Conviction

Better to happen now than later.

“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;….” (John 16:8)

Forget most of what you think you know about security. Focus your attention on Jesus and read His “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew chapters 5,6&7) The beginning of this sermon is called “The Beatitudes.” Jesus starts by proclaiming the reasons that “certain people” will be blessed.

Jesus ends His sermon this way. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and do them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on a rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25) 

To be able to hear is simply the grace of God. To obey insures our safety. To hear and disregard the message of God Almighty, delivered by His Son, is not safe at all. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:26-27)

Jesus knows the cost of obedience. “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things that He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,….” (Hebrews 5:8-9)

Salvation is the gift of grace obtained by faith, and those who receive it “practice the truth.” (John 3:21)