Conversion # 1

Conversion # 1

"Repent therefore, and be converted" (Acts 3:19).

"I assure you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3).

The subject which forms the title of this paper is one which touches all mankind. It ought to come home to all ranks and classes, high or low, rich or poor, old or young, gentle or simple. Anyone may get to heaven without money, rank, or learning. No one, however wise, wealthy, noble, or beautiful, will never get to heaven without conversion. 

There are six points of view in which I wish to consider the subject of this paper. I will try to show that conversion is -

1. A Scriptural thing
2. A real thing
3. A necessary thing
4. A possible thing
5. A happy thing
6. A thing that may be seen

1. Let me show, in the first place, that conversion is a Scriptural thing. I mean by this that conversion is a thing plainly mentioned in the Bible. This is the first point we have to ascertain about anything in religion. It matter nothing who say a thing, nothing whether we like or dislike a doctrine. Is it in the Bible? That is the only question. If it is, we have no right to refuse it. If we reject a Bible truth because we do not like it, we do so at the peril of our souls, and might as well become infidels at once. This is a principle which ought never to be forgotten.

Let us turn to the Bible. Hear what David says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." "Sinners shall be converted unto You" (Psalm 19:7; 51:13). Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ says, "Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3). Hear what Peter says, "Repent, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). Hear what James says, "He which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" (James 5:20).

I could easily add to this Scriptural evidence. I could quote many passages in which the idea of conversion is contained, though the word itself is not used. To be renewed - to be transformed - to be created anew - to be raised from the dead - to be illuminated - to pass from death to life - to be born again - to put off the old man and put on the new man - all these are Scriptural expressions, which mean the same thing as conversion. They are all the same thing, seen from a different point of view. There can be no doubt  of the truth of my first position - that conversion is a Scriptural thing. It is not a mere device of man's invention-it is in the Bible.

I entreat every reader of these pages to beware of ignorant prejudices on religious subjects. I have known people to find fault with doctrines and opinions as enthusiastic, fanatical, and absurd, in total ignorance that they were finding fault with Scripture itself! They have given sad proof that they spoke of things which they did not understand, and that they knew nothing, comparatively, of the contents of the Bible. Take care that you do not expose your own ignorance by talking against conversion. Search the Scriptures. Conversion is a scriptural thing.

2. Let me show, in the second place, that conversion is a REAL thing. I feel it very needful to say something about this point. We live in an age of shams, cheats, deceptions, and impositions. It is an age of white-wash, varnish, lacquer, and veneer. It is an age of plaster, plating and gilding. It is an age of adulterated food, paste diamonds, false weights and measures, unsound timber, and shoddy clothing. It is an age of wind-bags, and whitened sepulchers, and cymbals in religion. I can hardly wonder that many regard all Christian professors as suspicious characters, if not hypocrites, and deny the reality of any such thing as conversion.

I assert confidently that there is such a thing as conversion. There are among people, unmistakable cases of a complete turning round of heart, character, tastes, and life - cases which deserve no other name than that of conversion. I say that when a man turns from sin to God - from worldliness to holiness - from self-righteousness to self-distrust - from carelessness about religion to deep repentance - from unbelief to faith - from indifference to Christ to strong love to Christ - from neglect of prayer and the Bible, to a diligent use of all means of grace - I say boldly, that such a man is a converted man. When a man's heart is turned upside down in the way I have described, so that he loves what he once hated, and hates what he once loved, I say boldly, that it is a case of conversion. To deny it, is mere obstinacy and affectation. Such a change can be described in no other way.

Of such changes the Bible gives many unmistakable patterns. Read 2 Chron. 33:1-19; Matt. 9:9; John 4:1-29; Luke 19:1-10; 8:2; Acts 9:1-22; 16:14-34; 2:37-41; 1 Cor. 6:9-11. In every case of these cases there was a mighty change. Of such changes the history of the Church in every age can supply many wall-known examples. Let anyone study the life of Augustine, Martin Luther, Hugh Latimer, John Bunyan, Colonel Gardiner, John Newton, and Thomas Scott. In everyone of these lives he will find a description of a mighty turning of heart, opinion, and conduct, towards God. 

I feel almost ashamed to dwell so long on this point. It seems like spending time in proving that two plus two make four, or that the sun rises in the east. But, alas there are too many people who will allow nothing, and will dispute everything in religion! They know that they are not yet converted themselves, and they therefore try hard to make out that nobody was ever converted at all! I trust I have given you a sufficient answer to all such people. I have shown you that conversion is a real true thing.

3. Let me show you, in the third place, that conversion is a NECESSARY thing. This is a point of great importance. Some worthy people are ready enough to admit that conversion is a Scriptural truth and a reality - but not a thing which needs to be pressed on most English people. The heathen, they grant, need conversion. Even the thieves, and fallen characters, and inhabitants of jails, they allow, may require conversion. But to talk of conversion being necessary for Church-going people, is to talk of things which they cannot see at all. They may not be as good as they ought to be - it would be better if they attended more to religion; but you have no right to say they need conversion. It is uncharitable, harsh, narrow-minded, bitter, wrong, to tell them they require conversion!

This sadly common notion is a complete delusion. It is a pure invention of man's, without a scrap of foundation in God's Word. The Bible teaches expressly that the change of heart, called conversion, is a thing absolutely needed by everyone. It is needed because of the total corruption of human nature. It is needed because of the condition of every man's heart. All people born into the world, of every rank and nation, must have their hearts changed between the cradle and the grave, before they can go to heaven. All, all people, without exception, must be converted.

Without conversion of heart we cannot serve God on earth. We have naturally neither faith, nor fear, nor love, toward God and His Son Jesus Christ. We have no delight in His Word. We take no pleasure in prayer or communion with Him. We have no enjoyment in His ordinances, His house, His people, or His day. We may have a form of Christianity, and keep up a round of ceremonies and religious performances. But without conversion we have no more heart in our religion than a brick or stone. Can a dead corpse serve God? We know it cannot. Well, without conversion we are dead toward God.

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 2)