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Prov. 15:25-33
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. The 2 heresies of easy believism and feel-good theology have misled many people into thinking that salvation is nothing more than praying a prayer then going on with your life as though nothing happened. I trust that you have learned from our study of the doctrine of conversion that those 2 heresies are an “eternity” from Biblical truth. It is a clear understanding of this doctrine that helps a person know with absolute certainty that God’s redeeming grace and mercy has been applied to them, and that as a result they are eternally secure as one of God’s adopted children. If the doctrine of conversion is so important, and if understanding how it works it is important, why don’t more people, including those who claim to be Christians, take it more seriously? Why does it appear to be so hard to be converted? The answer is found in the last verse of our passage today; look at 15:33 read. The last phrase is the clue – “humility comes before honor.” In order for any person anywhere to become an adopted child of God, the 1st thing they must do is humble themselves. A person must understand that conversion is both an event and a process. The event is a one time for a lifetime decision to turn away from sin-repentance-and to walk in obedience to Christ-faith. the process part of conversion is making as many decisions as necessary every day to continue in repentance and faith. You might also impress upon them that that process begins as soon as they get up from their knees asking to be saved. Remember, simply stated conversion is turning from sin –to Christ! Now watch, watch! Look carefully once the turn from sin is started – when does it stop? Only when the turn has been made a full 180°. True Biblical conversion is experienced only when a person has put sin to their back and is looking face to face toward Christ. Here’s why it is necessary to discuss these 2 actions together because we must see them as happening simultaneously. Why? Because you cannot take anything out of your life without replacing it with something of equal or greater value. Scripture teaches this principle throughout. God never talks about just turning away from sin in repentance without turning to Christ in faith. Why must those 2 distinct decisions and actions in a Christian’s life be thought of and practiced as one continual process? The short answer is because that’s what Scripture teaches. Read Acts 20:21; and 26:18. You will notice both verses connect the act of turning to God in repentance; and the act of having faith in the Lord Jesus with the word “and.” Here is why that’s important: the word repentance by definition means to turn 180°. In order to forsake sin one must turn from facing it and putting it to one’s back. In so doing one turns to face Christ. Now listen beloved, listen carefully! Scripture teaches that once true repentance occurs, and a person turns from sin to Christ – that person never turns back toward sin as a way of life. All true men and women of God continue to sin, but listen, listen – sin is not a way of life for them! Any sin causes deep heartfelt sorrow, and an immediate need to eliminate it from their life.
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