Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Have you ever woke up in the morning, put on a shirt, but then you changed your mind and put on one that was completely different? Have you ever got into your car planning to go to the grocery store, but then you decided to stay home instead? Have you ever been at the bait shop and grabbed a carton of nightcrawlers, but then you put them back and picked minnows instead? In each one of these cases, you changed your mind about something that you were gonna do, resulting in a different outcome.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
When the Bible speaks about conversion, it’s about changing your mind. Instead of choosing what’s wrong, we choose what’s right. Instead of making poor decisions, we make wise ones. Instead of listening to the world, we listen to the Word.
Matthew 18:1-4 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Conversion is defined as, a process of being reborn from our sinful nature. It’s a change of the form or nature of a person, into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means. It is a striking alteration in appearance or character. It begins with baptism as we we begin a new life in Christ, and become a part of the family of God. At that point, all of our past sins are expunged and we begin to undergo a change, transforming into the creatures that God wants us to become. We begin to serve God and to do His will rather than our own. Like an earthly dad whom you obeyed as a child, God is our heavenly Father, and as His children, we must learn to love and obey Him perfectly.
Hebrews 12:9-10 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Conversion is the process of changing, or causing something to change from one form to another. It’s a process of changing your beliefs, to embrace the teachings that are found in Holy Scripture. It’s a change from an attitude of indifference and disbelief, to an attitude of acceptance of biblical truth. This is a change that happens within your heart, when you turn from sinful living to righteousness. In order to go through this process of change, we need to start over again, being born again just like a newborn child into the Christian life.
John 3:1-7 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
There’s an old saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, and this is why we need to become like a puppy once again. We need to become new creatures in Christ so that we can start over from the very beginning, like an infant, and learn the correct way to live our lives. Conversion is about turning from darkness to the light. It’s about turning from the wrong to the right. God’s Holy Word is a spiritual instruction book that shows us the right way to live, and how to become pleasing unto God. This is the goal, to please Him perfectly, just as the Lord Jesus pleases Him perfectly. God’s Word is capable of saving our souls, but you need to hear it, and do what it says.
James 1:21-25 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
The teachings of God’s Word needs to be applied to our daily lives. This is the only way that true conversion can happen within a person’s heart. The scriptures are there for that very reason, to train us in the way God wants us to go.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Sadly, there are going to be many people who will not listen to the truth of God’s Word, insomuch that they desire to submit humbly to God’s purpose for them. Many of them will claim Lord Lord, professing to be Christian, but they never really went through the process of conversion while here upon the earth. They claim to be followers, but they never really did follow His teachings.
Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Conversion to the truth must happen to inherit eternal life.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
The Apostles were trying to get people to turn from their sins to the truth.
James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 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.
Some people just need a little love to submit to the will of God, while others have no fear of God for the repercussions that will happen because of sinful living. They need a sledgehammer to the heart.
Jude 1:21-23 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Conversion is about changing your mind. What will you choose today? Will you choose to follow the philosophies and teachings of the world, or are you going to follow the teachings of God’s Word? Conversion is required to inherit eternal life. It’s not optional, it’s mandatory. So, did you buy some nightcrawlers today? Or did you go back for……
……The Minnows
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching tlkjbc, where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms, or by getting our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com, or I suppose, you can find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
tlkjbc.com
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 