The Gospel Message - Conversion

What does it mean to be redeemed and what is the credible theological evidence that a person is genuinely saved?

When Adam sinned mankind was plunged into a depraved God hating condition. Adam and Eve were not just Covenant Breakers. They were most certainly that. What is worse, they wanted to be the Covenant Makers. Their desire was to inform God how the universe would be run. It would be according to their rules, not his. They became rebels and brought that blight upon all mankind.

The issue in conversion is not merely the little peccadilloes, the ‘sins’ (plural) that we commit. The greater issue is one of SIN (singular). The Fall brought us a sin nature. We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners!! We have depraved minds and wicked hearts. God sent the Noahic Flood because the ‘thoughts and intent of man’s heart was only evil continually!!

The American Church has dumbed down the understanding of Conversion. Most churches practise what Bonhoeffer labeled ‘Cheap Grace’.

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without Church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

The evangelical church has corrupted the glorious doctrine of Conversion by the things they practise. People raise their hand, ‘walk the aisle’, and sign a membership card. This is not CONVERSION. The evidence of conversion is a transformed life. If there is no objective and observable transformation that person is not saved.

The Southern Baptist Convention claims to have 16 million members. But, on the best Sunday morning of the year there are less than 7 million people in attendance. Why? They are simply not redeemed.

True conversion brings a new nature. The Fall made man a sinner by nature. In true conversion the ravages of the Fall are replaced with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Man is enabled to live a righteous and Christ honoring life. That righteousness is real and there is growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So, have you been transformed, or, did you merely ‘walk the aisle’? Are you growing in grace? Is Jesus Christ Lord of your life? Eternity rides on an honest and objective response to this question!