Word of Salvation June 2018
Saving Grace – by Rev. David Waldron
Text: Acts 11:17-18
Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 33:9-16; Acts 11:1-18
Series: Westminster Shorter Catechism (Q&A)
Theme: The Holy Spirit works the saving graces of repentance and faith in all God’s chosen people thereby giving them life in Christ
Proposition: Give glory to God for his gifts of repentance and faith
Introduction
“Look there’s a conversion!” – what exactly does that indicate? The word ‘conversion’ has many meanings in our English language usage, depending on which sphere of life it is used within e.g. In finance, one currency is converted to another at an exchange rate; In science, technology and mathematics, one unit of measurement can be converted into another e.g. feet into metres, pounds to kgs; In computing, one format of data can be converted into another e.g. .doc to .pdf; In the sport of rugby, a try can be converted into additional points by successfully kicking the ball through the goal posts.
In world religions, conversion may be defined in a dictionary as ‘the adoption of a new religious identity’.
In the West, there are conversions from Christianity to Islam, some of the reasons for this, according to these converts (ref. an article in Christianity Today (1990) include:
- Islam’s doctrine is simple and rational,
- all believers are equal,
- it is a “practical” religion and lacks a priesthood.
An American Muslim (Neighbours: Muslims in North America. Friendship Press, 1989) gave the following two main reasons when asked why African-Americans are turning to Islam: racism. It has been said that “America is no more segregated than at eleven o’clock on Sunday mornings.” – how true is this of New Zealand?
The second reason he gives is direction and discipline. Saying that “our society is disintegrating for lack of discipline, especially in the city. Through its disciplined life-style, to many people Islam seems to hold out the promise of helping them get their lives back in order again”.
There is a 3rd reason: Islam offers a conversion experience and the opportunity to get one’s life in order, without needing to confess one’s sin and need of salvation. In fact, Islam makes quite a point of denying these truths. It tells people they do not need salvation; all they need is to follow the “guidance” of God’s law, and they will make it to heaven. That is something the natural man likes to hear.
In contrast, in Biblical theology – Conversion may be defined as “the conscious act of a regenerate person in which he or she turns to God in repentance and faith” (A Hoekema)
We’re going to look at God’s gift of conversion from two texts: 2 Chronicles 33:9-16 and Acts 11:1-18.
- Conversion
Mathematical fact – There are 360 degrees in a full circle. A 180 degree turn results in a complete ‘about turn’ with the result that you end up facing in the opposite direction. It’s a manoeuvre I am familiar with when I take a wrong turn and have to retrace the route back.
‘Conversion’ involves a twofold turning: away from sin and towards God. True conversion occurs only once in a person’s life, we see many examples in Scripture of this e.g. Naaman (2 Kings 5:15), Manasseh (2 Chron 33:12-13) – more about him later, Zacchaeus (Luke 19:8-9), 3,000 on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41), Saul (Acts 9:1-9), Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48), Lydia (Acts 16:14) and the Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:29-34).
There are also examples of what can be termed ‘temporary conversions’ – which are really no conversions at all. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus taught that people may be like rocky ground on which seed falls. He explains “this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away” (Matt 13:20-21).
A person may appear to have been converted, but later fall away. We have a number of examples in the NT: Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim 1:19-20), Philetus (2 Tim 2:17-18), and Demas, ‘who loved this present world’ (2 Tim 4:10). The Apostle John sadly writes about some: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19)
The individual experience of true conversion varies between individual believers, for example according to theologian Herman Bavinck (Dogmatiek, 4.159). “Luther’s conversion was a transition from deep feelings of guilt to the joyful awareness of God’s forgiving grace in Christ. Zwingli experienced conversion particularly as a being set free from the bondage of the law into the happiness of knowing himself to be a child of God. Calvin’s conversion, however, was a deliverance from error into truth, from doubt to certainty”.
Many who grow up in the covenant community of the church experience a gradual growth into a mature Christian faith without any dramatic ‘conversion experience’. However, it is true that in order to be saved, to be a child of God, true conversion is necessary for everyone.
It is therefore vital for the gospel to be proclaimed, not only in the world, but also within the church. All people everywhere are to be called to ‘repent and believe’ (Acts 17:30).
One of my key tasks as a minister is to proclaim the gospel in the church, both to call everyone in the covenant community (members, visitors, and myself) to repentance and faith, but also to be used of the Lord to equip us all for ‘works of ministry’ (Eph 4:12)
One of our key tasks as God’s people is to be actively engaged in the ministry of calling people, as ambassadors for Christ to repent and believe. How our hearers respond is entirely God’s work because, as we see in WSC Qs 86&87 both repentance and faith are ‘saving graces’
Let’s know consider these two aspects of God’s saving grace:
- Repentance
The kings of Israel were a variable series of leaders. Some, like Hezekiah are commended in Scripture: “he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done” (2 Chron 29.2). Hezekiah restored temple worship and prayed with Isaiah that the Lord would protect Jerusalem from the Assyrians – which He did.
But Hezekiah became proud, displaying the great wealth of the nation to visiting Babylonians whose nation would subsequently capture Jerusalem and take away her wealth and her people. There is no indication that Hezekiah was sorry for what he had done, even when rebuked by the prophet Isaiah and told of the consequences of his pride (2 Kings 20:16-18).
The next king, Manasseh was a truly evil ruler, reversing the good changes which Hezekiah had implemented during his reign (2 Kings 21:1-18, 2 Chron 33:1-9). He rebuilt the high places and erect altars for the worship of Baal. He burned his own sons as an offering. He used fortune-tellers, sorcery and mediums. He set up a carved image of Asherah in the temple in Jerusalem. He shed much innocent blood. He made Judah to sin so that what they did was evil in the sight of the Lord and to “do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel” (2 Chron 33:9).
Manasseh ruled for 55 years from age 12 – the longest reign of any king in Judah. His time in power ended at age 67, having been captured by the king of Assyria. We are sadly familiar with some of the barbarity of groups like ISIS, the Assyrian Army was fearsome and brutal. Rings were put through the lips or noses of captives as they were led away. Sometimes hands, feet, noses and/or ears were cut off. Assyrian reliefs carved in stone depict the blinding of captives, the tearing out of their tongues. After 55 years of his own reign of terror, ex-king Manasseh was in the hands of the Assyrians in, having been pierced by their hooks and bound with chains of bronze (2 Chron 33:11).
Then, we read that: (2 Chron 33:12) “When he was in distress, he entreated the favour of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God”
Manasseh could simply have been distressed and concerned about the consequences and problems caused by his sins. That is not repentance…merely a ‘worldly grief which produces death’ (2 Cor 7:10b)
Scottish author George MacDonald, in his classic novel ‘Salted with fire’ depicts the worldly grief of a ministry student who has seduced a young serving girl:
“There came no detestation of himself because of his humiliation of the trusting girl. He did not yet loathe his abuse of her confidence by his miserable weakness – the hour of a true and good repentance had not yet come. The only shame he felt was in the failure of his own fancied strength; there was as yet no shame in the realization of what he was. All he could think of was what contempt could come to him if the thing should ever come to be known”.
In complete contrast to this worldly grief, true repentance – ‘unto life ‘- is, in the words of WSC A 87: “a saving grace, by which a sinner, being truly aware of his sinfulness, understands the mercy of God in Christ, grieves for and hates his sins, and turns from them to God, fully intending and striving for a new obedience”.
True repentance is a ‘godly grief which leads to salvation without regret (2 Cor 7:10a). It is a 180-degree turn…. a gracious gift of God in the desperate life of a sinner.
We see the grace of God in restoring Manasseh to his kingdom. We see the repentant king ‘striving for new obedience’. Building up the walls of Jerusalem again. Taking away foreign gods and idols from the temple. Removing the altars for false gods. Restoring sacrifice and worship to the God of Israel. Commanding Judah to serve the Lord…
Repentance is a conscious act which involves the intellect (2 Tim 2:25), the will (Acts 8:22; Ps 51:5,7,10) and the emotions (2 Cor 7:10; Ps 51:2,10,14)
We see examples in Scripture of
- moral reformation which falls short of true conversion (Jonah 4:1)
- a temporary change of mind (Mat 13:20,21; Heb 6:4-6)
- insincere commitment (1 John 2:19 cf. Acts 8:13,22).
However true conversion (repentance and faith) can only take place where there has been regeneration of the heart by the Holy Spirit, as we see from Acts chapter 11.
- Faith
I remember back in the 1990s when we were attending the Reformed Church in Palmerston North, a number of the older members being really surprised, but pleased, that we were there. They couldn’t quite understand why non-Dutch people would come J. I think that they must have thought that the Reformed church was only a place for people of one culture J.
It was a bit like that for the early church in Acts 11. The early Jewish Christians were surprised that God had granted repentance and faith to all nations – to Gentiles. When the Jewish apostles and other Judean believers heard that the Gentiles had received the word of God they were surprised, but pleased, giving glory to God, as Peter says of the gift of the Holy Spirit: “If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:17)
At that time non-Jewish people in significant numbers had come to faith in Jesus Christ, being baptised in his name (Acts 10:48). This faith came through hearing the Word of God proclaimed (e.g. Acts 10:34-43). This faith in Jesus Christ is described in the words of WSC A86: “Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, by which we receive and rest on Him alone for salvation, as He is offered to us in the gospel”. This faith is defined in Heb 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.
As with true repentance, true faith changes the mind, the will and the emotions. Knowing about the gospel by itself is not true faith, but mere intellectual assent. Desiring to serve God by being ‘zealous for good works’ (Tit 2:14) by itself is not true faith, but evidences a works-based salvation. Feeling a love for God or Jesus apart from any understanding of the gospel, or any desire to be obedient to the word of Christ, is not true faith
True faith is a gift of God which radically changes the whole of a person from the inside out. Notice carefully the wording of Acts 11:17-18 “If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things, they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
The Holy Spirit whom God gives, regenerates the heart to be able to repent and believe on Christ. It is the Holy Spirit’s life-giving work which enables a person to consciously turns to God in repentance and faith. We expressed this truth experientially when we sang from hymn 440: “I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew he moved my soul to seek him, seeking me. It was not I that found, O Saviour true, no I was found, was found of thee”
Repentance and faith are visible when someone is seen to be converted, but behind these human responses is the gracious work of God. This truth is clear from Scripture e.g. Acts 13:48 “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed”. Jesus said, “no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” (John 6:65)
Faith is not the ground of salvation, but the means or instrument by which the completed work of Christ is applied to the believer. Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”.
The pattern which we see in the book of Acts is that the proclamation of the gospel is followed by the Holy Spirit’s work in producing repentance and faith in Christ. By grace, some people are converted by hearing the Word. Some will heart that Word within the meetings of the church, but many will not. Like the early church who went out from their meetings and spoke of Christ to all who would listen, so we too are called to proclaim the gospel. We too are to trust God for His work in producing repentance and faith in some, according to His mysterious, but perfect will. This is our task, until we are taken home to glory or until Christ returns…whichever comes first.
When the Apostles and Judean believers heard of the breath of God’s gift of repentance and faith to all nations they ‘fell silent’ and ‘glorified God’ (Acts 11:18). They didn’t argue with God’s work in their midst, they didn’t complain about all those non-Jews being saved. They glorified God because He is the God who gives the gift of conversion to whom He will
Islam attracts converts from the Western World, promising:
- A simple and rational doctrine
- An equality of all believers – with no racism
- A “practical” religion which gives direction and discipline
- No priesthood
True Christianity promises (and delivers):
- True doctrine – some easily understood, some profound and beyond full human understanding
- An equality of all believers – with no racism
- A “practical” religion which gives direction and discipline according to God’s will as the way to please God, but not as the means of salvation
- A priesthood of all believers
- The need to confess sin and turn in repentance and faith to Jesus Christ
Our task is to faithfully proclaim Christ and the only way of salvation, teaching true doctrine, practicing true equality of believers, living purposeful and discipline lives, continuing ourselves to confess sin and turn in repentance and faith to Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
God’s task is to save those He will by regenerating their hearts supernaturally through the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit.
AMEN