FALSE CONVERTS

 

 

 Perhaps one of the largest group of unsaved “religious” people in the world are those who sit in the pews of our churches. Those referred to as false converts are not what are often called “traditional Christians” (Christmas and Easter Christians”) or “nominal Christians.” Rather, these are people who profess to be born again, but have never found a place of biblical repentance. They don’t have “the things that accompany salvation.” There’s no fruit in their lives to say that they have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. They sit among the Church but they are not part of the Church.

 

 

Background

Something certainly is tragically wrong; the contemporary Church has forsaken biblical evangelism. Modern Christianity has failed to use God’s Law (Ten Commandments) to bring the knowledge of sin, and has therefore filled the Church with false converts.

 

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:20 KJV

 

These false converts have named the name of Christ, but have never departed from iniquity (“lawlessness”-transgression of the Ten Commandments).

It is a neglect of the Law that has resulted in our churches being filled with tares among the wheat, foolish virgins among the wise, bad fish among the good, and goats among the sheep. This is why so many profess Christ and have no assurance of salvation. They have no assurance because they are not saved. This is why so many profess to have the love of God in their hearts, and at the same time couldn’t care less that the world is going to Hell. Every Christian should be horrified beyond words that any human being could be cast into Hell.

 

 

Who Is God?

Idolatry is the fertile soil from which a false profession grows. The Scripture tell us that,

 

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

Proverbs 16:6 KJV

So few fear God because so few pulpits preach the fear of God. Rarely do sinners hear that God is angry with the wicked every day, that if they are friends with this world they are enemies of God, and that His wrath abides on them. Every time they sin, they are storing up His wrath that will come upon them on the Day of Judgement.

Rather, they hear the unbiblical gospel of “God has a wonderful plan for your life” or simply that God wants them to prosper. Instead of being told to repent because they have offended a holy God, they are told that God will solve their problems.

 

Who Is Jesus?

To the false convert, the Saviour is the One who died for his sins. However, you will find that there is a shallow understanding of the sacrifice of the Father. This is because he has no knowledge of God’s Law.

 

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Galatians 3:24 KJV

 

It’s only when he sees his terrible sin (that he is a terrible Law-breaker) and that he deserves consequent damnation that he will understand the unspeakable sacrifice that the Father made in Christ Jesus. The Law makes grace abound. It makes Jesus precious to him.

 

Scriptures

A false convert may believe that the Scriptures are God’s word, but he usually doesn’t see them as his life’s sustenance. He doesn’t desire the sincere milk of the word that he may grow, because he hasn’t tasted of the goodness of the Lord. “This Book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this Book.” Because he doesn’t soak himself in the word, he is ignorant about subjects such as holiness of God, the Law of God and its functions and the reality of true and false conversion.

 

Heaven and Hell

A false convert usually lacks any depth of sound doctrine. He couldn’t explain the basics of how we are justified or sanctified. This is because, without the Law, God seems unjust to condemn sinners (most of whom he sees as reasonably good people) to eternity in Hell. More than likely he will believe that everyone goes to Heaven, except people like Adolf Hitler. Hell is a place for those he thinks are worthy of punishment.

 

Sin and Salvation

A false convert thinks lightly of sin, he doesn’t really understand the effects of sin. He is truly a “worker of iniquity”

 

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 7:23 KJV

 

 

Who sees nothing wrong with fibs, not keeping his word, taking things that belong to other people, and giving himself to sexual lust. His reasoning is, “Who doesn’t do that?” and God understands. You may even hear blasphemy slip from his lips.

The false convert has often been through the motions of modern “conversion” (responded to an altar call, prayed a sinner’s prayer etc.) and has consequently been given assurance by the preacher that he is saved.

 

Conclusion:

Use the moral Law (like a mirror) to show him his true state before a holy God. However, once you have shown the seriousness of sin, explain that seeing sin in its true light has been what has been lacking in his life. This will help him understand why he has never truly repented. Why should he repent if his sin isn’t too bad? Ignorance of the Law has left him seeing himself as a basically good person. Without the light of the Law, he has never seen the character of a holy God, known the fear of God, or understand the sacrifice of the cross.

 

With Blessing in Christ,

David & Gay

https://www.onewaytograce.com/