Perhaps one of the
largest groups 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 Wrath.
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 Jesus of Nazareth. 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 this is why he believes he can be a Christian. 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 understood the sacrifice of the cross.
With Blessing in Christ,
David & Gay
