BIBLE CONVERSION

MATTHEW 18:3

A. THE NEED FOR CONVERSION
  1. Is universal:
    1. John 3:3-6; Rom. 3:11, 23
    2. There are no exceptions or exemptions because we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
  2. Our sinful condition demands it:
    1. Jer. 13:23; Isa. 1:1-9
    2. Isa. 53:6
  3. The holiness of God demands it:
    1. Heb. 12:14; Isa. 6:1-6
B. BIBLE CONVERSION - WHAT IS IT?
  1. Negatively:
    1. Not water baptism - Gal. 6:15; 1 Cor. 4:15
    2. Not the acceptance of a form of religion - John 3:3-9; 2 Tim. 3:1-9
  2. Positively:
    1. True conversion means for man to forsake his own way and to turn to the way God has marked out for man - Isa. 55:7; 59:20; Luke 15:11-19
    2. It is a change of heart - Ezek. 36:26, 27; Acts 9:1-22 EXAMPLES -
      1. Zacchaeus, the tax collector - Luke 19:8
      2. The prodigal son - Luke 15:17-19
      3. The thief on the cross - Luke 23:40-44
      4. Saul of Tarsus - Acts 9:1-6
    3. Turning from darkness to light - Acts 26:14-19; 1 Pet. 2:9- 11
    4. Becoming the servants of Christ instead of serving Satan and sin - Rom. 6:16, 17; 2 Cor. 5:14-17; 1 Pet. 4:1-5
    5. Bible conversion is the transformation from the carnal to the divine nature -
      1. Put off the old man - Eph. 4:22-24
      2. Put on the new man, created in righteousness - Col. 3:9-11; 2 Pet. 1:2-11
C. HEAVEN'S MEANS AND RESULTS OF TRUE CONVERSION
  1. God's means:
    1. The Word of God - Jas. 1:17; 1 Pet. 1:23; John 8:31-36; Heb. 4:12; Jer. 23:29
    2. This is an important truth to keep in mind because true Bible conversion is recreation in fact; and only the living Word of God possesses the power to transform our sinful nature - Eph. 2:10
  2. Simple faith in Jesus Christ:
    1. A primary condition to salvation - EXAMPLES -
      1. The jailer and his question - Acts 16:30, 31
      2. The Ethiopian eunuch - Acts 8:36, 37; John 3:16
    2. For there is no other name under heaven that can save us - Acts 4:12
    3. John assures us that simple faith in Jesus Christ is the new birth - 1 John 4:7; 5:1
  3. The indwelling in our hearts of the third person of the Godhead - the Holy Spirit:
    1. This, aside from faith in Christ, the paramount fact in true Bible conversion.
    2. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." - Rom. 8:16
  4. Fruit of true Bible conversion:
    1. "By their fruit shall ye know them" - Matt. 7:16, 20-26
    2. Not our feeling, as such, but a positive change of attitude toward God's Word and His people - EXAMPLES -
      1. "Behold, he prayeth" - Acts 9:11
      2. "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor" - Luke 19:8
      3. "And many that believed came and confessed and shewed their deeds." - Acts 19:18 These are some of the evidences of true Bible conversion. Let us test our own experience in the light of these Bible facts.


Design © John Bryant 2011