Acts 26:9 English Standard Version (ESV) “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”

Hebrews 11:1 English Standard Version (ESV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Convinced verses conviction. Convincing is an operation of the natural mind and subject to change. Paul was convinced by his teacher Gamaliel because his teacher was a learned man with a title to be respected. On the road to Damascus Paul was shown the truth.

The issue of conviction is related to who speaks the truth to us by faith. There is no changing of the mind because the issue is settled by faith in the heart where conviction rules.

Romans 12:2 English Standard Version (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The Spirit of truth changes our mind and our way of thinking.

Romans 8:5-6 English Standard Version (ESV) ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Living by faith is seeking the truth from He who is true, submitting ourselves to His Lordship, obeying by faith, and allowing Him to change both our hearts desires and our way of thinking.

Deuteronomy 29:4 English Standard Version (ESV) But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.

That is an OT truth because Christ had not come at that time.

Isaiah 32:3 English Standard Version (ESV) Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention.

A word of prophecy of what was to come after Christ’s work was done.

Ephesians 4:10-12 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Ephesians 4:11 teaches that one particular order of the ministry, distinguished from every other, is singled out by the Head of the church for this work in a distinctive sense. All may possess the gift of an evangelist in a measure, and be obligated to exercise its privilege and duty, but some are specially endued with it. “He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” It will be seen that as an order in the ministry, the evangelist precedes that of the pastor and teacher, a fact which harmonizes with the character of the work each is still recognized as doing. The evangelist has no fixed place of residence, but moves about in different localities, preaching the gospel to those ignorant of it before. As these are converted and united to Jesus Christ by faith, the work of the pastor and teacher begins, to instruct them further in the things of Christ and build them up in the faith. (Source International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia)

This is a clear indication that discipleship can only be performed on those who are recently born again. The work of the evangelist must happen first and conversion performed. The lost cannot be discipled because of one detail that is often overlooked and should be a part of every discipleship program.

1 Corinthians 8:2 English Standard Version (ESV)

² If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.

Imagination is a function of the natural mind. Truth is a revelation of the Spirit to those abiding in Christ. The lost do not have the Holy Spirit to guide them in all truth.