I truly believe the word "converted" is disappearing from the 21st century church. The above verse is not saying we are to be childish but that we are to be childlike in our pursuit of power and dominance. Children really care less about those things, but those are the things that drive adults! Remember, Jesus said this right after he was asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" In conversion, the entire person is remade from the inside out, and that is bound to show up in our daily lives. What do we treasure most in life? Consider what Jesus said in Mt 12:35 You see, a new life is the product of conversion! There are steps a person takes as this conversion, or new life, happens. Consider the following...
Faith leads to a new life. Christians live for a world that they have not seen. They lay up treasures in a place they have never been. They are not overly concerned with the things of this world. This is all done is faith! People of the world, however, are very much a part of the world. These people are not merely in the world, as a Christian is, but they are truly a part of the world. Jn 17:14-16 I preached a message a month or so ago and I asked the question, "Will someone from your life stand up and witness, that by the way you live, they know you are not a part of this world?" Can someone do that for you?
Faith is a must. Faith changes the way we live. If you faith doesn't change the things you say and do you do not have a saving faith. Does your daily walk in the world reflect that you are converted by your faith? Heb 10:38; 2Co 5:7; Gal 2:20. We must have and live by faith if we plan to please God. Heb 11:6 Notice that faith is more than believable that He is. We must also understand that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him! Too many people think faith is believing that He is, fail to seek him, and are robbed of a reward!!!!
Faith is believing that He is. Faith is believing that He rewards those who seek Him. Faith is believing Jesus is God's son. Jn 8:24 We prove this faith is God's son by loving him with our obedience to his commandments. Jn 14:15 Having a faith that changes our lives, or converts us, is proving we are "saved by grace through faith." not earning grace! Eph 2:8 A person cannot live a Christian life without being converted by faith. The Christian life is a life of faith.
Peter failed to walk on water when his faith failed. The disciples failed to cast out demons when their faith failed. The same thing happens to us when our faith fails. We sink and fail to imitate Christ! A living, active, and saving faith is found in the obedience and practice of God's Word (Jn 17:17) and that is how faith leads to a new life.
Repentance leads to a new life. Our actions prior to being converted nay not have appeared foolish (Titus 3:3) while in the world because we were seeking fleshy things. Rom 8:5. Repentance of something is to quit doing it! We must quit seeking fleshy things if we are to be converted. When we repent of a life of sin we must change that life we lived. We must change all of our behavior. 1Pe 1:14-16. When someone repents due to a strong faith in God's son they are thrusted into a new life. That is how repentance leads to a new life.
Confession leads to a new life. I do not want to spend to much time on this as I have posted on this in the past called, "I confess... I confess..." God has a claim on every life on this planet. Many do not recognize that claim and confession is a way of saying we recognize God's claim on our life. We confess that our creator surely knows more about us than we do, I mean He is our creator!! The confession is a solemn committal to the will of Christ before others! That is how confession leads to a new life.
Baptism leads to a new life. Many people try to elevate baptism and others try to bury it. The Bible has a lot to say about baptism and that is a fact. Here are some more facts, until this point we still have the old self with us and the old sins on us! We have a dirty conscience about our past life. How is that going to change? BAPTISM! In baptism, we have a clear conscience toward God concerning our past life. 1Pe 3:21 In baptism, we have our old sins washed away. Acts 22:16 In baptism, we lay the old self to rest and rise to a newness of life. Rom 6:1-4 In baptism, we have the blood of Christ applied to us and that sets us a part for the service of the living God. Heb 9:14 In baptism, we are clothed with Christ. Gal 3:27 nd not of it! That is how baptism leads to a new life.
Today, do you live a life that says you are converted from the old fleshy lusting person you used to be? Do you walk in the newness of life? Do those of the world around you know there is something different about you or do you look too much like the world for them to tell? I always say if the people around you do not know you are a Christian, God probably don't either. Potiphar knew God was with Joseph because of his demeanor, do others know God is with you because of yours? Have you been converted to Christianity or are you just claiming Christianity?
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
We must hear the Word of God: Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4
We must believe or have faith: Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31
We must repent of our sins: Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30
We must confess Christ before others: Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37
We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38
We must be faithful: Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22
No comments:
Post a Comment