THE LOGICAL EFFECTS OF TRUE CONVERSION.
By G.
THE never-failing effect of true conversion is briefly and logically summarized in the first three verses of the fortieth psalm. Beginning with the low pit of sin, there is the uplifting to a co-laborer with Christ. “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” The plan of salvation was devised for sinners. Jesus says, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Paul says, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Then the work begins with the sinner. The Spirit of God impresses the individual mind with a conviction of sin. This is done thru the medium of God’s law; “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The individual who receives from any other source than the law of God the idea that he is a sinner, does not have a true conception of what sin is; “for sin is the transgression of the law;” and “where no law is there is no transgression.” So that no one can get a true idea of what it is to be a sinner unless he get it from the law of God; for “sin is not imputed when there is no law.” And Paul further says, “I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Then the sinner, being truly convicted of sin, naturally seeks a remedy. He soon finds that all his own efforts are vain; for when he would do good, evil is present with him. Rom. 7:21. Being pointed to Jesus Christ, he calls for the desired help. Believing the Word, he patiently waits. But the prayer of faith has not long to wait. The ear of the Lord is ever inclined to hear the cry of the penitent one. As soon as the sinner has faith to lay hold upon Him who is mighty to save, he is brought up out of the “horrible pit,” out of the “miry clay,” and his feet are set upon the “Rock Christ Jesus.” There, by the righteousness of faith, his “goings” are “established.” He is a “new creature,” he begins a new life; his life is “hid with Christ in God.” As Paul said, after a like experience, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20. The new life inspires a “new song”—a song of gratitude, a song of praise, a song of victory. The new man has a new testimony; his mind dwells upon new themes. “His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth He meditate day and night.” With him “old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” His thoughts having been turned into a new channel, he begins to view his fellow-men from a new standpoint. Having the law of God in his heart, the spirit of selfishness goes out. He begins to love his neighbor as himself, and naturally becomes concerned for the salvation of others. With the spirit of “praise unto our God” in his heart, it finds expression from his lips. He tells of his wonderful experience and his glorious victory to his neighbors, and writes of his newly-found peace to friends and acquaintances abroad. His purse-strings are opened; he remembers that all he has comes from God; that he is under pecuniary obligations to his Master; he is debtor to his fellow-men, debtor to help send the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. As he studies the Word, he learns that the Gospel of the coming kingdom must be proclaimed in the world for a witness, “and then shall the end come.” He reads again that the hour of judgment is at hand, and knows that the great mass of human beings, even of professed Christians, are in darkness concerning it. He reads that the coming of “the Lord draweth nigh,” and that “the King’s business requireth haste.” The truly converted one appreciates “the love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God.” He appreciates the importance of disciples’ being “laborers together with God.” He feels the urgency of the words of the Master, “Ye shall be witnesses unto Me . . . unto the uttermost parts of the earth;”8also of the words of the wise man, “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Thus, by every means available, the “new song” of him whose feet are upon the Rock, whose “goings” are “established,” is heard by many, both near and far. The result is that thru the testimony of such a witness for the truth, many shall “fear, and trust in the Lord.” If men were truly converted in God’s way—by being shown from His law what sin is, and what it is to be a sinner in the face of that unchangeable law—they would better understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and better appreciate its blessings, and its logical claims upon those who have been lifted out of the “horrible pit” and “miry clay” of sin. If men were shown that God sent His Son to “condemn sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us” (Rom. 8:3, 4), they would better understand “the whole duty of man,” which is to “fear God, and keep His commandments” (Eccl. 12:13). This would be indeed a “new song” to the world, one which they would not only hear but see. Note particularly that the “new song” of the truly converted man is a song that many shall see.” And thru seeing it they also “fear;” that is, they obey, and “trust in the Lord.” Such is the influence of the truly converted man’s life. The life of Jesus Christ on earth was a life of faith in God and obedience to His commandments. And of those whose love is “made perfect” it is said that as Christ is, “so are we in this world.” His life was a life that drew men unto Him. In Him was manifested the “new song,” which men could see; and His counsel to His disciples is, “Follow Me;” “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” G.