May 28, 2006

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

Elements of Conversion

 

Introduction

 

Recently we discussed the conversion of Saul of Tarsus.  Two things stand out about his conversion concerning who he was.  Saul was not a prodigal who lived his life wastefully in sin.  Neither was he a mainline Jew responding to the Messiah.  Saul was a Pharisee who could not see his need for the promised Messiah.  It should have been a natural process for Jews to accept the Messiah when he came.  Thousands did just that.  But Saul was a Pharisee.  His conversion was even the more remarkable for that reason.  We also noted his own personal commitment to keeping a good conscience before God before and after his conversion.  (Acts 23:1; 24:16; 26:9.)  Saul did not have a guilty conscience until he understood what a mistake he had made concerning the Christ.  Then, he faced his own sinfulness in the flesh and mistake in rejecting the Savior.  (Rom. 7; 9:30-33.)  We called Saul’s conversion and events leading up to it “the perfect storm.”  All the elements were in place: a devout Pharisee, a devout person seeking to follow always his conscience, and the evidence of the resurrected Christ.  What would he do?  Saul admitted his failures and sought God’s forgiveness. (Acts 9.)

 

I want to discuss today some other conversions in the Bible that are different from Saul’s, and then to draw some conclusions about our own.

 

Jews Looking for the Messiah (John 1 & Matt 4)

 

The early chapters in the Gospel accounts record Jesus calling disciples to come and follow Him.  Andrew and Peter, James and John, Philip and Nathaniel were among the first to follow Jesus.  It is obvious that these Jews were not among the Pharisees.  They were looking for the Messiah.  Andrew said to Peter, “We have found the Messiah, which is being interpreted, the Christ.”  (John 1:41.)  Philip said to Nathaniel, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  (John 1:45.)

 

John the Baptist had prepared the way for the Messiah by his teaching and reminding the Jews about the prophecies concerning the Christ and the time of this arrival.  It was to occur according to Daniel in the days of the fourth empire from Babylon; that is, the Roman Empire.  Rome was already ruling the world at that time.  Everything was right for the fulfillment of those prophecies.  Even John the Baptist crying in the wilderness was a sign that the coming of the Messiah drew nigh.  (Malachi 4:5-6.)  John pointed out Jesus to the disciples that he had made.  This is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.  (John 1:29, 36.)  When John pointed him out to them, they immediately began to follow Jesus.  John’s work was accomplished when that happened.  He had baptized them in water.  It was a baptism of repentance for the remission of their sins.  (Mark 1:4.)

 

This is the way that it was supposed to have occurred.  The storm of Saul’s conversion was not what God had planned.  The failures theologically of the Pharisees caused that problem.  “Jesus came unto his own and his own received him not,” was not the plan of God.  (1:11.)

 

Were their conversions really that easy?  John just gave them a refresher course in OT theology, pointed out the Messiah to them, and they followed them.  No, real conversions are never really that easy.  It is always easier to convince people than it is to convert them.  Several years later and just before the cross, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “When thou are converted, strengthen the brethren.”  (Luke 22:32.)  Jesus called James and John, boanerges, or sons of thunder.  (Mark 3:17.)  These two disciples wanted Jesus to burn up a Samaritan village, but Jesus rebuked them.  (Luke 9:52-56.)

 

What can we learn from the conversions of the mainline Jews who were looking for the Messiah?  They did not have the same dramatic experience that Saul did, but they nevertheless had sinful fallen inclinations that needed to be put to death.  Putting the flesh to death is never an easy matter.  Conversion is not easy; baptizing someone is easy.  Repentance is difficult and never complete; we must die daily.  Due to our sinful nature, everyone wrestles with some problem in the flesh.  It is pride, lust or covetousness.  It is a boisterous, vengeful spirit desiring to destroy others, like James or John.  For some it is a lack of faith and commitment; weakness instead of wickedness (according to Dietrich Bonhoffer).

 

Conversion of Gentiles  (Acts 10)

 

The conversion of Cornelius and his family has always been a topic of great interest to Bible students.  He was a military man, a centurion of the Italian band.  Just that description alone might cause you to stop and not approach Cornelius.  He had to be tough to be a commander in the Roman army, the most powerful military force in that day.  But the conversion of Saul and Cornelius ought to teach us that present religious beliefs or occupations do not necessarily mean that they are opposed to God and his will.  It depends upon the kind of heart that is under the uniform and the conscience that the religious person possesses.  Are they, are we, honest?  Do we really seek after God’s will?  Those are the right considerations.

 

We remember that Cornelius was a religious man who worshipped God, gave much alms to the people, and guided his whole house in spiritual devotion.  God heard his prayers and sent a messenger, Simon Peter, to teach him about the Christ.

 

Cornelius was not a prodigal.  He was not a Pharisee; neither was he a pagan worshipping false gods.  Of what did his conversion consist?  It consisted of a great need, as is the case in all conversions, of the knowledge of the Savior and our explicit trust in Him.   It surely included relief at finally understanding how a person is saved, how guilt is removed, and assurance of salvation.  Cornelius was not accustomed to offering animal sacrifices as were Jews.  He probably did not understand his great need for a sin-offering or atonement for sin.  Cornelius probably had the least number of stumbling blocks in his way to Christ. 

 

Lydia, the Business Woman (Acts 16:9-15.)

 

The feminine counterpart to Cornelius is Lydia, a Jewish woman who prayed with other women down by the river.  These were probably Jewish women, not enough adults to form a synagogue according to Jewish custom.  In the place of a synagogue, they were meeting in a temporary setting, enclosed with stones, set aside for prayers and worship. 

 

As Lydia was listening to the preaching of Paul, the Lord opened her heart.  (Acts 16:14.)  This expression is unique to the conversion of Lydia.  What does it mean?  Was her heart closed before?  Does the Lord choose who will listen and be saved?  It is important to note that when we ask, it will be given to us.  When we seek, we will find.  When we knock, it shall be opened to us.  (Matt. 7:7-8.)  Lydia’ heart was closed only in the sense that she did not know about Jesus of Nazareth.  She needed to be taught.  As she listened to the preaching, the Lord opened her understanding through the Gospel.  Upon understanding, she obeyed the Gospel.

 

The Prodigal & Elder Brother (Luke 15:11-32.)

 

In one powerful story, Jesus told two accounts about conversion.  He told about a father which had two sons.  One was a prodigal, which means wasteful.  He wasted his inheritance with reckless, riotous living.  He dishonored his father, more than we will ever understand in the West.  When a severe famine came, he began to be in need and was hungry.  If you live in sin long enough after awhile a famine is going to hit.  The party will soon be over.  Sin will destroy you.  The “fun” will last only for a little while.  Then, there are bills to pay.

 

There are many commendable things about this young man.  1) He did not sneak around and do wrong.  He asked his father for his part of the money; his father gave it to him. There was an openness and transparency about him that is good.  2) When he was in trouble and hungry, he came to himself.  (Luke 15:17.)  Some people never do.  They just keep on hurting and dying as if everything is alright.  3) He was humble.  He said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; just make me a hired servant.”  (15:18-19.)  How few there are who will humbly say these things.  4) He accepted his father’s embrace and place at home again.  It takes a great person to return and accept grace as the means of his position with the Father.  Most want to work their way back; just make me a hired servant.

 

The description of the elder brother is that of a Pharisee.  He never did anything that was wrong; except his heart was wrong.  He pouted because the father was so loving to receive his brother back without any penance and penalty.  He would not come in and celebrate.  A self-righteous person is usually without joy, and wants others to be like him.  The story ends with the conversion of the prodigal, but with no conversion of the elder brother.  There are not many commendable things about the older brother.  The story is really about him.  The beginning of Luke 15 sets the context for the three stories that follow.

 

Conclusion

 

There are many accounts of conversion in the Bible, but there are likewise many accounts of non-conversion.  Most people who heard Jesus and the apostles were not converted.  They remained lost in sin and rebellion against God.  Where are you today?