|
| |
|
 
What
happens at conversion?
In true conversion, there is a turning to God for
forgiveness and new life. A completion takes place in the
heart, a connection with God in a real relationship, a
fellowship consisting in a true intimate knowledge of God, a
hunger arises to deepen that relationship, and there is a
response of dedication of our inner man at the revelation of
God to my soul.
It is ultimately impossible to fully describe the new
birth of the inner man by the power of the Holy Spirit (See
John 3:3-7). As
one old Scottish widow said, “It is better felt, than
‘telt’.” What we
must be convinced of is this: the inner man is changed before
there is any outward demonstration of it. Why is this important
to emphasize?
Because the natural human tendency is to try to change
our outward actions and then rest in our own efforts and call
that Christianity.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. We must begin at the
feet of Jesus with a faith that embraces him as our portion
and joy alone. All of this is implanted into the heart
when we truly believe on the Son of God as our Lord and
Savior. THis is a true repentant faith resting on Him
and His cross work alone for our salvation. As Paul told
the Philippian jailor, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
you will be saved." (Acts 16:31). When there is
true repentance and faith, there will be a genuine change in
the life also.
As we begin to integrate this new found relationship
with God with the duties of daily life, some find they lose
the glow of their first love. We get caught up in
the outward forms of church life, serving the needs of others,
and fulfilling the stewardships of life. We may soon find our
satisfaction has diminished, our peace is unsettled, and our
hunger for God alone has changed to a desire to conform to the
religious pattern set by those around us. We desire to fit in
rather than to fall down before the majesty of God. At this point we need
a renewal to bring us back to “looking unto
Jesus.”
There are others who never start with a
relationship with God.
Without this starting point there is no salvation.
Their starting point is the outward forms of church attendance
and social relationships. The outward forms
begin to harden.
Self-righteousness and self-dependence become the
staple of one’s mental diet. If we are in this
condition we may feel we are a “good person” and cannot
identify with the tax-collector who felt himself to be such a
sinner that he could not lift up his face to God. It is only when we
come to the end of ourselves that we will ever truly seek
God’s mercy. “The tax collector, standing afar off, would not
so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God be
merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you this man went down to his
house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts
himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be
exalted” (Luke
18:13-14).
|
Editor's note: Gary Carter is an
assistant to Dr. Gills as well as the pastor of Tampa
Reformed Baptist
Church. |
|
|
 |
|
