Do you know the difference between real Christian conviction and mere belief? Whether you stay in God's Church may depend on your answer!
At the time of his baptism, George (not his real name) said he would never leave God's Church. He would always keep close to God and walk with Him, no matter what happened.
George was a student at Ambassador College. He had waited until his senior year to be baptized, because he wanted to be sure of himself.
Within a decade, George was gone.
Why? What caused him to turn away from the truth? What made him become an unbeliever? And how can you be sure that you will not follow his bad example?
Are you convinced of your beliefs?
One day the father of a sick boy came to Christ and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid" (Mark 9:17–18). The man further stated that Christ's disciples had been unable to heal the boy.
"How long has this been happening to him?" asked Christ. The father answered, "From childhood… if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us" (vv. 21–22).
A pathetic cry from the father, beseeching Christ's help for his son! The man was not sure whether Christ would—or could—do anything. But when he heard that "all things are possible" with God, he immediately cried out and said, "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief" (vv. 23–24).
Do you understand the true meaning of that request? The father wanted to believe, but needed help to dissipate his doubts. He needed help to overcome his unbelief.
Every one of us at times has some doubts. We want to believe— we think we believe—but we are not totally convinced.
If, for instance, you were asked, "Do you believe this i s God's Church?" your answer would certainly be, "Yes, I do."
But would you give the same positive answer if you were asked, "Are you totally convinced of it?"
To be totally convinced, you must have overcome all of your doubts once and for all. If those who have left the Church had been totally convinced that this is God's Church, they would have never left it.
George, the student at Ambassador College, merely believed. He was not totally convinced. That is why he is no longer with us.
There is a big difference between believing and being convinced. Once you are convinced, you have passed the point of no return. You can never go back. You have overcome all your arguments and doubts.
Requires Conviction
All of us in God's Church need more conviction, not just simple belief. The difference between one who stays in the Church and one who leaves is the difference between believing with conviction and believing without conviction.
The Bible defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).
A major part of faith is conviction, a quality some in God's Church lack today. Did you know that the words convicted, convinced, and even refute are derived from the same root?
In Acts 18, we learn that Apollos, a Jew, used the Old Testament to prove to his own people that Christ was the Messiah. Eloquent in speech and well versed in the Scriptures, "he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John" (v. 25).
Why was Apollos able to convince the people? The fact that he himself was totally convinced of his beliefs helped considerably, "for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ" (v. 28).
Can you do that? Can you "refute" someone with the Scriptures, as Apollos did, showing that Jesus is the Christ? You should be able to if you are totally convinced of this truth, and if you are conquered by the Spirit of God.
Notice the Bible's simple, beautiful description of Abraham's conviction: "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform" (Romans 4:20–21).
This is faith with conviction. It opens all doors and helps you resist all temptations. It overcomes all feelings of discouragement or defeat. If you have this sort of conviction you can be sure you will always remain in God's Church.
Faith in Action
Do you sometimes take the truth for granted? You should not! Make the effort to check up on things, to prove and understand them.
Conviction requires action. It requires effort. Deepening your conviction requires great effort. You have to work harder, push harder, study and pray more.
Sadly, some in God's Church are not doing that. And their belief has no conviction!
One day four men brought a paralytic to Christ. But they could not get near Jesus because of the crowd around Him.
The men knew—they were convinced— that if Christ saw the paralytic He would heal him. Consequently, their task was to find a way to get near Him. They were determined to do their part.
"And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying" (Mark 2:4).
Imagine—they came right through the roof! Their faith stirred them to action. Removing the roof was not an easy task. It took ingenuity and effort, but they succeeded.
Christ marveled and said, "Son, your sins are forgiven you" (v. 5). And the man was healed.
Can you neglect your responsibility and honestly expect God to do everything for you? Conviction requires much more than folding your arms and passively waiting for something to happen.
The Bible also relates the story of a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for 12 years. She "came from behind [Christ] and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, 'If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well'" (Matthew 9:20–21). Notice! The woman was convinced in her mind that if she touched Christ's garment she would be made well. She found her way through the crowd to Christ and touched Him.
Christ turned and said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well" (v. 22). And she was healed.
Is your faith without conviction— without action?
God's Church today is on the right track. But each one of us needs conviction to be able to remain on the right track. It is high time we all realize this! Faith requires conviction and action!
Jesus gave us an example in everything—in attitude, conviction and love. He knew why He was on earth. He was totally convinced of His mission and what His Father expected of Him. We, too, must be convinced of our calling and of our mission. The conviction of Christ must be in us through God's Holy Spirit.
A Positive Attitude
Look how Christ prayed before Lazarus was brought back to life. He lifted His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me" (John 11:41).
What a positive way to start a prayer! That is total conviction! Before asking anything of God, Christ stated, "I thank You that You have heard Me."
How did Christ know God heard Him? Because of His conviction: "I know that You always hear Me" (v. 42). Then Christ added, "I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me"
That was Christ's whole prayer. The only thing left for Him to do was to order Lazarus to come forth. And Lazarus came forth.
If you ever heard Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong's prayer when he anointed someone, you knew what prayer with conviction was. Humbly, but boldly and forcefully, Mr. Armstrong would claim God's promise of healing, reminding God that when we repent of our sins and turn to Him in faith, He promises to heal us. We all need this type of conviction in our prayers.
Some Do Not Want To Be Convinced
Some people pass by the truth without noticing it. Others stumble onto it. Still others learn something about the truth but are not willing to be convinced by it, for fear or having to change their way of life!
King Agrippa was in that last group. He did not want to be convinced. He felt he had no need of conversion.
When Festus asserted that the Apostle Paul's great learning had driven him mad, Paul answered: "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner" (Acts 26:25–26).
Then Paul asked: "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe" (v. 27).
Yes, indeed, King Agrippa believed, but was not willing to be convinced. "You almost persuade me to become a Christian," he said (v. 28). But he resisted.
He was happy to be a king, happy to live the way he did. No need for him to change anything— certainly not to become a Christian, which would have meant giving up many things in his life, turning away from lust and observing the teachings of the Bible. All that was too much to ask of King Agrippa.
Could this be your attitude? Do you sometimes deceive yourself, hoping God will "understand" when you know you are neglecting your part? Do you close your mind to certain aspects of the truth that would require changing things in your life that you do not want to change?
James wrote that "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17).
The "works" mentioned in this verse refer to your part in faith. These "works" may require changing your habits, your way of thinking and living. It may mean, for you, praying more, studying more or being a better example.
If you are not fulfilling your part, you cannot be convinced that God will answer your prayers. "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble" (v. 19). Yes, even demons believe, but they are not convinced to obey God!
The disciples of Christ, before their conversion, were not really convinced. They only "believed" in Christ. Think of it! After spending three-and-a-half years with Jesus, after hearing Him teach day and night, they still had doubts in their minds. They were not totally convinced of the truth. They lacked God's Spirit. They could go no farther than the limits imposed by their human minds.
The disciples were indignant when Christ told them that soon they would all fall away because of Him, and that "the sheep of the flock will be scattered" (Matthew 26:31).
Peter objected vehemently to this pronouncement. "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble," Peter assured Christ (v. 33).
Peter was sure of himself, but he was not fully convinced, even though he thought he was! He believed with his carnal mind, without having the spiritual strength to back his belief.
Christ told him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times" (v. 34).
Once again, Peter did not agree with that statement. He would prove his Master wrong! "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You," he answered (v. 35). Ironically, all of the disciples said the same thing to Christ. Nevertheless, when the multitude came to accost Jesus, they all "forsook him and fled" (v. 56).
However, the disciples' attitudes totally changed after their conversion. They became men of courage, faith and conviction after receiving the Holy Spirit!
Today, in the Church of God, we too have received this Spirit of faith and courage and conviction. We must allow it to convince us. Sadly, some are not using God's Spirit to help them grow in conviction.
Do you perhaps believe that if you personally witnessed a great miracle you would be convinced? Humans are prone to forget—even a miracle!
You have read many times the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. When the rich man saw what was happening to him, he cried out for help for the other members of his family: "I beg you therefore, father [Abraham], that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment" (Luke 16:27–28).
Abraham answered, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them" (v. 29). The rich man wanted a miracle, hoping it would help his five brothers to be convinced. "No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent" (v. 30).
That is human reasoning! That is what the world wants to believe. Christians, today, think they would repent and believe if they saw Christ return with power and glory! But they are mistaken. Miracles by themselves cannot convince anyone permanently.
As Abraham said, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead" (v. 31).
Likewise, if you cannot be convinced with what is already revealed in the Bible, no miracle can ever convince you! Actually, conviction requires that you do something—not that a miracle or anything else be done for you.
The Miracle of Your Calling
The greatest miracle in your life took place when God called you and gave you His Spirit after baptism.
As John wrote, "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent" (Revelation 3:3).
Yes, indeed, remember the way you were called, how it all happened, the miracle of being among the very few God is now calling!
Read and study the Bible with this in mind. Learn how the men of God fought, how they endeavored to overcome their doubts and difficulties.
Yet, in the final analysis, it was always God who led them to victory. They did not win their battles—God did. He wins all of our battles. But we must be convinced of it and do our part—fulfill our obligations.
If you are completely convinced and convicted of God's truth, nothing can make you turn away from God. You will not have any doubt that you are in God's Church and that Christ is the Head of the Church. You can trust Him implicitly!
As Paul wrote: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35–39).
This is full conviction. It is living faith!