Be Converted

If I was to lay out certain symptoms for you, you may be able to take an educated guess of what the problem may be. You may not be able to determine what the problem may be. For example:

If a male in his early 20’s has reconstructive knee surgery. He gets home and within 24 - 48 hours he notices increase heat around the incision, he begins to run a fever, possibly gets a headache, becomes nauseated and soon he realizes how puffy, red, and swollen the incision area has remained.

Let’s say we took a bigger body, like the body of Christ in a local place and gave you some symptoms. For example:

people who are excited about heaven, but they are bored about Christians and the local church

people who are bothered more by other people’s sins than their own

professions of faith made, but not remaining fruit

a membership roll that is twice or three times the size of actual attendance

What would you say the problem may be? One man has rightly assessed:

The problem may well be our practical theology of conversion. - Michael Lawrence (Conversion)

Conversion, Example of

Luis Palau tells of a woman in Peru whose life was radically transformed by the power of Christ. Rosario was her name. She was a terrorist, a brute of a woman who was an expert in several martial arts. In her terrorist activities she had killed twelve policemen. When Luis conducted a crusade in Lima, she learned of it and, being incensed at the message of the gospel, made her way to the stadium to kill Luis.

Inside the stadium, as she contemplated how to get to him, she began to listen to the message he preached on hell. She fell under conviction for her sins and embraced Christ as her Savior.

Ten years later, Luis met this convert for the first time. She had by then assisted in the planting of five churches; was a vibrant, active witness and worker in the church; and had founded an orphanage that houses over one thousand children.252

Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 81). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

What is the theology of Conversion?

Are you absolutely certain that you have it correct?

If not, are you humble enough to admit if you don’t?

What’s the worst that can happen?

We would give false assurance to those who are not really converted

We would have a church of unregenerate people

We would have to continue to resort to moralistic teaching because they would not really have the power to organically live the Christian life

We would have a big membership on books that is larger than actual attendance

SPURGEON - Suppose you did deceive the church, thou art not the first that did it. There are some members of this church, I fear, who have done so, and we have not found them out. I tell you your case is not hopeless. That is not the unpardonable sin. Some who have tried to deceive the very elect have yet been delivered; and my Master says he is able to save to the uttermost (and ye have not gone beyond the uttermost) all who come unto him. Come thou, then, to his feet; cast thyself on his mercy; and though thou didst once enter his camp as a spy, he will not hang thee up for it, but will be glad to get thee anyhow as a trophy of mercy.

Spurgeon, C. H. (1855). Conversion. In The New Park Street Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 1, pp. 345–346). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Proposition: It is absolutely imperative that we know and believe the clear teaching of scripture regarding conversion.

(1) There are posted requirements for conversion -

(a) the requirement of knowing the meaning of conversion (v. 19)

in both Judaism and Christianity, it means a turning from old ways to the practices of a new faith - LBD

Conversion is our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation. - Grudem

Conversion is our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation.

Illustrated:

It is here, where we are confronted with the fact that it is a “reorientation of worship” - Michael Lawrence (9Marks - “Conversion”)

(b) the requirement of knowledge, repentance & faith (v. 16 - 19)

(v. 17) Knowledge - ignorant

These were people who were religiously active in their ignorance

(v. 16, 18) Faith in Christ - this is a faith that trusts God and no one else -

There is “Good Deed” faith

There is “Remember the Date” faith

There is “Decision Card” faith

There is “Sincere enough” faith

(v. 19) Repentance

the "therefore" shows how through the resurrection, God has shown the foolishness and wickedness of rejecting Jesus (Pillar)

It is added here (kai epistrepsate) and in 26:20 to indicate that genuine repentance involves a radical reorientation of life, turning back to God to seek reconciliation and to express a new obedience (cf. 2:38 note). Informed belief is an essential aspect of repentance: there can be now no genuine turning to God without acknowledging the centrality of Jesus to God’s purpose, as proclaimed in Peter’s message.

Peterson, D. G. (2009). The Acts of the Apostles (p. 179). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

It is a matter of the heart before it is a matter of the hands.

“If repentance really is a change of worship, then our churches must not pressure people to make hasty, ill-considered "decisions" for Jesus, and then offer them quick assurance.”

Application/Transition:

Mark 1:14–15 KJV 1900

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Thus, when we look at the posted requirements for conversion, we note that there is a complete reorientation of worship.

Thus, when we look at the posted requirements for conversion, we note that there is a complete reorientation of worship.

A genuine convert will know that they are converted then by the orientation of their worship.

Their hearts are oriented around the Person of Jesus Christ

What then should you mean when you say, “Do you want to ask Jesus into your heart to save you?”

Conclusion #1

Real Change: Conversion Conversion Is God’s Work in Us

The nineteenth-century preacher Roland Hill once told a story of how a drunken man came up to him and said, “I am one of your converts, Mr. Hill.” “I daresay you are,” replied that shrewd and sensible preacher; “but you are none of the Lord’s, or you would not be drunk.”

Real Change: Conversion Our Work

Rather, conversion is turning with our whole lives from self-justification to Christ’s justification, from self-rule to God’s rule, from idol worship to God worship.

Questions:

Is your heart (not life) oriented around the Person of Jesus Christ?

Who or what dominates your passions on Monday?

Are you excited about heaven, but you are bored with Christians & the local church?

Are you more concerned with the sins of others than you are your own heart sins?

What are your greatest anxieties? How do you deal with them?

Does your religious activity seem to be the drudgery of your life? His commandments are NOT grievous.

When you say that Jesus is your Savior, what do you actually mean?

Simply that you asked Him to come into your heart???

OR that He became the supreme focus of your worship?

Are you examining yourselves right now?

Do you have the Holy Spirit confirming from within you that you are His child or do you have conviction that you are NOT?

(2) There are potential recipients for conversion - ,

(a) The potential recipients for this are both Jews and Gentiles

the seed of the privileged need to be converted

all families of the earth need to be converted

(3) There are pressing reasons for conversion -

(a) Reason #1 - Because we are irreparably dirty

blotted out - wipe out, wipe away, erase, remove, obliterate -

- God destroying every living substance

the bow as a reminder of covenant not to destroy

- blotting out transgressions according to his tender mercies

(b) Reason #2 - Because a future time of relief/restoration

"refreshing" - relief

"restitution" - restoration;

(4) There are perceptible results of conversion - ,

If we would make it evident that our conversion is sound, we must loathe and hate sin from the heart. - Richard Sibbes

Ritzema, E., & Vince, E. (Eds.). (2013). 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Puritans. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

"Jonathan Edwards described the regenerate person as someone who has been given a taste for God, like someone who has tasted honey and now has a sense of its sweetness." [9Marks, Michael Lawrence “Conversion”]

True conversion is then:

(1) A reorientation of worship.

(2) Is for all people.

(3) Takes place by knowledge of Christ, Repentance from self/sin, + faith in Jesus Christ

(4) Has clear distinguishable evidences.

A genuine convert [Lawrence, “Conversion”, 9Marks]:

loves fellow Christians and the local church because he or she loves God ()

desired fellowship with God, and not just ease in heaven (, )

understands that following Jesus means discipleship ()

obeys God out of love for God ()

is eager to confess and turn away from his or her sin ()

holds grace costly and his own desires cheap (, )

Dietrick Bonhoeffer put it well when he said, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."

Augustine was in Milan when God touched his heart and changed his life. He then left his former life of license (he even had an illegitimate son). When he returned home, his former girl friend called to him: “Augustine, Augustine, it is I.” He turned and said: “Yes, but it is not I.”254

Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 82). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Real Change: Conversion Conversion Is God’s Work in Us

The nineteenth-century preacher Roland Hill once told a story of how a drunken man came up to him and said, “I am one of your converts, Mr. Hill.” “I daresay you are,” replied that shrewd and sensible preacher; “but you are none of the Lord’s, or you would not be drunk.”

Real Change: Conversion Our Work

Rather, conversion is turning with our whole lives from self-justification to Christ’s justification, from self-rule to God’s rule, from idol worship to God worship.