The Evidence of Conversion

Introduction: I want to begin by stating what should be a well-known biblical facts: If anyone truly embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ their lives are transformed. No one can encounter the living God and remain the same. The New Testament leaves no doubt that true conversion brings about transformation. Listen to a few examples:

Acts 9:17–22 NKJV

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that we are a part of a whole new creation that is replacing the old that is passing away.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

James 2:17-18 states that faith which does not produce works is not genuine faith. It is dead!

James 2:17–18 NKJV

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

In other words, faith is at work in the true believer transforming their thoughts and actions. We are being changed by the awestruck glory of God. Paul compares it to looking in the face of God and being transformed into His likeness. 2 Corinthians 3:18

2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We cannot become the dwelling place of God and not be changed. As Matt Black sings in his song Grace Parade. “You can come as you are, but you won’t stay the same, when you’re following Jesus in the grace parade.”

The story of Naaman in 2 Kings reflects this point. Naaman is an example of an Old Testament conversion. We have looked at his position prior to conversion, his conversion process, and today we will look at the evidence of his conversion. Let’s pick up his story in 2 Kings 5:14-19

2 Kings 5:14–19 NKJV

14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 So Naaman said, “Then, if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord. 18 Yet in this thing may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord please pardon your servant in this thing.” 19 Then he said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a short distance.

When Naaman obeyed the word of the Lord through Elisha, he was cleansed and made whole. I want us to recognize some obvious changes that took place in Naaman’s life.

Immediate Outward Changes.

We can start with some of the most obvious.

He was no longer a leper. His flesh was restored. Everyone would have known just by looking that something had happened to Naaman.

I have heard more that one testimony from those who have trusted Christ that those closest to them notice something different even before they share what happened.

His status and position was immediately changed. No longer an enemy and no longer a leper.

What a picture of being born of the water and the Spirit.

Water represents the same as it does today a cleansing. Our sins are washed away by the soul cleansing work of Christ on the cross.

Naaman’s restored flesh represents the new creature we become when we are born again.

Where D.A. Carson states in his commentary on the Gospel of John that water and spirit come together so forcefully, first to signify cleansing from impurity, and the second to depict the transformation of heart that will enable people to follow God wholly.

The second noticeable change in Naaman is he has a face to face with Elisha after his conversion. In fact, it seems that Elisha is waiting on him when he returns. Naaman has this new respect for Elisha as his spiritual leader.

I have heard pastors say that the only prayer a lost person can pray is the prayer of repentance. I don’t agree with that. I believe a lost person can pray and by His grace God even answers. What I would say is a lost person doesn’t pray like a Christian.

We come with confidence.

We come with intimacy.

We engage in dialogue with our creator.

We sense and experience a connection between us and God.

We hear from God in His word.

Third, Naaman had a fear and thankfulness of God, based on experience. Listen to 2 Kings 5:15

2 Kings 5:15 NKJV

15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”

Fourth, Naaman is no longer angry. He doesn’t feel cheated or unsatisfied. He has found a balm for his soul, he has found what he truly longed for. Money, fame, power, or success had not given Naaman anything but leprosy. Faith in God had cleansed the inside and outside.

Fifth, Naaman wanted to identify with Israel not Syria. Look in 2 Kings 5:17

2 Kings 5:17 NKJV

17 So Naaman said, “Then, if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord.

He takes this earth to build an altar out of Isreali soil to identify with the people and God of Israel. Much like we identify with Christ and the church through baptism, communion, and gathering regularly.

Conversion comes with immediate, observable changes. If not, it should concern us. It doesn’t mean that you’re a fake if you’re lacking it. You may have done what you thought you should or what someone told you. God may deal with us several times before we grasp the Gospel and repentance. It’s not unusual for us to stop short of surrender.

If you make a compromise with surrender, you can remain interested in the abundant life, all the riches of freedom, love, and peace, but it is the same as looking at a display in a shop window. You look through the window but do not go in and buy. You will not pay the price—surrender.

Eli Stanley Jones (Missionary Statesman)

Ongoing Inward and Outward Changes.

Did you notice Naaman’s concern in 2 Kings 5:17-19

2 Kings 5:17–19 NKJV

17 So Naaman said, “Then, if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord. 18 Yet in this thing may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord please pardon your servant in this thing.” 19 Then he said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a short distance.

This conversion experience wasn’t something longed into the history book, but rather written into his planner. It was a past experience with ongoing results.

Naaman said that he would worship no one or nothing else besides God.

Now, let’s pause here for a minute. That’s easy to say, but harder to do.

Naaman lived in a world, culture, and occupation that was filled with idols. He realized that and the challenges of it.

He didn’t see this as a light matter. He assured Elisha that although he was around it, that he would not give his heart to it.

We live in a culture where everything flaunts itself as an idol and demands our worship.

We run this risk of vaunting any good thing above God. The issue is still just as serious, and the danger is even more real for us.

Making a living is good, but we make our job an idol by finding our identity, value, and meaning in it rather than Christ.

Tim Keller stated in his book “Counterfeit Gods,” that more than other idols, personal success and achievement lead to a sense that we ourselves are god, that our security and value rest in our own wisdom, strength, and performance. To be the very best at what you do, to be the top of the heap, means no one is like you. You are supreme.

Money is necessary and we should be wise in securing it, but we make it a God by falling to its seductive power.

Have you ever noticed that no one sees themselves as greedy or confesses to greed? Why? Because no matter how much we amass, we are blind to greed.

That is how powerfully seductive greed is. We always need a little more so that we can spend and still feel secure.

If we aren’t careful money, what it will buy, the power it brings, or the security it affords will own our hearts.

I could continue with the beautiful family that God gives us and we turn into idols of misplaced affections, but the point is the evidence of conversion is an ongoing, deepening love for, and worshipping of God alone.

We keep things in balance. We keep our heart in balance! We keep our affections in balance.

We keep good things, lovely things, beautiful things in their place. But they don’t own our hearts. Only God does that!

I’m not sure if any other song speaks to this better than “Come Thy Fount of Every Blessing.” It goes like this: Oh to grace how great a debtor, Daily I’m constrained to be. Let thy goodness like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.

Like Naaman and even more so, we are surround by idolatry. It is seducing us, calling to us online and in the streets. It is everywhere. But here is the difference between us and Naaman.

We have the freedoms that Naaman didn’t have.

We may face ridicule but we can pursue God with all of our hearts, because we are free.

We live in a free nation, but more so, we are set free by Jesus Christ. Come what may!

What’s the Key to this Transforming Power?

Jesus Christ is the key.

How does this text point to Christ?

The suffering little servant.