Many of us know what it is like to feel convicted, especially after sinning. Even non-Christians experience some level of conviction in their conscience because of sin (John 16:8, Rom 2:15). Though we may try to drown our guilt by taking substances and medications; or distract our troubled minds with hobbies and activities; or absolve our sins through self-improvement and religious penance; the Spirit of God has very different goals in mind when it comes to the convicted sinner.

I find it ironic, in our modern age of medicine and self-help, that a Puritan writer from 1662 could offer such insight into this issue today. Yet William Gurnall in The Christian in Complete Armour outlines four timeless goals that the Spirit of God has for the convicted sinner.

The Evil of All Sin…

First, a convicted sinner is convicted not of one particular sin only, but of the evil of all sin. It is a bad sign when a person passionately condemns one sin but ignores another (James 2:10) … The Spirit of God is uniform in His work.¹

The State of Sin…

Secondly, the convicted sinner is convicted of the state of sin as well as of acts of sin. He is affected not only by what he has done – this law broken and that mercy abused – but also by his present condition… (Acts 8:23). While many people are willing to confess they have sinned, they would not think of admitting they live in a state of sin and death. The convicted soul, however, freely accepts this sentence of death and owns up to his condition…¹

A Condemned Prisoner…

Thirdly, the convicted sinner not only condemns himself for what he has done and for what he is, but he realizes he cannot do anything to save himself. Although many condemned people will go so far as to confess their sin and wickedness, they hope to cut the rope from their neck at the last minute by repentance and good works. They want to redeem their credit with God and recover His favor. This attitude surfaces because the plow of conviction has not gone deep enough to tear up those secret roots of self-confidence which entangle the heart of every sinner.

The sinner who is thoroughly convicted by the Spirit, however, sees himself like a condemned prisoner held by so many irons that escape is impossible… If you cling to the self-confidence of repentance and reformation, they will betray you into the hands of God’s justice and wrath. But if you have turned away from this religious self-confidence, you have escaped one of the finest snares that the wit of hell can weave.¹

The Full Provision…

Fourthly, not only is the convicted sinner so convicted that he knows he is helpless, but he welcomes the full provision laid up in Christ for him… Without it the soul convicted of sin is more likely to go to the gallows with Judas, or fall on the sword of the law, than to run to Christ.¹

And what is the full provision… laid up in Christ… for the convicted sinner?

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” – Romans 3:23-24

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:8-9

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:22

References:

1. William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, Volume 3, 1662.