“Conversion In His Time”
by Joe Mack Cherry
I. Preface – Bringing Others to Christ
A. We are all called to bring others to Christ!
1. We are commanded to teach and admonish others.
a. Mk 16:15 – “preach the gospel to all creatures.”
b. Mat 28:19-20 – “go ye into world and make disciples of all nations.”
c. Jas. 3:1 tells us – “… we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
• Not only will we be judged on the validity of what we teach we will be judged on how we teach it.
2. Bringing others to Christ does not require a title such as teacher, preacher, evangelist, deacon, elder or pastor; it only requires a love for lost souls.
a. The beauty of the plan of salvation is that it is simple enough that people can share it accurately with others and it can be readily understood by the masses. However, the time it will take for someone to fully accept Christ is not a universal constant. We are not all the same and are not all traveling at the same speed toward Christ.
b. We don’t have to have a vast knowledge of the scriptures to lead others to Christ. We can use life stories to let others know how we came to Christ and what God has done for us. Let them see the gospel alive in your life. Yes, often we are the only gospel others ever see.
c. Don’t be afraid to ask for support from a brother or sister if you need it.
3. In bringing others to Christ, we must realize that the journey starts for them in a completely different place from where we (as seasoned Christians) are in the present.
a. I Cor. 7:20 Paul tells those who come to Christ, to come just as they are.
b. It isn’t our job to clean folks up to our standards and then bring them to Christ. It is simply to bring them to Christ and let Him work in them.
4. We have to have faith that the Spirit will guide the new convert to change what really needs to be changed over time.
B. It is paramount that we draw others to Christ in love.
1. Some preach/teach on the platform of fear.
a. Fear alone is not the best motivator.
b. This can lead to the wrong kind of conversion.
c. The purpose of the gospel is to bring others to Christ. It is not a weapon intended to scare Hell out of anyone. The Gospel is Good News!
2. I do believe conviction (Godly fear) can and does lead to true repentance. II Cor. 7:10
3. Phil. 2:12 – “ … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
a. Salvation is a serious matter.
b. Salvation is also a very personal matter.
4. Love has the power to draw others. As we bring others to Christ, are we a group with which others would want to be associated? Do they feel the love here? YES!
a. A couple came to Homecoming in October and were very impressed with the fellowship after the service. A few weeks later they called desiring to be baptized and to become a part of God’s family here.
b. Due to timing issues, they ended up being baptized and placing membership at a Lord’s church elsewhere.
c. Would we have loved to have them here? Absolutely! Nevertheless, Green Ridge did its part in representing the love of God and the angels in heaven rejoiced when they were baptized. Those of us who found out later did the same.
C. A Sense of Urgency Should Always be Expressed but not to the point of oppression.
1. We have scriptures that speak to this very idea.
a. Psa. 95:7-8 – “Today, if you would only hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”
b. Heb. 3:7-8 – the gist of this verse is that the more repentance is put off the easier it is to do again.
c. I Tim. 4:2 – One’s heart can become so seared that it is no longer convicted of its sins. This quickly leads to the final step.
d. Final Step – Rom. 1:28 we can reach a point of no return.
2. Some people use the sense of urgency to justify forcing others to Christ by any means they deem necessary.
a. The use of fearmongering or shame as a weapon to bring someone to Christ sets a bad precedence. Those who react out of fear are merely trying to dodge hell.
b. Dodging hell is not all there is to Christianity.
c. Fear can blind one to the power and purpose of the blood of Christ. If a “bad” fear drives one to baptism, it likely will return quickly bringing with it despair when the person realizes he/she can never measure up, so he quits even trying.
d. This is an end result of very bad theology that starts before a person even comes to Christ.
3. If we love the lost, it is prudent that we teach them with patience and love.
a. The lost one must come to Christ due to conviction, not due to a “war of attrition” on his/hers shortcomings.
b. No matter how much we love the lost and want them to be saved immediately, desperation tactics can quickly turn others off.
c. Most do not perceive this method as speaking the truth in love.
d. Best intentions don’t always produce good results when we mishandle the gospel.
4. We must take the time to listen diligently to their needs and interpretation of salvation even when they differ ours.
a. Listening does not signify compromise. Now, I’m not saying everything goes or that we shouldn’t stand for the truth.
b. There are undeniable truths in scripture.
• The only way to God is through Jesus Christ.
• The way to Christ comes by hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and baptism. Then we must walk in the light as He is in the light. I Jo 1:7
c. How do we handle questions and differences? Eph. 4:15 tells us to present the truth with love. We need to be confident in what believe but we must not be arrogant and conceited with it.
II. Lesson
A. Vss. 7-8 Paul says to Philemon – “Therefore though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you – being such a one as Paul, the aged and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ – “
1. Paul never minced words in his other epistles but this letter is a little different.
a. He told the Corinthians in I Cor. 2:1 ff that he did not come to them with excellency of speech but with a fervor for preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
b. Gal. 2:11-21 – Paul had no problem confronting Peter’s favoritism toward the Jews.
c. In II Cor. and Gal we can find Paul referring to his “Apostolic” authority.
d. Here Paul gives Philemon the opportunity and space to do the right thing without wielding his apostolic authority or hard scripture.
• A good deed done out of love is much more precious than a good deed performed under duress.
2. Sometimes it’s hard for Christians to give others the space/time to make good decisions for themselves.
a. Parents, we can be the worst!! Some let their kids work through their lives while offering subtle help, while other parents want to make all decision with no questions asked.
b. Naturally, the kids allowed to learn at their own pace with subtle help from others become confident, happy, and balanced adults.
c. The focus of the lesson today is that we should give God His time in converting others. Just because it doesn’t happen in our time, doesn’t mean that it won’t.
B. In re: conversion: We must give others the time, space, and opportunity to come to the realization of the truth and do what is right, without us hammering their every fault and its consequences. People need to come to Christ on their own accord .
1. Analogy: Can an alcoholic truly quit drinking for anyone but himself? No! It’s the same with conversion. We must remember that their salvation is about them, not us. We have to make sure that our desire for their conversion does not supersede their need for a solid journey to Christ.
2. It is true, sometime progress seems to come to a standstill when we want others to come to Christ or comeback to Him; but we must remember that the same Spirit that convicted us is available to the lost or wayward.
a. Ezek. 18:23 – God does not take pleasure in the death of a sinner.
b. II Pet. 3:9 – “He is longsuffering and not willing that any should perish.”
c. Remember that what we want for the lost, God wanted bad enough to send His son who was willing to die that all might have it.
C. Prayer is a great tool available to us as we try to lead others to Christ.
1. Sometimes we can feel helpless and start pressing harder for results. We should pray for God/Spirit to touch them.
2. There must be caution taken when we start to bring someone to Christ. We must give God, the Spirit, and the lost their time. Their time will lead to true conversion.
3. Our job is to support the Spirit, not usurp Him for the sake of “our” timetable.
4. Even Jesus cannot make someone come to Him. Jesus said in Rev. 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come unto him…” We can lead them to the door but they must open it.
III. Closing
A. The purpose of this lesson is not to dimmish the importance of us working diligently to save the lost: it is to make us stop and think about how we should accomplish the task.
B. We have to be careful that our desire for others to accept Christ allows the Spirit to work in them.
C. We need others to see the need to change. It is important that we share with them the Good News without “Bible Banging” them into submission. Let them know how Christ has changed your life since you have turned away from your sins.
D. I Think God Demands true converts.
1. It’s a hard realization that not all will be saved.
2. In the parable of the scattered seeds:
a. Those that fell on thorny ground and sprung up but did not produce.
b. They allowed the cares and worries, which could include an unreasonable fear of God, to choke them out.
c. For many years, the consensus was “just get them in the water and we’ve succeeded”. I believe that mindset, no matter how good the intention, backfired. Stop and think about how many middle-aged people who were once churched no longer darken the doors.
3. We have to make sure that we are striving for true conversions to Christ.
4. We are helping to build the body of Christ and subsequently the Army of God on earth. God needs sound, strong soldiers but He doesn’t need obnoxious, overbearing Drill Instructors like Sargent Carter on the Gomer Pyle Show.
E. Finally, I pray that God’s wisdom will guide us so that we do our part to help save the lost souls by teaching the truth in love and realizing that as I Cor. 3:6-7 tells us that some planted, some watered, but only God gave the increase of fully born-again Christians
