This message explains why divorce, alcohol and drug addiction, immorality, and abortion are so prevalent within the church today. Are our churches really filled with true believers?
I wonder if you have ever heard a testimony like this:
“I gave my heart to Jesus when I was a child. Then I became involved in drugs, robbery, muggings, rape, murder, pornography, torture, gambling, money laundering, adultery, perjury, treason, extortion…and other things I’d rather not mention. I was filled with anger, hatred, and greed. But all the time I knew the Lord and gave my heart back to Him when I was forty years old.”
If you’ve heard something like that and said to yourself, “Something doesn’t sound quite right about that,” I trust that this teaching called “True and False Conversion” will shed light on that subject.
One hundred fifty years ago, a great preacher said, “Evermore the law must prepare the way for the gospel.” He said, “To overlook this in instructing souls is almost certain to result in false hope”—people believing they are saved when they are not—“and the introduction of a false standard of Christian experience, and to fill the church with false converts.” And then he said, “Time will make this plain.” And it certainly has.
D. James Kennedy said, “The vast majority of people who are members of churches in America today are not Christians. I say that without the slightest fear of contradiction. I base it on empirical evidence of 24 years of examining thousands of people.”
“D. James Kennedy said, ‘The vast majority of people who are members of churches in America today are not Christians.’”Share on TwitterShare on Facebook A. W. Tozer said, “It is my opinion that tens of thousands, if not millions, have been brought into some kind of religious experience by accepting Christ and they have not been saved.”
And, of course, Jesus warned that on the Day of Judgment, many would come to Him and say, “Lord, Lord,” and He will say, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you worker of iniquity” (Matthew 7:22,23). That word “iniquity” means “lawlessness.” That Law is pivotal in conversion. How can a man repent if he does not know what sin is?
The Bible says, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). That is the same word: lawlessness.” If there is no knowledge of sin—and Paul says, “I had not known sin but by the law” (Romans 7:7)—then there is no understanding that we have sinned against God and there will be no vertical repentance. Without repentance there is no salvation.
Romans 7:4 says: “Wherefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”
In our book Hell’s Best Kept Secret, we share a story about a speedster. He was drunk and he drove through his hometown at a dangerous speed of 120 miles per hour. The town had no law against speeding, so they passed a law saying 65 miles per hour was the maximum speed. The speedster comes through again at 120 miles per hour, and this time he was in transgression. They grabbed him and leveled a $6,000 fine against him.
So what are the fruits of a new convert? Well, according Matthew 3:8, there is the fruit of repentance. If we are soundly saved, we will have evidence of repentance. Zacchaeus said, “Behold, Lord, I give half my goods to the poor; and if I have wronged anyone, I will pay back fourfold” (Luke 19:8).
Colossians 1:10: The fruit of good works. If you read the book of Titus, Titus continually says things like, “Let those who have believed in God be careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8). Jesus Himself said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Hebrews 13:15: The fruit of thanksgiving. Oh, once you’ve seen the cross, you will say, “O thanks be to God for the unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Galatians 5:22: The fruit of the Spirit. If you are soundly saved, if you are a genuine convert, you will manifest the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
Philippians 1:11: The fruit of righteousness. You will do that which is right. “He will lead you in the paths of righteousness” (Psalm 23:3).
And then Matthew 3:10 warns that “every tree that brings not forth good fruit”—not ordinary fruit, but good fruit—“will be cut down and cast into the fire.” So as witnesses of Christ we should do everything we can, not just to get church members, not just to get decisions or youth group members; but with God’s help, we must make sure that those we bring to the Savior have the things that accompany salvation (Hebrews 6:9).
Let’s now look at Mark 4:3. Whenever Scripture uses the word “hearken,” I once heard this said, it is like a little trumpet sounding, Hearken. It’s saying, “Listen carefully, something important is about to be said.” Same with the word “behold.” If you see the word “behold,” some great truth is going to be manifested.
But here in the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4 Jesus said, “Hearken; behold”—a double trumpet—“there went out a sower to sow. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred” (verses 3–8).
