Real Conversion—by James Smith

James Smith, 1859

Real conversion supposes that it has a counterfeit — something like conversion which is not the thing itself. For instance, a man may change his sentiments, on many points his feelings may undergo a change, and he may reform his life — and yet not be really converted to God. Many have had convictions and impressions, and have changed their course and conduct, who have still been strangers to God, and the power of vital religion. Seeming conversion, sometimes comes so near to real conversion — that there only appears to be one deficiency — but that is a fatal one, it is the life of God in the soul. The outward conduct is correct, the head is illuminated — but the heart is not quickened. Religion without life, however orthodox the creed, or correct the conduct — is but a form without power, the representation of a Christian — but not a real Christian.

What is real conversion? It is a thorough turning to God. The turning of the whole person to God and his service. It includes a change of heart — which change is produced by the Holy Spirit. When the heart is thoroughly changed, there is a change in our thoughts of God, and in our feelings toward God. We then think of him as his Word represents him, and as Jesus reveals him in his holy and beautiful life. We think of him, as the child thinks of his affectionate father, as the wife thinks of her loving husband, or as the servant thinks of her kind and generous master. Our thoughts of God are pleasant and natural, and our souls go forth in desire to God.

Our feelings toward God, were formerly cold, indifferent, and carnal. There was enmity against God, and a wish to keep at a distance from God. But real conversion changes our feelings, and we love God, delight in God, and desire above all things to please God. The feelings of the enemy, give way to those of the friend; and the feelings of the slave, to those of the child.

And out of this change of heart, or change of our thoughts and feelings — grows a change of life. We no longer live unto ourselves, or for ourselves; but we live unto God, and for God. We no longer live in sin — but have our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Now, the precepts of the Bible are our rule, the life of Jesus is our model, and the glory of God our aim. Being created anew in Christ Jesus — we are new creatures. Being new creatures — we . . .
act from new principles,
are influenced by new motives,
are attracted by new objects;
and as the Apostle says, "old things are passed away, and behold all things are become new."

Real conversion therefore is the man turning . . .
from sin to holiness,
from self to Christ,
from the world to God.

This turning is the effect of a new principle imparted to the soul by the Holy Spirit in regeneration.

What are the effects of real conversion? Many — too many to enumerate here, as it affects the entire man in all his parts, in all his relations, and in all his prospects. The converted man turning from self to Jesus, obtains peace through the blood of his cross. Peace with God. Peace in his own conscience. Peaceful feelings toward all mankind. He is reconciled to God's perfections, law, and government; and yielding himself to God through Jesus, he enjoys holy tranquility of soul. Turning from self to God — he is sanctified to God. Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, he is changed into the same image.

He is now a holy man. His heart loves holiness. He desires to be holy in body, soul, and spirit. Holiness is his element — and sin his grief and sorrow. Turning from the world to Jesus, he is filled with love — love to God, and love to man. He loves God supremely, and loves all the saints sincerely. Love is the ruling passion of his soul — and love is the great proof that his conversion is real.

Love leads to fellowship with God, as a father and a friend; and in that fellowship he finds the purest enjoyment, and the richest blessings. He lays himself out for others, employing all his spare time and talents, in efforts to do good to his fellow men. He seeks to save souls from death, to ameliorate human woe, and make all round him holy and happy.

Reader, are you really converted to God? Have you experienced a change of heart? Has that led to a change of life? Have you peace with God? Holiness of heart? Love to the Savior, your Heavenly Father, and your fellow men? Do you live in fellowship with God? Are you employing any portion of your time and talents for God? These are solemn and searching questions. They are worthy your closest attention. Take them, and with them, examine your heart and your life.

If you are not really converted to God, you are yet in your sins; and if you die in your sins, where Jesus is, you can never come. Life or death — eternal life or eternal death — depends on your being converted, or unconverted. The heart must be changed, and so must the current of the life; "for if we live after the flesh, we shall die; but if we, through the Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body — we shall live." Life or death therefore, eternal life or eternal death, depend upon our being converted — or unconverted. May the Holy Spirit of God, therefore, reveal to us our true state and condition, and if we are converted, devote us wholly to the Lord, and his work; but if we are unconverted, convince us of it, and by his invincible grace, make us thorough Christians! Amen.

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Conversion

Spurgeon delivered this sermon on October 7, 1855, 

True conversion is so misunderstood that I think this post could be useful.

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth; and one convert him; Let him know that he which converteth sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”—James 5:19-20.

THE TRUE BELIEVER is always pleased to hear of anything which concerns the salvation of his own soul. He rejoices to hear of the covenant plan drawn up for him from all eternity, of the great fulfillment on the cross at Calvary, of all the stipulations of the Saviour, of the application of them by the Holy Spirit, of the security which the believer has in the person of Christ, and of those gifts and graces which accompany salvation to all those who are heirs thereof: But I feel certain that, deeply pleased as we are when we hear of things touching our own salvation and deliverance from hell, we, as preachers of God, and as new creatures in Christ, being made like unto him, have true benevolence of spirit, and therefore are always delighted when we hear, speak, or think, concerning the salvation of others. 

Next to our own salvation, I am sure, as Christians, we shall always prize the salvation of other people; we shall always desire that what has been so sweet to our own taste, may also be tasted by others; and what has been of so inestimably precious a value to our own souls, may also become the property of all those whom God may please to shall unto everlasting life. I am sure, beloved, now that I am about to preach concerning the conversion of the ungodly, you will take as deep an interest in it as if it were something that immediately concerned your own souls, for, after all, such were some of you once. You were unconverted and ungodly; and had not God taken thought for you, and set his people to strive for your souls, where had you been? Seek, then, to exercise that charity and benevolence towards others which God and God’s people first exercised towards you.

Our text has in it, first of all, a principle involved—that of instrumentality.—“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death.” Secondly, here is a general fact stated:—“He who converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” And thirdly, there is a particular application of this fact made. “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth and one convert him,”—that is the same principle as when a sinner is converted “from the error of his way.”

I. First, then, here is a great principle involved—a very important one—that of INSTRUMENTALITY. God has been pleased in his inscrutable wisdom and intelligence to work the conversion of others by instrumentality. True, he does not in all cases SO do, but it is his general way. Instrumentality is the plan of the universe. In the new creation it is almost always God’s invariable rule to convert by means of instruments. Now we will make one or two brief remarks upon this first principle.

First, then, we say that instrumentality is not necessary with God. God can, if he pleases, convert souls without any instruments whatsoever. The mighty Maker who chooses to use the sword sometimes, can, if he pleases, slay without it. He who uses the workman, the trowel, and the hammer, can, if he so sees fit, build the house in a moment, and from the foundation-stone even to the topstone thereof, can complete it by the words of his own mouth. We never hear of any instrument used in the conversion of Abraham. He lived in a far-off land in the midst of idolaters, but he was called Ur of the Cheldees, and thence God called him and brought him to Canaan by an immediate voice, doubtless from above, by God’s own agency, without the employment of any prophet; for we read of none who could, as far as we can see, have preached to Abraham and taught him the truth. Then in modern times we have a mighty instance of the power of God, in converting without human might. Saul, on his journey towards Damascus, upon his horse, fiery and full of fury against the children of God, is hastening to hail men and women and cast them into prison; to bring them bound unto Jerusalem; but on a sudden, a voice is heard from heaven, “Saul! Saul! why persecutest thou me?” and Saul was a new man. 

No minister was his spiritual parent, no book could claim him as its convert; no human voice, but the immediate utterance of Jesus Christ himself, at once, there and then, and upon the spot, brought Saul to know the truth. Moreover, there are some men who seem never to need conversion at all; for we have one instance in Scripture of John the Baptist, of whom it is said, “He was filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.” And I do not know but what there are some who very early in life have a change of heart. It is quite certain that all infants, (who, doubtless, being each of them elect, do ascend to heaven,) undergo a change of heart without instrumentality; and so there may be some, concerning whom it maybe written that though they were born in sin and shapen in iniquity, yet they were so early taught to know the Lord, so soon brought to his name, that it must have been almost without instrument at all. God can if he pleases cast the instrument aside. The mighty Maker of the world who used no angels to beat out the great mass of nature and fashion it into a round globe, he who without hammer or anvil fashioned this glorious world, can if he pleases, speak, and it is done; command, and it shall stand fast. He needs not instruments, though he uses them.

Claiming God's Promises

Jeremiah 32: 39:41

“I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant that I will not turn away from doing good to them.  And I will put the fear of me in their hearts that they may not turn from me.” 

I was online reading a well crafted sermon about part b of Jeremiah 32:42 which is “I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them.” . The writer went on and on about how faithful God is and He will never lie to us etc.  Since, I did not remember the verse by heart, I pulled out my Bible to read about Jeremiah 32.  Then I realized the writer omitted the fact that, while God promised to give prosperity to the Israelites, He had conditions in the previous verses that the writer neglected to mention. While it is true, God is faithful and will never lie to us, we would do well not to test Him while we stand on a few words that tickle our funny bones.

He promised in verses 39-41 that He would give them one heart, and that He would put His fear in their hearts so they would not turn away from Him. To sum up, verse 42 cannot be claimed by itself while neglecting the above verses. In Christianity we miss out on the fact that God Himself has given us a new heart to learn to fear Him and stay the course so we would not turn away from Him. This is extremely important.  This is why I tell people in my new released Christian book to examine themselves and if after a decade or more of Christianity they are still the same old plain Jane or John that accepted Christ and there has been no awareness of a supernatural transformation, they ought to go back to the basic.

We cannot stand there like lost sheep and tell people, oh yeah I am a Christian. What this claim amount to in your life matters very much to God. His promises are for those who have God’s fear in their hearts, they are kept in His ways and they are able to continue the path of Salvation they are on. We tend to think that the passage in Mathew 7:22 is not for us “Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?” A lot of us in the church love to think that this passage is only for some. It is equally for those Church goers who have never gotten to the point where they were changed by the Salvation they claimed they have received.

 In the new heart we receive from Him, if we believe, then the next step is to trust Him and have confidence in Him to walk the walk He put us on. So, we not only receive conversion by His grace, we learn to walk and persevere through the Holy Spirit, by His grace, So, if you have not been transformed inwardly because of what you believe, then I am afraid all your beliefs are floating around your head and they have not even made ways to your mind, let alone your heart. Examine yourself, unless you believe in vain.

PRAYER: Father God I pray that together we learn to walk in unison according to your word. I pray that we would learn to be people after your own heart. That we would make it our joy to honor your covenant with us so together we might enjoy the life we have in you now and future blessings awaiting us. May the ascended Christ help us to examine our hearts so we do not believe in vain and end up disqualified when it is too late. 

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