"Conversion is one of the most indisputable and significant facts in the mental and moral world.Conversion means turning unto God from the old life to serve the living and true God. (1 Those. 1:9.) This extraordinary change of character, called conversion, has been testified to by countless millions of civilized men and women, in all nations and in all degrees of culture. Conversion has been a fact in the Scriptures and a fact in history, and it is a fact today. We have no right to deny an experience because that experience has not yet been ours. It is certain that through surrender to Christ a power comes into the life, which, judged by its permanence and results, must be nothing less than God working in us, and "the power of God unto salvation." Rom. 1:16."
How Can I Tell When I Have Experienced It?
NOTE: A young man approached me recently and asked for an interview. After talking about a number of things, he finally came to that which was really burdening his heart. "Pastor, will you tell me how one can get a Christian experience? I have been reared in the church, and my father is a minister, but religion is all formal to me. I hear people talking about their Christian experience and their love for Christ, but it is all unreal to me. Can you tell me how to get a Christian experience?"
In discussion with a young baptized woman who had been drifting from the Lord, I learned that she did not understand the simplest fundamentals of the Christian life. She said that she understood that she had to be baptized to become a member of the church, and that was what she wanted. From these and many other experiences I am convinced that one of the greatest needs of many hundreds of our youth is to be led into a vital relationship with Christ through a clear understanding of the fundamental teaching of the new-birth experience. Hundreds of our young people are message-reared, and are in danger of growing into maturity without having entered into this vital relationship with Christ. Let us pray for wisdom and grace to make this truth simple and appealing to the hearts of our young people this week.
Christianity is based upon unalterable facts. Behind the most familiar material facts—the growth of the blade of grass, the electric light—there lie mysteries that bewilder the intellect. The facts of the spiritual realm are still more deeply rooted in mystery. Nevertheless, they are essential for complete living, and faith must feed on these great facts if it is to be strong. The four great facts are—
1. The Fact of Christ.
2. The Fact of Sin.
3. The Fact of the Church.
4. The Fact of Salvation.
We live in an ago of science, when men are coming with open minds to study the facts, whether material or psychological. Conversion is one of the most indisputable and significant facts in the mental and moral world.Conversion means turning unto God from the old life to serve the living and true God. (1 Those. 1:9.) This extraordinary change of character, called conversion, has been testified to by countless millions of civilized men and women, in all nations and in all degrees of culture. Conversion has been a fact in the Scriptures and a fact in history, and it is a fact today. We have no right to deny an experience because that experience has not yet been ours. It is certain that through surrender to Christ a power comes into the life, which, judged by its permanence and results, must be nothing less than God working in us, and "the power of God unto salvation." Rom. 1:16.
TEXT: John 3:3, 5.
Nicodemus came to Jesus as a teacher to be taught; Jesus showed him that he needed to come as a sinner to be saved. The teaching of Jesus to Nicodemus is fundamental. If we are unsound here, we are unsound everywhere else. Many years ago the servant of God made this startling statement in Messages to Young People, page 131: "From what has been shown me, there are not more than half of the young who profess religion and the truth, who have been truly converted." We would do well to ponder over the tremendous significance of such a statement.
Perhaps we can best answer this by stating what conversion is not.
a. It is not being reared in the message.
b. It is not living a moral life. (The rich young man was morally straight.)
c. It is not churchgoing. (The devil is a regular church attendant.)
d, It is not praying. (The Pharisees prayed.)
e. It is not just turning over a new leaf. (The sinner may do that also.)
f. It is not a happy feeling. (Satan can give happy feelings.)
While conversion may include all of these, they will be rather the result of a vital change already wrought in the soul, and a new and personal relationship with Christ.
Galatians 6:15 (NKJV) "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation."
The spiritual awakening known as conversion is described in the Scriptures as a new life. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." Eze. 36:26. It is not a modification or improvement of the old nature but a transformation of character so real and profound that the individual enters upon an entirely new experience of spiritual power and purpose. He passes from a self-directed life to a Christ-centered, Christ-controlled, Christ-energized life. God has wrought a change in his life which no human power could have effected. (2 Cor. 4:6; 5:17, 18.) This truth is well illustrated by the laws of nature governing the various known kingdoms: mineral, vegetable, and animal.
(Let three books superimposed on each other represent these kingdoms.) The soil in the mineral kingdom cannot of itself become a plant in the vegetable kingdom, but the plant can reach down into the soil and translate the soil into the higher kingdom. Just so the plant cannot of itself enter the next higher kingdom, but it is possible for an animal to reach down and translate that plant into the higher kingdom. Man, who belongs to the animal kingdom, cannot of himself enter the spiritual kingdom (the next highest kingdom). He must be born from above. This is exactly what happens when God's Spirit reaches down and translates him into the kingdom of His dear Son.
Some Christians wonder whether they are converted, because they have not experienced a sudden and arresting change like others. While many have had a sudden conversion, the majority of young people reared in the church have experienced a gradual growth in spiritual things.
Ellen G. White makes this beautifully clear in Messages to Young People, pages 157, 158: "A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place, or to trace all the circumstances in the process of conversion; but this does not prove him to be unconverted. By an agency as unseen as the wind, Christ is constantly working upon the heart. Little by little, perhaps unconsciously to the receiver, impressions are made that tend to draw the soul to Christ.These may be received through meditating upon Him, through reading the Scriptures, or through hearing the word from the living preacher. Suddenly, as the Spirit comes with more direct appeal, the soul gladly surrenders itself to Jesus. By many this is called sudden conversion; but it is the result of long wooing by the Spirit of God."
It is not a question of when and how, but "Do I love Him now?"
You ask me how I gave my heart to Christ? I do not know.
There came a yearning for Him in my soul So long ago.
I found earth's flowers would fade and die—
I wept for something that could satisfy;
And then—and then—somehow I seemed to
dare
To lift my broken heart to Him in prayer.
I do not know—I cannot tell you how;
I only know He is my Saviour now.
You ask me when I gave my heart to Christ? I cannot tell.
The day, or just the hour, I do not now Remember well.
It must have been when I was all alone
The light of His forgiving Spirit shone Into my heart.
so clouded o'er with sin ;
I think 'twas when I trembling let Him in.
I do not know—I cannot tell you when;
I only know He is so dear. since then.
You ask me where I gave my heart to Christ?
I cannot say.
That sacred place has faded from my sight
As yesterday.
Perhaps He thought it better I should not
Remember where.
How I should love that
spot!
I think I could not tear myself away,
For I should wish forever there to stay.
I do not know—I cannot tell you where;
I only know He came and blessed me there.
You ask me why I gave my heart to Christ?
I can reply.
It is a wondrous story; listen while I tell you why.
My heart was drawn, at length, to seek His face
I was alone, I had no resting place;
I heard of Him, how He had loved me, with a love
Of depth so great, of height so far above All human ken;
I longed such love to share,
And sought it then, upon my knees in prayer.
You ask me why I thought this loving Christ
Would heed my prayer?
I knew He died upon the cross for me—
I nailed Him there.
I heard His dying cry: "Father, forgive!"
I saw Him drink death's cup that I might live;
My head was bowed upon my breast in shame!
He called me—and in penitence I came.
He heard my prayer! I cannot tell you how,
Nor when, nor where, only—I love Him now,
—Author Unknown
Note: Last night we studied concerning the fact of, and the necessity of, the new-birth experience. Tonight we shall trace the mysterious process by which the soul is wooed to God and experiences the change called conversion.This may be a more or less sudden experience, or it may be, and usually is, gradual. The important thing is to know that we have experienced it and are enjoying the blessedness of knowing that we are the children of God.
While it is impossible to give any stereotyped description of the experience of conversion, there are certain aspects of the work of the Spirit in producing this change that should be clearly understood.
Acts 2:37 (NKJV) "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?'"
The first evidence of the Spirit's working upon the heart of the sinner is a sense of need, a conviction of sin. Thiswas evident in the experience of the people at Pentecost. Under the power of the Holy Spirit's preaching, conviction of sin was deep and real. How much such conviction is needed in the church today! These people were not urged to surrender. The Spirit's power was so intense they cried out, "What must we do?"
Moody tells of his visit to a prison where he preached to the inmates. After the sermon he visited the men in their cells and asked them what had brought them there. Each man defended himself, made excuses, and blamed someone else. Finally he found a prisoner sitting in his cell with his head buried in his hands, sobbing. In response to Moody's inquiry he cried, "Oh, sir, I am a wicked man, and my sins are greater than I can bear." Moody had at last found a prisoner who knew he was a sinner, and who sensed his need of God. He was the man the Lord could save. Some resist the Spirit's pleading (Acts 7:51) so continually that they become past feeling (Eph. 4:19) and finally commit the unpardonable sin. The Spirit of God is ever seeking to break the spell of infatuation that holds men absorbed in worldly things, and to awaken a desire for the imperishable treasure. It is by resisting the Spirit that men become inattentive to, or neglectful of, God's Word. The heart that does not respond to divine agencies becomes hardened until it is no longer susceptible to the influence of the Holy Spirit. Then it is that the word is spoken, "Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?" "There are none so hardened as those who have slighted the invitation of mercy, and done despite to the Spirit of grace. The most common manifestation of the sin against the Holy Spirit, is in persistently slighting Heaven's invitation to repent. Every step in the rejection of Christ is a step toward the rejection of salvation, and toward the sin against the Holy Spirit."—The Desire of Ages, p. 324. Let us cherish a tender conscience and thank God for the evidence of His Spirit working upon our hearts.
Acts 2:38 (NKJV) "Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
When convicted of sin, the people cried out, "What shall we do?" Peter's first word was, "Repent." "Repentance includes sorrow for sin, and a turning away from tit."—Steps to Christ, p. 26. It is not a feeling only, but an act of the will. The prodigal had sorrow for his sin, and resolved to go to his father, but it was not until he arose and went, and turned his back on his former associations, that his repentance became effective. "We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will he no real change in the life."—Ibid.
The prayer of David after his fall illustrates the nature of true repentance. (Ps. 51:1-14.) It was deep and sincere, and there was no attempt to excuse his sin or escape the threatened judgment. "A repentance such as this, is beyond the reach of our own power to accomplish; it is obtained only from Christ, who ascended up on high, and has given gifts
unto men."—Ibid., p. 29.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Proverbs 28:13 (NKJV) "He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."
Why does God require confession of sin, and how far should we go in making wrongs right? When we wrong our fellow man, we alienate ourselves from him. This alienation does not necessarily result because the person wronged feels grieved, but because the wrongdoer in his heart knows that he has injured or wronged the other. In addition to the wrongdoer's consciousness of having done wrong, the person wronged may have a feeling of having been injured. Therefore, wrongdoing results in alienation. The inevitable consequence of sin is pain, and the sinner must suffer the consequence of his wrongdoing, either before the close of probation through confession, or in the loss of his soul at the time of the executive judgment. "When one who professes to serve God wrongs or injures a brother, he misrepresents the character of God to that brother, and the wrong must be confessed, he must acknowledge it to be sin, in order to be in harmony with God. If we have in any manner defrauded or injured our brother, we should make restitution. If we have unwittingly borne false witness, if we have misstated his words, if we have injured his influence in any way, we should go to the ones with whom we have conversed about him, and take back all our injurious misstatements."—Mount of Blessing, pp. 91, 92.
Confession must also be heartfelt and specific. "True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty."—Steps to Christ, p. 38.
Psalms 32:1-2 (NKJV) "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit."
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Thank God for this glorious message of forgiveness. It is "heaven" to know that the past, however crimson, is forgiven. So many young people cannot grasp the fact that when God forgives He forgets. (Jer. 31:33, 34.) Who is there among us who could bear to have all the sins he has committed since he was born arrayed before the gaze of his friends. Praise be to His name, Calvary has covered them all—and Christ has not only forgiven but taken away that awful sense of guilt and the burden or remorse. But a young woman said, "I feel the same after I have prayed for forgiveness as before. My past still troubles me." Young friends, if we have complied with the conditions, and believe His promise, God supplies the fact, and we are forgiven whether we feel it or not.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
Messages to Young People, pp. 72-74.
The soul has now entered into intimate relationship with Jesus. He is now our Master—our affections are upon Him. We have taken His name. His interests are our interests, our lives are centered in Him. Life takes on a new meaning— and everything is viewed in the light of this new and wonderful relationship.
A young man condemned for a terrible crime, found Christ in his prison cell. A visit by a Christian worker revealed how wonderfully the new-birth experience transforms the most sinful life. He said that since Christ has come into Ms life, everything looks different. Even the prison, which in actuality was a gloomy place, was a happy place to him. From being morose and critical, he was changed to a trusting, loving man, and even the prison guards appeared to him as friends and not enemies.
If we are truly converted, a change will be seen in the life. The dishonest man becomes strictly honest in his dealings with his fellow men. The hasty temper is controlled by Christ's grace, the world-loving heart now loves the things of the kingdom. Sinful pleasures and associates are abandoned. Communion with his heavenly Father becomes sweeter than association with any earthly friend, and the deepest joy is found in loving personal effort for the salvation of others. A love of purity replaces lustful thoughts and actions; the critical fault-finding disposition is changed to one of loving tenderness toward all men, and a sweet sense of sins forgiven brings that peace that passeth all understanding. The Word of God becomes more fascinating than any storybook or novel. In order to retain such an experience, we must make a daily reconsecration of our lives to Him, and die daily to self.
Young people, have you ever really given Him your heart? Have you come to Him personally and said, "Lord Jesus, I am a guilty sinner. I want Thee as my own personal Saviour. Wilt Thou forgive my, sins and accept me as Thy child?" If you do this in sincerity and by a simple act of faith believe that He has accepted you, it is so, and you are His child—not because you feel it, but because He has said so. He looks upon you from that moment as though you had never sinned since you were born. Dear young people, will you trust Him? Will you tonight enter into this wonderful relationship with Him? Will you bring to Him your burden of sin and accept His pardon and enter into the peace and blessedness of the children of God? May your response be—
"I hear Thy welcome voice,
That calls me, Lord, to Thee;
For cleansing in Thy precious blood, That flowed on Calvary.
I am coming, Lord! Coming now to Thee I
wash me, cleanse me, in the blood that flowed on Calvary."
—E. L. Minchin, Church Officer’s Gazette, March 1, 1946.
You will find sermons, articles, information on revivals, teachings, and information on the personal life of Pastor Minchin at this website: https://www.elminchin.com