In Search of the Lord's Way was not intended to be of a "question and answer" format. But, when so many of our viewers are seeking answers to similar questions, we want to be relevant, and we are happy to accommodate them with a Bible answer when we can. Such is today's message.
Thank you, my friend for joining our Bible study in search of the Lord's way to become and to be a Christian. We sincerely pray we will both be blessed by our study together. Let me tell you first that we are here through the generosity and because of the love of members of churches of Christ in the area of this station, so you won't be annoyed with appeals to send us money. I like it that way. But please, do worship with a church of Christ at your very first opportunity, will you do that? And tell them "thanks" for their part in the SEARCH program.
Today we are studying about "conversion." It is a familiar word to most of us. It means "a change." The verb form "convert" means "to change." For example, we change (or we convert) cotton in the field into a shirt or other wearing apparel. Or we convert the wheat we see as we drive alongside the field into breakfast cereal that we had for our breakfast this morning. flour. And taken a step further the good cook converts that wheat into good bread that we have on the table. Well, we are going to see that the Bible uses these words in those same ways but with a spiritual application.
If you think you might want a free printed copy or an audio cassette tape-- or even a CD-- of the message, we will gladly send you one. Just mail your request to In Search of the Lord's Way, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083. Or by e-mail, to searchtv@aol.com. Our toll-free telephone number is 1-800-321-8633. Don't be afraid that if you give us your address we will annoy you with letters of appeal for money, or maybe, give it to someone else and they will come banging on your door. We don't do those things. We are not here to exploit you in any way, but to do you good. And we would like to send somebody by to get acquainted with you, but we respect your privacy, and we won't do it without your permission. So if you would like that request it please. Ken Helterbrand is going to lead us as we sing now, and then I will be back for Bible reading and prayer. Ok?
We will be reading today from the last two verses of the book of James. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” Now let us pray. Holy Father in heaven, thank You for making it possible for us to be together by means of radio and television today to study Your word. Father, we are thankful for all of this technology that we have that helps us to keep your commission and fulfill it and we want to know You; we want to know your will better that we may do it and live it in our lives from day to day. We need You every hour of every day. Bless our journey here on this earth. We pray in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
In the last few days I have received mail from—well, different people with a variety of questions about the subject of "conversion." A lady wrote and asked about what really happens when a person is really converted to Christ. From the tone of the letter, this person seemed to be seeking help for herself or someone who is very dear to her, and she seems very sincere about her questions. And perhaps she is seeking an explanation of what really happens-- in view of the confusing teachings she is receiving about conversion to Christ from-- well, maybe television or radio, or what she is reading-- or perhaps from the pulpit where she attends church. I wouldn’t know about that. And a man, a gospel preacher actually, having read something I wrote in which I mentioned some believers-- some Christians, even some ministers, who had been converted because of the work of this ministry, asked, "from what were they converted?" And "to what were they converted?"
Well, the word "conversion" appears only once in the King James Version of the Bible. It is in Acts chapter 15, verse 3. And Paul and Barnabas and certain other of the converts in Antioch were enroute to Jerusalem. As they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria they were "describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren." The verb "convert" appears twice in the King James Version. Once in Isaiah chapter 6, verse 10. And in James chapter 5, verse 19 and 20 that we read a few moments ago. And that verse says, "Brethren” (now please notice; they were brothers in the Lord. It follows, then, that some brethren need to be converted, "from what, to what?”) Well, let us see. "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him (his brother); let him know that he that converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." How, then is a person (a believer or un-believer) "converted from the error of his way”?
The Bible answers that for us. It says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple" (Psalm 19:7). If the law of the Lord is perfect-- or complete-- converting the soul, it must follow, that it needs no help from me or any other man, save only to preach it! Preach it, brother! -- from the pulpit, in Bible classes, by the written page, by radio, by television, on the internet, by satellite, -- wherever and whenever the opportunity affords! Jesus told His apostles to preach it from the housetops (Matthew 10:27). And the apostle Paul wrote the Christians at Rome, who had begun to doubt his sincerity about coming there to preach for them. To them he said, "I don't want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now)...I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are at Rome also. For, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (or the Gentile)" (Romans 1:13-16). The Bible, and the Bible alone, is sufficient power to convert the hardest heart. The word of God is perfect crushing and converting the hardest, most rebellious heart. Preach it, brother! It has to be heard! And from that point on, it needs nothing that you or I can add.
And, since the word "conversion" literally means "change," let me say first, there are some changes necessary in converting a sinner into a saint. That is what really happens in a real conversion. There is a change. And just as there are several changes that are necessary in converting the cotton in the field to the shirt that I am wearing, there are multiple changes necessary in the process of changing a sinner into a saint. The word of God is the power to do that, no mere man's wit or wisdom will add a thing to it.
First, there must be a change of heart in the sinner. Jesus said, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers!" He said. Ohhhh, say that is strong preaching! Whenever have you heard a preacher say anything like that? But, need I remind you?, it is from the mouth of a loving preacher-- Jesus Christ, the one who loved you and me enough to die and to make an atonement for our sins. He is the one that said it. And He went on to say, "How can you being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things" (Matthew 12:33, 34, 35). Sooo, before we go any farther, the first necessary change in the process of converting a sinner, is the change of His heart. The gospel of Jesus Christ is fully able to penetrate the vilest sinner's heart and convict him of sinfulness, and his need of-- well, not a savior, but the Savior, Jesus Christ-- the Son of the Living God! The Scripture says, "The Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." That is Isaiah 59, verses 1 and 2. My friend, it is the rankest kind of inconsistency to live like the old devil himself, and in the time of great trial or great problem, claim or hope to be on speaking terms with God. The heart of the sinner must be changed. And it is changed by faith in Jesus Christ, and the work He did in procuring our salvation! The Bible says, "Faith comes by hearing the word of God" (Romans 10:17). But, in spite of what you might have been taught all your life, that salvation is "by faith alone, at the point of faith, without any further works of obedience," there are still some other changes necessary in a real conversion. The next logical one would be a change in manner of life or-- lifestyle. That change occurs when sinners "repent”. Jesus, defined repentance as well as any one I have ever heard of or known of. In a parable recorded in Matthew chapter 21, verses 28 through 32, He said, "But what do you think? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. And he answered and said I will not: but afterward he repented, and went." Let us stop here and ask a moment. Oh, I should say and stop a moment and ask: "What did the son do?" Well, the Lord said "He repented and went." So it is clear: repentance is a change of one's mind (or heart) which is followed by a change in his plans-- his lifestyle. Now, we will continue the reading Jesus was saying. "And he came to the second, and he said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and he went not. Whether of the two did the will of his father? They say unto him, the first. And Jesus said to them, Verily I say to you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." Then, now listen to what Jesus said to them, "For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed in him, believed him: and you, when you had seen, repented not afterward, that you might believe him." Some have reasoned that repentance is a "gift of God." It is true that when Peter told of the conversion of Cornelius as recorded in Acts 11, that the Scripture said, "When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life" (verse 18). Yes, friend! God demonstrated in that conversion, the conversion of Cornelius, that salvation in Christ is no longer to the Jews only. But that doesn't mean it is something that God does for the believer through his salvation. It simply means that the Gentiles are now given the opportunity--the gift of an invitation to repent and become children of God. In Acts 17:30, Paul said to the wise men on Mar's Hill, "Now God commands all men everywhere to repent."
Now, through faith in Jesus Christ as God's only begotten Son, a big change has been made in a person's heart. And in repentance another big change has been made in getting his life in order. But is the person wholly converted at this point? Are there no more changes necessary? Well, now think a minute. It seems like-- well; let me put it this way for you think about. It seems like there are a lot of people who profess to be Christians at heart, but when the question comes "Who is on the Lord's side?" oh, they are silent. The Lord can't count on them to stand up for Him. Then, don't you think they are not completely converted? And without an open declaration-- or a public confession of Christ before the world, they have not changed that much, have they? When Jesus was sending His apostles out on the limited commission, He warned them it was not going to be an easy thing. There will be persecutions, He said. "I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves...Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils and scourge you in their synagogues...brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child: and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all men for my name's sake..." And He goes on with more hardships they would be called upon to suffer and He says, "Therefore who ever confesses me before men, (in the face of all these trials) him will I also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father who is in heaven." A true confession of faith in Christ says to the world, just as we sing sometimes: "I am on the Lord's side; here am I send me." Romans 10:9 and 10 says it well, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." It is simply a change of loyalties, friend: from Satan and the world to Christ and His way.
However, the change of the sinner into a saint is still incomplete, because we have seen nothing yet about the conversion of, the convert being a child of God. At what point in the process of conversion does a person become a child of God-- a member of the family of God which is the church of the living God as we read in 1 Timothy chapter 3, verse 15? (Oh yes, I believe strongly in "born again Christians." The difference I have with those who speak glibly today of themselves and select others as being "born again Christians" is that I believe all Christians have been born again.) That is exactly what our Lord said to Nicodemus in John 3:5: "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, He cannot enter the kingdom of Christ." Anyone who is fully converted to Christ has been born again, friend. "Well, what constitutes the new birth?" you ask. O.K; You know, of course that every birth consists of two elements: First there is a conception, and second there is a consummation or deliverance. In 1 John 5 and 1 it is written that "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born (or some versions have it "begotten") of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him." So the convert is "begotten" of God when he comes to believe in Christ. That is the begettal part of the new birth. That is what Jesus said is being born again of the Spirit. The seed is planted. Then what is the "water" of the new birth? Let me ask you: what command of Christ involves water? Think about it. Well, you say, "It is baptism, of course." You are right, friend. So Jesus is saying here, just what He said in Mark 16:16: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." Now He didn't need to say, "He who does not believe and is not baptized will be condemned, because there is no begettal, if there is no begettal there can be no birth. And, only believers will consent to being baptized. Let us pray, Ok? Thank You, Father, for the message You have given us about conversion. We pray it will examine all of it in our hearts, with our hearts and open mind so that we can know what You would have us to be and do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
We have seen today that in the "conversion" of cotton as it grows in the farmer's field into a shirt, involves several changes, so it is with conversion of a sinner into a child of God. The first is a change of heart, for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). Such a change is wrought by faith. The second is a change of lifestyle which is wrought by repenting. The third is a change of allegiance or commitment from the ways of the world to the ways Jesus Christ taught and the life He taught, which is wrought by a public confession of faith. And, the fourth and final change is to becoming a child of God, a member of God's redeemed family. The Bible is clear on that. In Galatians the apostle Paul is refuting the idea of becoming and being a Christian by keeping the law of Moses, or by any part of it. He argues that salvation through Christ is by faith in Him. Listen to what he said about it in chapter three, verses 26 and 27. "You are all the sons of God through faith-- in Christ Jesus.” It is not that faith that is in Christ Jesus in that verse, although it is that. The idea here is that you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus-- through faith. How do I know that? Because the very next verse says, "F-o-r, as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Oh, we can all understand that, can’t we?
I wanted to study with you about the Holy Spirit's work in our conversion, but I didn't get to it. Say, just may do that next week, instead of the program I have announced. We will see. If I don't get to it then, I promise it will be soon. Alright? We are so pleased you were with us today. It is our sincerest prayer and hope that you have been blessed, especially those of you who have written for more information about conversion. And if you would like a free copy of it we would be glad to receive your request and provide it for you either in tape form, in audio or on CD. Write us. Let us hear from you. God bless you. We love you. |