Sorry men – I obviously lost track and missed posting on this last week. So here goes.
Conversion. What happens in Christian conversion? What does Scripture tell us about conversion and how do we know it has taken place. Is conversion marked by tears? Abundant emotion? Overwhelming joy? How about deep sadness – even depression? Is conversion marked by walking forward and submitting to an altar call? How about raising the hand after a Gospel presentation. Is it a prayer we said after hearing the Good News?
We could speculate on a myriad of options for how we see evidences of conversion. But Scripture is clear – none of these things is in any way a marker of conversion. They may happen and could be byproducts of conversion, but they are truly that. Possible byproducts. And if they are only possible byproducts why would we ever want to take our stand on them as true evidences of real, genuine conversion.
If we truly realize that praying a prayer, raising a hand, filling out a card, and even feeling guilt or joy are not true evidences of conversion – we would do well to look for the real evidence.
Jesus says in John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Jesus is saying that if you have “FAITH” you “will do” what he did. What is that exactly? In verse 10 he has stated that he is doing the fathers work (John 14:10).
Jesus continues describing what it means to have faith. Faith isn’t mere acceptance – it is trust. Like you are trusting the chair you are sitting in to hold you up – is the trust that God is calling all men to have in Him and the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Later he says the same thing again, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me” (John 14:23-24).
Scripture is clear – not only is there a change in “religion” or even “morality.” Conversion is something that changes a man’s affections, his love and who he aligns himself to. Conversion’s byproduct, the only byproduct we can truly see and in some sense measure is in a man’s love of the Lord, demonstrated in obedience. Scripture tells us that to become a believer you must “repent and believe.”
But anybody can say they’ve repented and believed. We can train anybody to say those words. So what is the reality behind this – what does it look like in real life?
James 2:14-26 handles this argument. At the core – faith without deeds is dead. Dead faith = unsaving faith. Alive faith = saving faith. Alive faith is one that has deeds to match the profession. Those deeds may look different among people – but they demonstrate allegiance and obedience to Jesus Christ.
So church, Bethel Grace, where do you stand? Personally – do you have actions in accordance with your faith? What kind of actions?
If you believe it is God working through you to do good works (Phil 2:12-13) - there should be no shame in sharing what God is doing in your life?
Unless – there really is no action?
Comment – don’t be silent on this one.
