p. 454 | CONVERSION by C. P. B.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 29, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 29.

CONVERSION.

By C. P. B.

THERE is no subject which should engross the attention of all men more than that of conversion; for it is a change through which all who have arrived at the age of accountability must pass if they would ever enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Primarily, conversion means "the act of converting or changing from one state or condition to another." Theologically, it is defined first as "a radical change of moral character; a change from the service of the world to the service of God; a change of the ruling disposition of the soul to the appropriate effect in transforming the outward life."

In the Scriptures it is declared to be a "new birth." Said the Saviour to Nicodemus: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." But the learned Pharisee, though a master in Israel, did not comprehend this, and incredulously asked, "How can a man be born when he is old?" "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." But Nicodemus did marvel, and then the Saviour told him that this change was the work of the Spirit of God upon the heart. Said the Master, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." But Nicodemus could not comprehend it, and neither can anyone who has not felt in his own heart the transforming influences of the Spirit of God.

The apostle Paul illustrates this change by death, burial, and the resurrection. He says, "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into

death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." Rom. 6:2-7. The change which is wrought in the individual by conversion is thus described elsewhere by the apostle: "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." Eph. 4: 22-24, 30, 31. There must be an entire change; the old man must be put off and the new man put on, and this new man is created in righteousness and true holiness; or, as we read elsewhere, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." 2 Cor. 5:17, 18.

If anything more is required to show the nature of this change, it is supplied by Rom. 8:1-17. The apostle there shows that the natural heart is opposed to the law of God (verse 7), but conversion brings the heart into harmony with the law of God, and instead of doing the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21), the converted individual brings forth the fruits of the Spirit, which are in harmony with the law. Compare Rom. 8:10-14 with Gal. 5:22, 23. It thus appears that, as stated, conversion is a radical change which is wrought in the human heart through the instrumentality of the word and Spirit of God; and this agrees with the Old Testament Scriptures.

For instance, we read of David that after he was brought to repentance for his sins (2 Sam., chapters 11 and 12) he prayed: "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit." Ps. 51:11, 12. What the psalmist understood by conversion we may learn from verses 1, 2, 9-11 of the same psalm: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." "Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me."

"Ye must be born again," said the Saviour; "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness;" and, "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature," says the apostle, while the psalmist prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Who can doubt that all these expressions refer to the work of conversion? and who will say that that work is not wrought by the Spirit of God? Ezekiel, too, uses similar language. He says: "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed: and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" In the case of Saul (1 Sam. 10), we find another positive testimony that conversion is taught quite as plainly in the Old Testament as in the New, and this text fully justifies the Saviour's words to Nicodemus when he said, "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" If Nicodemus had been familiar with the Scriptures which he professed to teach, and which, as a ruler in Israel he ought to have known, he would have understood something about a change of heart. Said the prophet to Saul: "The Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man." 1 Sam. 10:6. And again: "And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day." Verse 9.

This can mean nothing else than that Saul was converted; not a single element was lacking. The prophet had spoken to him the word of God, then Saul signified his willingness to obey, and God enabled him to obey by giving him another heart. Or, as Samuel said, "He was turned into another man." In short, to express it in the New Testament language, he was "born again." And thus it is clearly shown that the doctrine of conversion is common to both Testaments, and the agencies by which this work is accomplished have ever been the same, namely, the word and Spirit of God.

The fact that Saul did not retain his integrity, but grieved away the Spirit of God, and finally died by his own hand, is supposed by some to disprove the genuineness of his conversion. But it does nothing of the kind. It simply disproves the delusive doctrine of "once in grace, always in grace," and gives force to the admonition of the apostle, "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Eph. 6:11-13.

Paul even feared that after having preached to others, he might lose the prize. He said: "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." To assume that there is no danger, is to presume upon the mercy of God; it is to become an unfruitful branch, whose end is to be burned; for says the Saviour: "I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." John 15:5, 6.

If we are to receive the testimony of the Scriptures, there is nothing so hazardous in the Christian life as the condition of being at ease. It is to the lukewarm that the Saviour says, "I will spew thee out of my mouth." Rev. 3:16. Then let any who feel that they are being separated from Christ, heed the words of the prophet: "Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. . . . And we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:1-3. But if we do not follow on, the decree will go forth, Cut them down; why cumber they the ground? Luke 13:7. C. P. B.