Good morning and welcome in everyone. 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.
When I was in junior high school, I occasionally had the opportunity to go to our local hobby store. I always used to enjoy this, because we had certain toys at home that always needed parts. We had a large train set, along with a few slot car tracks that were in constant need of repair. Sometimes we would buy models that we would glue together and paint. But one time when I was perusing their shelves, I came across something that I had never seen before. It was a small solar cell that had two electrical wires hanging from it. I asked the owner what it was, and he told me that I could use it for all kinds of things, such as charging a small battery, or powering a small electric motor. What it did was convert sunlight into electricity through a process called photovoltaics. Many years later, when I built my cabin out in the woods, I bought a couple large solar panels and mounted them by the house. Over the years I have charged numerous batteries, converting the sunlight into electricity.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
To convert means to cause something or someone to change in their form, function or character. In order to obtain eternal life, we must be converted from sinners into saints. Although a solar cell converts light into electricity, we will need to be converted from darkness into light.
James 5 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 sin
The Apostle Paul spent a lot of his life trying to convert people to the Christian faith. He was trying to turn them from their sins, to the truth in Christ.
Acts 26 ¹⁹ Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: ²⁰ But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
John the Baptist was doing the same thing.
Luke 3 ⁷ Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. ⁹ And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
In order to enter into eternal life, conversion needs to happen. One must humbly accept the error of their way, and submit to the will of God. A lot of us may be adults, but we need to become children all over again. This time around, we need to learn the ways of Christ rather than the ways of the world.
Matthew 18 ¹ At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
² And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
³ 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. ⁴ Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“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;” Acts 3:19
To undergo a conversion, one must completely change their attitude and direction in life. Rather than serving the sinful nature, we freely choose to serve the will of God. This will result in becoming a completely different creature than what you used to be in the past.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” Galatians 6:15
Ephesians 4 ²² That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; ²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; ²⁴ And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Granted all of us grew up in this place, but to become a Christian we need to reject the philosophies of the world, for the teachings of scripture.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
To conform means to behave according to socially accepted standards, but many things that are acceptable in the world are forbidden in the teachings of scripture. Their standards fall far short of what is required to enter into Paradise. In order to convert to the Christian Life, we must not live like the world, or look to them for guidance. We must look to Christ and become obedient children, completely rejecting the sinful life that we once lived.
1 Peter 4 ³ For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: ⁴ Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
1 Peter 1 ¹³ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
In order for a sinner to become a Saint, they will have to undergo a change. They will have to be transformed from the world, into an obedient servant of Christ. All of us are sinners, raised from the same stock. We have lived, acted and behaved like the world at one time or another, but now we must lovingly submit to what God wants us to become. Conversion is not a difficult concept to understand, it is simply to be used for a different purpose, just like….
….. The Solar Cell
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. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 