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How Successful Are Modern Revivals?
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be reconciled to God, restored to harmony with his Maker. This
change is the new birth, without which “he cannot see the kingdom
of God.”
John 3:16, 3
.
Conviction of Sin
The first step in reconciliation to God is the conviction of sin.
“Sin is the transgression of the law.” “By the law is the knowledge
of sin.”
1 John 3:4
;
Romans 3:20
. In order to see his guilt, the sinner
must test his character by God’s mirror which shows the perfection
of a righteous character and enables him to discern the defects in his
own.
The law reveals to man his sin, but provides no remedy. It
declares that death is the portion of the transgressor. The gospel of
Christ alone can free him from the condemnation or the defilement
of sin. He must exercise repentance toward God, whose law has
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been transgressed, and faith in Christ, his atoning sacrifice. Thus he
obtains “remission of sins that are past” (
Romans 3:25
) and becomes
a child of God.
Is he now free to transgress God’s law? Says Paul: “Do we then
make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the
law.” “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
John declares: “This is the love of God, that we keep his command-
ments: and his commandments are not grievous.” In the new birth
the heart is brought into harmony with God, into accord with His
law. When this change has taken place in the sinner he has passed
from death unto life, from transgression and rebellion to obedience
and loyalty. The old life has ended; the new life of reconciliation,
faith, and love has begun. Then “the righteousness of the law” will
“be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
The language of the soul will be: “O how love I thy law! it is my
meditation all the day.”
Romans 3:31
;
6:2
;
1 John 5:3
;
Romans 8:4
;
Psalm 119:97
.
Without the law, men have no true conviction of sin and feel no
need of repentance. They do not realize their need of the atoning
blood of Christ. The hope of salvation is accepted without a radical
change of heart or reformation of life. Thus superficial conversions