the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. List three things it proves.

Your essay should be at least 500 words.

Paste the same submission from the previous step here by clicking on the REPLY link just above. Your submission should be made on or before 11:59 p.m. (WAT) on Wednesday the 1st of January 2025.

Then scroll down to see your peer submission and click reply to comment on their submissions. You MUST comment on at least one post with a minimum of 200 words on or before 11:59 p.m. (WAT) on Friday the 3rd of January 2025. Your comments will also be graded.

[VictorKachi]

The event of the Holy Spirit being received by Cornelius’s household is truly a distinctive instance of the convictive power of the Holy Spirit.
From this story, some fascinating facts can be ascertained.
1. This proves that salvation starts with conviction:
The point at which someone experiences salvation is not strictly when they lift their hand or step forward during an evangelistic invitation. It is more accurately at the instant they yield to God and genuinely place their trust in Jesus from their hearts.
For one to be saved, he must first believe in his heart (Rom 10:10), and this happens as a result of the prompting by the Holy Spirit. To “believe in your heart” transcends mere intellectual agreement; it encompasses a profound, personal reliance and dedication. This conviction is not shallow but life-changing, influencing every aspect of a person’s existence and conduct. The heart, regarded as the foundation of faith, highlights the genuineness and depth necessary for a true Christian journey.

2. This proves that the Conviction of the Holy Spirit is divinely orchestrated and it isn’t one-sided:
God isn’t partial, He reaches out to unbelievers (Jews and Gentiles) alike.
It is interesting to note that at the time Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit, they were not yet believers, not yet baptized, and not yet saved. Cornelius was not a Christian in the sense that he was not yet regenerated or born again, yet in this case God heard his prayers and remembered his generosity to others
Just as God communicated with Cornelius, He also reached out to Peter himself.
“Two men are separated by thirty miles. They need to be united. In the midst of Joppa’s bustling trade and Caesarea’s significant shipping activities, completely unaware of the unfolding events, God, watching over His own from the shadows, sends an angel to Caesarea and induces an ecstatic trance in Joppa. In this manner, they were brought together.

3. The Holy Spirit doesn’t condemn, it convicts by honouring the finished work of Christ:
He points us to the already finished work of Christ. The message Peter preached was clear. Peter’s point was not to imply that men like Cornelius were already right with God and don’t need to become Christians. Instead, the point is that they need not feel excluded from God because of their national background.
Peter’s sermon was a wonderful (brief and perhaps condensed by Luke) explanation of the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth:

*Jesus was baptized in identification with humanity.
*Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went about doing good and healing, delivering those oppressed by the devil. Jesus did this with the power of God, for God was with Him.(vs 38)

*Jesus did these things in the presence of eyewitnesses. Jesus was crucified. He was raised from the dead, resurrected in view of many witnesses. (vs 40)

*Jesus commanded His followers to preach the message of who He is and what He did.
He is ordained by God to be Judge of the entire world. And He is the one foretold by the prophets. (vs 41-43).
Peter permitted the Holy Spirit to intervene during his message. The Holy Spirit was achieving a more significant transformation in the hearts of the listeners, and Peter chose to follow that lead. He paused and invited them to be baptized

In conclusion, God, despite his sovereignty gave room to our will and decisions. The Holy Spirit convicts us but our decisions are needed. The Holy Spirit did not directly, supernaturally open Cornelius’ heart. Rather, the Holy Spirit miraculously fell on the household of Cornelius afterwards. Thus, giving credence to the truth that believing in our Heart and confession with our mouth, are needed to complete our spirit’s transformation ignited by the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

[Humble oluchi God’s power]

Conviction of the holy spirit in the new testament

One instance of the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is found in Acts 2:37-41, where Peter preaches to the crowd on the day of Pentecost:

The Conviction Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Example:

1) Peter’s sermon, the crowd was “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37) and asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). This response demonstrates the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit, where people are:

* Convicted of sin: The crowd recognized their role in crucifying Jesus and were convicted of their sin.

The Result of Conviction
The conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit led to:

A) Repentance: The crowd asked what they should do, demonstrating their willingness to repent.
B) Baptism: About 3,000 people were baptized that day, publicly declaring their faith.

This passage illustrates the powerful conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit, which leads people to recognize their sin, understand God’s righteousness, and respond in faith and repentance.

Another example!

2) A second instance of the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is found in John 16:7-11, where Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit’s role in convicting people of sin:

The Conviction Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Jesus explains that the Holy Spirit will convict people of:

* Righteousness: The Holy Spirit will convince people of Jesus’ righteousness, demonstrated by His ascension to the Father (John 16:10).

The Result of Conviction
The conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit leads to:

A) Recognition of sin: People recognize their sin and unbelief.
B) Faith in Jesus: The Holy Spirit convinces people of Jesus’ righteousness, leading them to faith.

Another powerful example!

3) A third instance of the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is found in Acts 9:1-31, where Saul (later known as Paul) encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus:

The Conviction Ministry of the Holy Spirit

* Blinded by sin: Saul was blinded by his own sin and persecution of Christians (Acts 9:1-2).
* Encountered by Jesus: Jesus appeared to Saul, revealing His divine presence and power (Acts 9:3-6).

This passage demonstrates the Holy Spirit’s conviction ministry, leading Saul to recognize his sin, repent, and turn to faith in Jesus Christ.

[bright022]

The conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit is a vital aspect of the Christian faith. It is the process by which the Holy Spirit convicts individuals of their sins, leading them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. The word “conviction” means to confute, to admonish, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, and reprove. According to John 16:8-11, there are three things Jesus says the Holy Spirit convicts people of: sin, righteousness, and judgment. An instance of this can be seen in Acts 2:37-41, where Peter preached to the crowd on the day of Pentecost.

As Peter preached, the Holy Spirit convicted the people of their sins, and they were “cut to the heart.” This conviction led to a response, as the people asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter then responded, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

This passage clearly demonstrates the three points I listed above about the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit.

1. It demonstrates the Holy Spirit’s role in convicting people of their sins. The people’s response to Peter’s message was not simply a result of his persuasive preaching but rather the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. This shows that it is the Holy Spirit who makes one realize the need for the Savior Jesus Christ, in whom they can obtain forgiveness of sins by putting their faith in Him. The passage shows that conviction of sin leads to repentance and faith. The people’s response to the conviction, asking what they must do to be saved, revealed that they realized they needed the gift of righteousness, which can only be obtained in Christ and this realisation was made possible by the Holy Spirit.

2. The passage shows that conviction of sin leads to repentance and faith. The people’s response to the conviction by asking what they must do to be saved revealed that they realized that they needed the gift of righteousness which can only be obtained in Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that brings the consciousness of the gift of righteousness. In other words, it is through the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit that the people got to know that they needed to have a right standing with God and Jesus is the only way to achieve that.

3. Thirdly, judgment: the passage illustrates the immediate and transformative nature of the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit. The people did not delay in their response but rather responded immediately. This revealed that only the Holy Spirit can convict someone in Satan’s bondage that they are in illegal captivity by revealing to them that Jesus has already defeated the enemy. Through this, three thousand people were added to the church that day, demonstrating the powerful and transformative nature of the Holy Spirit’s ministry.

In conclusion, the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit is a vital aspect of the Christian faith. The example in Acts 2:37-41 demonstrates the Holy Spirit’s role in convicting individuals of their sin, the link between conviction and repentance, and the immediate and transformative nature of this ministry. As we seek to share the gospel with others, we must rely on the Holy Spirit’s conviction ministry to bring people to faith, knowing that it is the Holy Spirit who has the work of convincing, not the individual. He does this as we preach the Word.

[Miriam IfeanyiChukwu]

I agree with you bro Bright.
The conviction of the Holy Spirit leads to repentance from sin and not necessarily the preaching or teaching given or heard. This is seen in the response the people gave to Peter’s preaching from the example you cited. While the role of preaching and teaching can not be overemphasied because according to Rom. 10:8-15, the gospel has to be preached, and for the gospel to be preached, a preacher has to be sent for conviction to occur leading to repentance and salvation. It is not the preaching alone or oratory skill of the preacher that does the job for scripture says it is not by power or by might, it is the work of the Holy Spirit (Zech. 4:6). I believe this takes a lot of responsibility out of preachers knowing that your job is just to preach and His job is to bring about repentance and He will always do His part.

[Miriam IfeanyiChukwu]

Introduction
According to the Strong’s Bible Concordance, the word ‘convict’ is the Greek word elegcho, which means to confute, admonish, convince, rebuke, or reprove.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘convict’(v) as finding or proving guilty or being convinced of error or sinfulness.
This is a legal term used in a courtroom where a prosecuting lawyer presents evidence to prove a case. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the truth, which brings awareness and leads to repentance.
An instance of the conviction of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is seen in John 16:8-11.
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
This scripture refers to the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the world and proves that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of:
1. Sin
The Greek word for ‘sin’ is harmartia meaning to miss the mark or fall short of God’s standard. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin. Notice that it is sin and not sins. The sin the Holy Spirit convicts the world of is the sin of unbelief (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit convicts men of sin because they do not believe in Jesus, He shows the world that unbelief, which is the rejection of Jesus and His message is sin and the root of all sin, and it is this sin that condemns people to spend eternity in hell (John 3:18). The work of the Holy Spirit is not to accuse men of the sin they are already aware of rather He brings them to a position where they are convinced of sin and seek repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Righteousness
The Greek word for righteousness is dikaiosune which means being right with God. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of righteousness because Jesus has gone to the Father (John 16:10). The Holy Spirit shows the world its unrighteousness and the righteousness of Jesus, that their righteousness is not dependent on any work they have done but upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Holy Spirit reveals the truth to the world that Jesus is the standard for righteousness. And that also, through His death, burial, and resurrection, He has demonstrated perfect obedience to the Father thereby convincing them to seek righteousness through Jesus alone.

3. Judgment
The Greek word for ‘judgment’ is krisis meaning a decision or verdict. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of judgment because the devil is judged (John 16:11). The Holy Spirit reveals God’s imminent judgment on the devil, this serves as a warning calling the world to repentance and the urgency of salvation.

Conclusion
The ministry of convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment is beyond any human ability, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is only the power of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of men that can bring the world to the saving grace of Christ and repentance leading to salvation.

[ambcovenant]

The conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit is clearly illustrated in the New Testament, particularly in the account of Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2. After Peter boldly preached to the crowds, proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus and calling them to repentance, the Holy Spirit moved in the hearts of the listeners. Acts 2:37 reveals the immediate response: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

This moment of conviction proves three significant things:

1. The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin: The first and most obvious evidence of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is His role in convicting individuals of their sin. When the crowd heard Peter’s message, they were deeply convicted about their rejection of Jesus, realizing the gravity of their actions. This conviction led them to ask what they should do, showing that the Spirit’s role is to make people aware of their sinful state and their need for salvation.

2. The Holy Spirit leads people to repentance: The conviction the crowd experienced did not leave them in despair; rather, it moved them toward repentance. This is further confirmed in Acts 2:38 when Peter replies, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Conviction by the Holy Spirit serves as a tool that pushes people toward turning away from their sins and seeking forgiveness.

3. The Holy Spirit prompts people to seek salvation: The Holy Spirit not only convicts of sin but also draws individuals to seek salvation through Jesus Christ. In Acts 2:37, the crowd’s response—asking, “What shall we do?”—indicates that the Holy Spirit not only convicts but also points people toward the solution: faith in Jesus Christ and repentance. It proves that the Spirit is instrumental in leading people to the point of salvation.

In conclusion, the ministry of the Holy Spirit in conviction is essential to the process of salvation. He brings awareness of sin, leads individuals to repentance, and guides them toward the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. These three aspects—conviction of sin, guidance toward repentance, and the call to salvation—are central to the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.

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