essential reading

Now the message of comfort, which God sends to His people, especially for the days immediately preceding His coming, is this, “Behold your God!” (Isa. 40:9). That means that as a necessary preparation for His coming, He wants us to know our own lack of righteousness by beholding His righteousness. 

Conviction is showing a man that he is guilty. Condemnation is the putting of the sentence upon him.