Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More
Conversion
Text: Matthew 18:3
Matthew continues a discussion about offences. If you recall last week Jesus warned Peter about offending the Gentile government and putting yourself in a position where you can’t serve the LORD. Now Matthew continues with another conversation the LORD has with his disciples about offending little ones and even your body being an offence to your soul. But before we consider the discussion about offences
This morning we’re looking at the doctrine of conversion. Conversion is a word that describes what the LORD does to a soul through His word. The word conversion means:
- To change or turn into another substance or form; as, to convert gases into water, or water into ice.
- To change from one state to another; as, to convert a barren waste into a fruitful field; to convert a wilderness into a garden; to convert rude savages into civilized men.
Psalm 19:7 – Conversion from the worldliness to godliness. God’s law is perfect and perfection has to do with nonconformity to the world. Perfection is nonconformity to this world
- God told Abraham to be perfect in Genesis 17.
- Deuteronomy 18:9-13
- Romans 12:2 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.
- Job and Noah are both called perfect in their generations.
- 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: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
1 Peter 1:22-23 to see the conversion take place. A soul must become a child of God by the Spirit of God through the scriptures. Look at John 3:1-6.
James 5:19-20 – One sinner skillfully uses the law of God, the words of God, to convert a sinner from the error of his way. Look at what David said about restoring the joy of salvation and how it affects evangelism in Psalm 51:13. With the joy of salvation a soul is turned into a preacher of righteousness and a public minister for the LORD. This in turn is what converts sinners to the LORD. Peter preaches for the purpose of converting souls in Acts 3:14-19.
Isaiah 6:9-10 – On the other hand, most will hear the word of God, fail to believe their sin offends God, and will not be converted. Matthew 13:15, Mark 4:12, John 12:40, and Acts 28:27.
Conversion to a new creature – 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Conversion from child of wrath to child of God – Ephesians 2:3-5 (and further on)
Conversion from the power of darkness into the kingdom of Christ in Colossians 1:12-13. Back to Matthew 18:3 where Jesus Christ says about conversion being necessary to enter Christ’s kingdom.
