The Key To Salvation Is Conviction

THE THIEF ON THE CROSS

     One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Jesus, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" But the other thief rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong. "And he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43

     Two thieves sentenced to death, one was lost in his sin being hard hearted and crying out to Jesus to save him, not his soul, his flesh! The other thief was under conviction for his sins and asked Jesus to remember him when He entered His kingdom and Jesus said that he would be with Him that very day!

    Now what is interesting, today the thief would have gone to Hell because he didn't pray the sinner's prayer, wasn't baptized, didn't join the church and didn't walk an isle or make a profession of faith, he just said, "Remember me!" So, what was the key to his salvation, "Conviction!"

    The thief was convicted of his sins by the Holy Spirit and in essence asked Jesus to remember him which was an act of faith believing Jesus was in fact the Son of God! Conviction is always first in the steps to true conversion, because one must be convicted of his sins in order to be saved! Many have prayed, joined, walked an isle, been baptized and confessed Jesus as their Lord but without the conviction of the Holy Spirit it is to no avail!

     For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

 PETER PREACHES REPENTANCE

     "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ. "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart (convicted) and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Acts 2:36,37

     Thousands heard the sound of Heaven's mighty wind and the disciples speaking in their various languages and then Peter preaches the gospel and the Holy Spirit began to convict their hearts that they were indeed, lost!

    Crying out they asked Peter what they should do being convicted of their sins and in torment of mind and soul. Peter told them to repent of their sins and turn from their wicked ways in order to be saved and receive forgiveness. Today's gospel has been perverted in that conviction and repentance have been removed and replaced by a simple prayer that when prayed without conviction avails nothing!

    The apostle Paul warned the Galatian church that if anyone perverted the gospel of Christ or preached a different gospel they should be accursed! He was adamant about this and made it very clear that even if an angel from Heaven preached a different gospel he should also be accursed! The Word states that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God and all must be convicted as sinners in order to be saved!

     Then Peter said to them, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38

 THE DAMASCUS ROAD

     As Saul journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from Heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Acts 9:3,4

     Saul was a persecutor of the church and was going to Damascus to continue his work to destroy the disciple's new found faith and bring them to Jerusalem bound to be judged. Saul was about to be convicted of his sins and gloriously saved and filled with the Holy Spirit.

    Blinded by the light of God, Saul, soon to be Paul was taken to Damascus and a disciple named Ananias was told by the Lord to go a street called Straight and he would find a man called Saul praying and to pray for him to receive his sight and be filled with the Spirit. The powerful conviction of God transformed Saul into a New Man who would in turn become one of the greatest men of God who ever lived!

    Conviction transforms our conscience and purifies our motives as the Holy Spirit indwells us upon our conversion! Are you born again, have you been convicted that you are a sinner? If not you may not be saved because you have to be under the conviction of the Holy Spirit's all seeing ability to gaze upon our heart!

     Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry; but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death. II Corinthians 7:9,10

 Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
   Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ