True Conversion

Paul stated in Rom 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” In this passage of Scripture, the apostle Paul is discussing true conversion. That is, the necessity of turning completely away form the world and turning entirely to the Lord. We live in an age in which a person’s conversion to Christ is often based upon some sort of a religious experience that has supposedly occurred in that individual’s life. We live in an age in which emotions are often appealed to as the foremost authority concerning whether or not one has been converted to Christ. We live during a time when many act as though there is no absolute truth, or standard by which to judge our standing with the Lord. All of these conditions create a great need for us to examine the Scriptures in order to come to an understanding of how one is truly converted to Christ.

 What is conversion?

The dictionary defines the term “conversion” as, “ a turning or change from one state to another.” Please notice that conversion is not merely a change in belief, or a change in practice; rather, It is a complete change from one state of being to another. Luke penned this statement from our Lord, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” Lk 9:23. Self-denial refers to the change of heart that is required by the Lord as a man changes his outlook on life and exchanges the desire to please himself with the desire to please God. The idea that a man must “take up His cross” shows the change that is to take place in life, in which the old sinful practices are exchanged for a life of service to God that resembles the life of Christ. Finally the words, “follow me” give us the conversion in its complete form. The heart has been turned to the Lord, the life has been turned to the Lord, and now the entire state of the individual is turned the Lord in a new relationship with him. 

A Change of Heart

A true change of heart is much more than a mere acknowledgment that Jesus is the Son of God, In reality it is a change that destroys the love of sin and establishes the love of God in the sinner’s heart. You might say that it causes one to hate what he once loved and love what he once hated. 

A Change Of Conduct

The change of conduct that is required by the Lord is brought about through repentance. It is quite evident from the NT that God demands repentance. He tells us in Luke, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” Lk 13:3. The prophet Isaiah says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” Isa 55:7. When a man truly repents, he turns from desiring sin, to hungering and thirsting after righteousness. There can be no conversion to the Lord with out repentance.

 A Change of Relationship to God

Once true conversion has occurred our relationship to God changes.  No longer will we be outside of the family or house of the God, no longer will we be a part of the world but a child of God. Passages such as Rom 8:14-17 and Gal 4:4-7 tell us that those who have been led by the Spirit (doing God’s will), are considered “sons of God.” We are also entitled to our Heavenly Father’s inheritance. Those who are outside of a family are not entitled to the inheritance a deceased person, only those who are related.  Of course, there are exceptions. Some family members are disinherited for a variety of reasons. Likewise, those who chose to rebel against God will also lose their inheritance. True converts adhere themselves to the will of God and emulate Christ as their perfect pattern of conduct. As children of God we are joint heirs with Christ and will be gloried as Christ is glorified.  What a change! What an inheritance! What a great gift to God’s children: SALVATION!

 Conclusion

This true conversion can be a part of your life.  Don’t be like King Agrippa who told the apostle Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian" Acts 26:28. Don’t be like Agrippa, either by tongue or life. Conversion is simple. It demands a change of life starting with a change of who you listen to. Change from listening to self and listen to God, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” Acts 2:38.   

Carlos Aguilar

Home and Family:

Training Your Children In the Bible

William Lyon Phelps, the noted educator, once declared that a knowledge of the Bible without a college education is worth more than a college education without a knowledge of the Bible. With this statement we heartily agree. It is hard to exaggerate the great value of a working knowledge of the Bible. Fortunate indeed is the child whose parents realize the responsibility, the necessity, and the wonderful opportunity of teaching their children the Bible.

Example alone is not enough. We would not in the least minimize the importance of setting the right example before the child by living daily the principles of truth taught in the Scriptures. But this is NOT enough. To build a faith in the child that is strong and to equip him to meet the temptations he shall surely face in life, we must teach him by word and deed the Bible. It is significant that Jesus met temptation with the Word of God Matt 4. Each temptation was met with "It is written." It is still true in the 20th century that there is a Scripture that will help us successfully overcome every temptation, James says, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." The Word of God is our weapon against sin and Satan Eph 6:17.

One of the best ways to train the child in the home is through the medium of a daily study. There is something sweet and sublime about a father, mother, and children sitting down together in the quiet of their home, reading the Bible and having prayer. Each father and mother should figure out what time of day is the most logical for the family to study together. For many families the best time may be in the evening just before retiring. If the father works in the evening it may be that immediately following breakfast or lunch is the logical time.

It only takes about five to ten minutes after the family has finished the meal to read a brief selection from the Bible, make a few comments, select a choice verse for the entire family to repeat several times together, and close by having prayer. This may be done while the family is still seated around the table. Such devotionals build spiritual strength and draw the family closer to each other and to God. The family that prays together stays together. In the years ahead these minutes will constitute precious memories that will fortify the soul!

Children enjoy the thrilling stories of the Bible and they can be taught to memorize some of the great passages so easily. Several years ago on the television program "Know Your Bible" a panel of lawyers were asked Bible questions. One prominent attorney was especially well versed in the Old Testament. Here was the explanation he gave for it: "I came from a large family. My father in the evenings read us Bible stories. We had to listen to the story and then write it. I have never forgotten what I learned as a child."

Remember your child will be a child only once. Fleeting years of childhood will soon be gone forever and with them will go the opportunity of training your child in the Bible. Begin today a serious systematic effort! You will be giving them something that cannot be taken from them when you are gone, that will fortify his soul against the attacks of sin and Satan. Begin today!             

~Author Unknown

To Be Like The Ant

"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer or ruler, she prepares her food in summer, and gathers her sustenance in harvest." Prov 6:6-8

A few days ago, my family and I decided to take a walk down our little sandy lane after supper. They wanted the exercise and I wanted to look for muscadines. As it turned out, we got both. bout half way up the road we came upon a trail of ants. They had started out in a sandy area and traveled about sixty yards up the road over a clay hill to a source of food their scouts had discovered.

Ants are fascinating creatures. As we watched the work force laboring to secure food for their families, I thought about the verses above. These ants had been so diligent at storing this food that they had worn a trail in the road about one forth an inch deep. There was a steady stream of ants coming to the food and a steady stream going back to the mound. They had been at it so long and so diligently that they had actually worn a trail in the earth. What was even more incredible is that where I noticed the trail was red clay. Now it takes a lot of trips for an ant to wear a trail in red clay. What was even more fascinating was the distance. For you and me it would only be a matter of seconds and sixty to eighty steps. For the ants, it was miles. Think of how many steps an ant has to make to equal one of yours. They delivered their load and returned untiringly to get another.

It is no wonder to me that God used the ant to illustrate how we should approach life. The Proverb section goes on to say, "How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will your rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come upon you like a vagabond, and want like an armed man." God will not tolerate laziness. He detest the sluggard.

Play "What If" with me for a few minutes. What if... God's church today was a busy as the ants? Would we be able to keep up with the growth and development of God's Kingdom? What if... God's people today were of the same singleness of mind to work as the ants? What if ... we had the same goals and ambitions for the Kingdom, combined with a tenacity to get the job done?

I stopped on the road that day in awe. I've seen ants before, but never with the clarity that I had that day. They passed each other, some going in one direction, some in the other. Each had a job to do and each one was doing it. There were none sitting idle on the side of their little road waiting for the other guy to do his work. There were none stopping to fight with the others over the way they chose to carry their load. Occasionally, when one struggled under his tremendous load, one in the opposite lane would leave his ranks and join the other in lifting his load.

The next time you pass a line of ants, stop and watch for a little while. They are fascinating creatures. Perhaps God put them there in that place for you to see. Then think to yourself, "If I were like the ant... what would the church be like?"

Garry Knighton

Faithful Sayings

God Is Not Willing That Any Should Perish 2 Pet 3:9

Unless you repent you will all likewise perish Lk 13:5
Whoever believes in Him should not perish Jn 3:15-16
His sheep . . . shall never perish Jn 10:27-30

Sentence Sermons

"God will forgive those who start late  in life to serve Him, but not those who quit early."

"If your faith doesn't change your behavior, it will never change your  destiny."