The Healing of Conversion

The Scriptures speak of the Church as a flock of sheep, a family, and a bride; one inspired writer also compares the Church to a single body with Christ as its head. We also have grown to distinguish the Church as the pure Bride of Christ and the church, as Jesus calls them in Revelations, the Synagogues of Satan. It is necessary to indicate this difference because access to the visible Church is not limited to those who are “being saved.” Within the Church are many who are perishing in their sins and refuse to receive the grace that is offered to them and secured by the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Even the saved remain “in the flesh” which is at war with the Spirit of God working within their minds and hearts. Paul reminds us that there some in the Church are rightly called “babes in Christ.” This does not refer to their chronological age but to their spiritual maturity and wisdom. These babes refused to feed on the meat of Gospel, they are "titty babies" who refused to be weened from the breast. Even these immature Christians have hearts ready for biblical instruction and are aided by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

The hell-bound sinners, who occupy our pews, board rooms, and even our pulpits act in accordance with their lost estate. They are characterized by a low regard for evangelism, a disregard for holy living, and often a devilish disdain for the congregation’s peace and unity. The Word of God cannot penetrate their harden hearts. They are often the Clergy Killers, as one writer calls them. They will find every opportunity to turn the church into a human centered organization – like a private club who either seek only pleasure and/or showy acts of doing good deeds in order to be "seen by others."

Jesus said you will know the true Christians by their love for one another. There is no sign clearly painted on the forehead of pseudo-Christians. I think it is impossible to know with certainty the difference between an immature Christian and a phony one. They will display many of the same characteristics. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and assume they are filled with the Spirit.  

 

My pastoral ministry is not tailor made for those who are more or less mature or for those I might suspect are lost. When I broadcast the Word of God, in teaching, preaching, and personal discipleship it falls on four kinds of hearts. Jesus speaks of four dispositions of the heart by comparing them to four conditions of the soil. Only one of the four is receptive to the Word and produces a godly work in those few.

We are counseled by our Lord to let all kinds of Church members “grow together till the End of the Age” when God will do the sorting. Till then the visible Church will remain filled with weeds among the wheat, which is another image employed by our Savior.

Let me end with an appeal to fleshly Christians and pseudo Christians. It is certain that you do not know you are weak or lost. You think that you are as the same as everyone else in the congregation. You are proud that you don’t “wear your faith on your sleeve” for all to see. But what do you wear on your sleeve? Is it a charitable spirit that is eager to forgive and also open to reconciling conversations? Are the words from your mouths “seasoned as with salt?” Are you under the control of the Spirit of God or the spirit of the age?

All of us have been where you are. We all, at some point, were haters of God and resistant to his salvation. You cannot come to him unless the Spirit draws you and unless God is doing a work in your heart. If this is so, there will be, alive within you, a desire to turn from your wickedness and become forever changed into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.

 

Won't you please yeild yourself to God, without reservation, like a child falling into the arms of a trustworthy parent.

James 5:19-20 (KJV)
¹⁹ Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; ²⁰ Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.