⁸ “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment …”

This work of conviction belongs to the Holy Spirit alone, not to any human being. Yet it seems to be in human nature the desire to displace the Spirit’s work. The fine line between this and “judging” must bear the effort of further thought. Even about Jesus, the Word says, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17). So being like Christ, as we should be, does not involve judging others or bringing them to conviction.

Yet at the same time, we cooperate with the Spirit to keep in step with Him (Galatians 5:25). The word “convict” while here used in reference to the Spirit’s work, is also used in reference to the Word of God: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof [or convicting], for correction, for training in righteousness…” (2 Tim 3:16). The underlying word translated “reproof” is the noun form of the same word used in John 16:8 translated in verb form as “to convict.” Yet, note well it is not the preaching of the Word that brings conviction, but the Word itself that brings conviction. This is a crucial distinction.

The first application of 2 Timothy 3:16 is not that Timothy should use the Word to bring conviction in other people. Rather, it will bring conviction in his own life, so that he, Timothy, as “the man of God” might be “adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:17). Timothy’s task, of course, was to “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction? (2 Tim 4:2). Again, the word “reprove” here is the same word, now in verb form. Timothy was to bring conviction to others by preaching the Word! But this convicting was not independent of the Word, not just based on the Word, and not just quoting a verse or two out of context. This convicting is the Word of God at work in people’s lives, just like it is the work of the Word of God at work in Timothy’s life, and in all of our lives.

The point is that conviction is not something that comes through our own personal assessment and moral judgment of another person’s life. We cannot possibly know his or her motives and inner thoughts. But, “the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12).

Lord, help me to not take the place of the Holy Spirit in judging others and forcing conviction on them.