Are You Truly Converted

The Bible says, 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).  The author of conversion is the Holy Spirit. The word “conversion” means transformation or renovation. In true conversion, the result is a completely new creation: and are controlled by the Holy Spirit; they are no longer controlled by their sinful nature (Romans 8:9). Indeed, all true converts have the Holy Spirit dwelling in their hearts (Galatian 4:6) and they become new creations. When a person receives Jesus, tremendous spiritual changes take place in their hearts, and true converts will indeed display the characteristics of genuine Christians. For example, true Converts will understand the importance of abiding daily in God’s Word, which shows not only how we can be saved from our sins, but also how we may be equipped to serve God and how to obtain true success in life (2 Timothy 3:17& James 1:25).  A True Convert will walk in the light and obey God’s commands, for “God’s love is truly made complete” in those who obey His Word ( 1 John 2:5).

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus tells us the road that leads to eternal life is narrow and that “only a few find it.” The broad road with the wide gate, on the other hand, is the one that leads to destruction, and we see that “many” will take this path. And many who claim to be converted Christians will never leave the broad road with its worldly allurements. They desire to live an easy Christianity that makes few demands on them, yet when “trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he or she is offended” (Matthew 13:21), they quickly fall away (Matthew 13:21).  Furthermore, they produce little, if any, fruit. Yet we know that true faith in Christ profoundly changes one’s life and will cause us to produce much fruit for God’s glory. And, ultimately, fruit is the test of true salvation, and this includes holiness (Romans 6:22) Change character (Galatians 5:22-23),  good works (Colossians 1:10), winning others to Christ (Romans 1:13), sharing what we have (Romans 15:25); Hebrews 13:16). and praising God. As Christ said, “By their fruit you shall know them. . . . A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:16, 18). 

Characteristics of a False Convert

• A false convert is someone you have to beg to come to the House of God; when they already appears to be a professing Christian.
• False converts are selfish, self-centered and also man-centered.  
• False converts are devoted to self, the things of the flesh and not Jesus.
• A false convert is self-seeking, self-glory, self-interest, self-pity, self-righteousness, self-importance, self-promotion with the biggest of all “self” they want self-satisfaction.  
• They are hasty and love to be seen; they constantly seeks attention.
• They completely misunderstand repentance because they give occasion to their flesh
• According to Ray Comfort, a false convert wants your time. He is a tool of the devil to wear out the saints. Remember, satan wants to wear down the saints?
• False converts are hearers of the Word, and not doers.
• A false convert lack inwardly depth or root.
• Ray Comfort stated that, “A false convert will lack fruit, but he’ll have plenty of branches and leaves to impress those that are around them.” Read Matthew 7:15-20. “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they’re
  ravening wolves. You’ll know them by their fruit. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” A good tree cannot bear bad fruit.” In other words, if someone’s genuine, they’re genuine, if they are false, they are false.  Nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you shall know them.” 
• Charles Spurgeon said, “They will never accept grace until they tremble before a Just and Holy God.
• George Whitfield said, “That is the reason we have so many mushroom converts.” That is, ones that spring up overnight and disappear because their stony ground is not plowed up. They are “stony ground hearers” or “false conversions.” So the true converts brings forth the fruit of a new lifestyle, a lifestyle that is pleasing in the sight of Almighty God.
• If we are rooted and grounded in Christ, it should be evident. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He that abides in Me and I in Him, the same brings forth much fruit.” 
• There is no thirst for God, for the living God in a false convert.
• There’s no root in themselves (Matthew 13:6). There is no depth of Godly character.
• A false convert receive the Word with gladness. Again, there’s no Godly sorrow so that they might see themselves in truth. God’s Law is like a mirror. When there’s no mirror, you can go around the whole day, if someone doesn’t tell you, and have a dirty face. You’ve got no idea. 
• They receive the Word with joy and for a while they do believe; however they have no depth and so they cannot go the distance. 
• Ray comfort states that, “Anyone will steal your time, it’s a false convert. He wants counsel, he wants counsel, he wants counsel. He’s always coming because he’s got problems, problems, problems. I’ve spent many hours counseling people who didn’t need counseled, they needed repentance.
• False converts don’t truly love God and don’t care if God receives the glory from their life; rather, they are simply after the cheap thrills of recognition and attention. Those who are man-centered only care about how God can affect them and improve their life and aren’t interested in picking up a cross to follow Christ daily (Luke 9:23).
• False converts completely misunderstand salvation and think that it is through their actions that they are saved. They might say that salvation is not through works with their lips, but their hearts and actions declare something completely different.
• A false converts does not truly love Jesus in their hearts and are only after the benefits of what Jesus can bring to their life.
• A false convert is superficial and they are instant gratification seekers. 

No Follow-Ups by Ray Comfort

Follow-up is not Biblical. It’s not. You check it out. You won’t find follow-up in Scripture. You can find feeding, nurturing, discipling, but you’ll not find following new converts.

David Wilkerson, when he heard the Hell’s Best Kept Secret teaching, the first thing he said to me when he called me from his car phone when he heard the tape in his car, he says, “I thought I was the only one who didn’t believe in follow-up.” It’s not Biblical. Follow-up is merely a sad testimony of the confidence modern evangelism has both in its message and in the keeping power of God. If He is the author of their faith, He’ll also be the finisher.

“God is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by Him. He is able to keep them from falling and present them faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” If God has saved them, God will keep them. The Ethiopian eunuch was left without follow-up. Why? Because if he’s genuine, he’s going to last, if he’s false, he’ll wither and die. The stony ground hearer doesn’t need follow-up. They don’t need fertilizer, they need good soil. 

True Conversion

• A true convert lives a life of obedience by keeping God’s commandments more often than breaking them.
• A true convert is not a habitual sinner. There’s a difference between stumbling into sin and jumping in with both feet. While true converts may continue to sin as part of the struggle with our sin nature, the life of a true convert is marked by a desire to pursue holiness and walk in obedience to God’s Word. (1 John 2:3-6, 3:6, 5:2)
•  A true convert lives a life of obedience by keeping God’s commandments more often than breaking them. A true convert is not a habitual sinner. There’s a difference between stumbling into sin and jumping in with both feet. While true converts may continue to sin as part of the struggle with our sin nature, the life of a true convert is marked by a desire to pursue holiness and walk in obedience to God’s Word. (1 John 2:3-6, 3:6, 5:2)
• A true convert does not harbor hate for his brother or sister but displays forgiveness, love, and compassion. (1 John 2:9, 2:11, 3:15, 4:16, 4:20) 
• A true convert does not love the world or the things of the world, nor the world’s system of evil, ruled by Satan. (1 John 2:15) 
• A true convert hopes and longs for the return of the Lord. (1 John 3:2-3)
• A true convert desires to serve and help other Christians. (1 John 3:17, 3:14)
• A true convert loves being with other believers and hearing the Word of God. (1 John 5:1)
• A true convert remains in the truth and perseveres in the faith. (1 John 2:24). (George Whitfield)
• A true convert is very thankful, he or she is full of the fruit of thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15). I mean, if you’re soundly saved, there should be a cry within your heart, “thanks be to God for the unspeakable gift.” If there isn’t the fruit of thanksgiving, if there isn’t a gratitude burning in your soul, you may not be saved.
• The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It should be evident in, “love, joy, peace, patience, goodness,
  gentleness, faith, meekness, and temperance.” 
• The fruit of righteousness (Philippians 1:11). There should be the fruit of that which is right, the fruit of
  righteousness in your lifestyle. Remember Matthew 3:10 says, “every tree that brings not forth good fruit will be cut
  down and cast into the fire.” 

What are we saying with all the above? In order to be truly converted, a man must become a new creature and be converted from his own righteousness to the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Conviction will always precede spiritual conversion. You may be convicted without being converted, but you cannot be converted without being convicted. True conversion means turning not only from sin but also from depending on self-made righteousness. Those who trust in their own righteousness for conversion hide behind their own good works. This is the reason that self-righteous people are so angry with gospel preachers, because the gospel does not spare those who will not submit to the righteousness of Jesus Christ!  

What does it really mean to be in Christ? Duncan Campbell exposes shallow ‘conversions’ that do not bring about real change and a surrender to the lordship of Christ. Campbell weaves in some personal testimonies and revival experiences to compliment the topic. “Are you moving,” Campbell warns, “under a self-created illusion?”

What is the difference between True and False Conversions? Israel received God as their deliverer but most never knew Him; likewise many who claim to be Christians still serve other gods and have no true salvation. Have you come to God on His terms or based on a false Conversion? Are you really saved? We must measure our conversion experiences against God’s Word.