Helping Souls to Be Converted
The Experience of Genuine Conversion—I have been shown
that many have confused ideas in regard to conversion. They have often
heard the words repeated from the pulpit, “Ye must be born again.”
“You must have a new heart.” These expressions have perplexed them.
They could not comprehend the plan of salvation.
Many have stumbled to ruin because of the erroneous doctrines
taught by some ministers concerning the change that takes place at
conversion. Some have lived in sadness for years, waiting for some
marked evidence that they were accepted by God. They have separated
themselves in a large measure from the world, and find pleasure in
associating with the people of God; yet they dare not profess Christ,
because they fear it would be presumption to say that they are children
of God. They are waiting for that peculiar change that they have been
led to believe is connected with conversion.
After a time some of these do receive evidence of their acceptance
with God, and are then led to identify themselves with His people.
And they date their conversion from this time. But I have been shown
that they were adopted into the family of God before that time. God
accepted them when they became weary of sin, and having lost their
desire for worldly pleasures, resolved to seek God earnestly. But,
failing to understand the simplicity of the plan of salvation, they lost
many privileges and blessings which they might have claimed had they
only believed, when they first turned to God, that He had accepted
them.
Others fall into a more dangerous error. They are governed by
impulse. Their sympathies are stirred, and they regard this flight of
feeling as an evidence that they are accepted by God and are converted.
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But the principles of their life are not changed. The evidences of a
genuine work of grace on the heart are to be found not in feeling, but
in the life. “By their fruits,” Christ declared, “ye shall know them.”
Many precious souls, desiring earnestly to be Christians, are yet
stumbling in darkness, waiting for their feelings to be powerfully
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