Conversion

Mark of Conversion

Romans 6:1-14 New Testament

Introduction

Over the next few weeks, we enter a spring/summer series as attendance is typically lower and the church is transitioning, I felt lead to preach through the 9 Marks of a Healthy church. Some of you are committing to remain with Highland, others of you I am sure are praying if you are leaving Highland. The prayer I have for you as we hear the word of God and insight on the 9 marks of a healthy church, is you would gain clarity of the minister you are to call to Highland, clarity on the direction you desire for Highland, and for those of you who are leaving may it bring clarity to the church you are to belong too.

It is never easy for a church or a Christian to self-examine, I too have had to self-examine myself brutally over the last year and at different seasons of my life. There are areas in each Christians life and churches life to where they do not meet the standards of the law of God, and there are season to where backsliding happens. The grace of God throughout Church history has supplied men to call on the Christian and the churches to repentance. The Christian that believes their church is perfect, or their Christian life, is sinning against God.

The call of the Christian church and the Christian is to pursue holiness not for salvation as Rome teaches, but rather out of the salvation given. The law of God is never removed in the New Covenant, rather it is fulfilled and then placed upon the hearts rather than stone. What does happen in the Christian life and the Christian church the way of the Lord can indeed become stone for the believer and the church.

As we examine the 9 marks of a healthy church, there will be much to which it will also cause self-examination. What you will find is sin both within yourself and within the church of Highland; that should not withdraw you to anger but rather to a place of repentance. Sin indeed grieves the Holy Ghost, and our very own sin ought to grieve our own soul.

Illustration:

Most children do not want to displease their parent’s and are truly grateful for being the child of said parent’s. Occasionally and more rampant today children are growing up to reject their parent’s and not be obedient. These two distinct relationships can often happen within the same household. The child of obedience and pure relationship has a strong bond with father and mother, the child of disobedience over a period of time usually departs from the family, and lives their own rebellious life. We see this clearly within scripture regarding the house of Israel.

The House of Israel

God has a covenant people that includes on this side of judgement those elect who are truly of Israel and those that take part of covenant blessings like Essau who part of the covenant but God hates. Within the Christian church we see this, holding to Covenant Theology I view the church as being the fulfillment of Israel. Our children properly are baptized as infants (or the Baptist, baptized without water) they are marked with the covenant, with biblical parent’s are raised in the church and take part in the blessings of being part of a covenant family. They have right to pray to God, they have right to give of their worship, they have right to the word of God, and so forth.

However, this is not enough to save them from the final day of judgement, the child of the covenant is still called to be born again. Jacob was elected unto salvation before he left the womb and Essau already condemned. Jacob had to still encounter God and surrender, in New Testament language to be born again. He was a child under the Abrahamic Covenant but that does not save him, only the promise which come through His line would save him.

In much the same way the Christian born into the church or even having become part of one in later years does not make the Christian saved; he or she is simply benefiting from the covenant body but must decide to place their faith in Christ. It is what the Calvinist properly calls regeneration or as Mark Dever states the mark of conversion.

Point # 1 Regeneration

Jesus throughout his ministry calls for repentance and for one to be born again. This is without error the basic tenet of Christianity. We must look at regeneration in three ways to understand biblical conversion.

A. Regeneration is a gift from God and is neither received on ones own will or can’t be rejected on ones own. It is the Father’s will to give man over to His son as Pleases, Jacob I loved, Essau I hated.

B. Regeneration is a complete change of nature. Jacob was a deceitful brother whose character was greatly flawed, but upon Jacob came the name Israel. Israel is not Jacob, but Jacob becomes Israel.

C. Regeneration inherits the righteousness of Christ and the covenant of grace which is never removed. The seal of your baptism which is first marked with water in the name of the triune God, is not sealed in His spirit which gave the Christian life.

Point # 2 The Life of a Christian

What is this life of a born again Christian?

A. It is a life whose total focus is to please the triune God, to give worship and glory in all things. If this is not your gaze or purpose of life then you maybe a Christian by name only and are not saved. You could very well be in a period of backsliding, but be warned a season of backsliding is the call to remember your baptism, a life of backsliding is a warning to repent.

B. It is a life that no longer lives for self. The Christian life is a self-denial lifestyle. The Christian life is one of service to neighbor and enemy in the name of Jesus.

C. It is a life connected to the covenant body of Christ. Do not forsake the fellowship of the saints.

Point # 3 The Christian Church Born Again

You have the Church which includes all of God’s elect and the elect make up differing local churches in different areas of the world or even city. The local church should membership (I am not referring to those who are seeking Christ and attend) should only include baptized born again believers and their children. Too often and I have fallen to this fallacy, we believe that everyone who professes Christ is saved, but even Satan knows who the Lord Jesus is. Membership is for born again believers and their Children, this produces if the bible is preached, biblical theology upheld, and church discipline in place, churches that are born again.

The local church is made up of members of the elect Church. This church should be one that is

A. Desiring to worship God purely not according the imaginations of men or devices of men, but solely on His law for His glory.

B. The local church is active in blessing their community and advancing the preaching of the word of God

C. Is committed to discipleship among each other

While there are nine marks of a healthy church, these traits are signs of a converted church. How do you examine if all three are being met?

A. Is the church’s worship based upon the word of God to worship Him and glorify him? Or is their arguing over what color the rugs need to be and how often we do potlucks? This is a clear sign of unbelief within the Church whose focus is on self- happiness country club mentality rather than did the preacher preach God’s word today? Was the gospel heard? Did our songs of praise glorify Him or were they inventions of man? Were the sacraments present? Was the name of Jesus promoted high and lifted?

B. Is the local church blessing her community? If any church were to die, other than the members present would the community care or worse even notice? If she is not being a blessing to her community, are the Christians within that church born again? Remember the born again Christian lives a self-less life, and if the local church is made up of the Elect church then the local church should be a blessing to their community.

C. Is discipleship being had and active within the church? Iron sharpens iron, disciples make disciples. Pastors are called to equip the saints for ministry empowering you the member to find one person to disciple who will then disciple another. This is how churches multiply, when disciples make disciples who make disciples.

Point # 4 Application

Christian

A. Is your life’s mission to glorify God in the purity of the worship He demands?

B. Is your life self-less and taking up its cross?

C. Is your life fully committed to the covenant body of both the elect church and a local church.

Church

A. Examine your worship? Is it biblical or based on preference? I am referring even outside of the music we sing

B. Examine our blessing to the community? What does Galloway Perceive Highland as? How would Galloway say we have blessed them recently?

C. Is discipleship happening? Who are you discipling?

Gospel Conclusion

Christian, church, no man can ever be born again without the effectual calling of the Holy Spirit. No Christian will ever be declared righteous on their own accord. But it was Christ who took on your sins and it is Christ who raised from the dead on the third day gives you life to live for His glory. The Westminster Confession of Faith Catechism states the “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Christian your life is not yours and the local church is not yours, it is Christ’s and to Him be the glory forever.