|
Bro. Turner:
 Will
you please discuss what really changes a person? What takes
place in the conversion of a person? L.P.
Reply:
There
are many answers to this but not many explanations. The
religious world generally leans toward mysticism, saying God
does the changing in a direct or immediate way. They call it
grace, Holy Spirit, etc., and say we have nothing to do with it.
This, of course, denies free agency and any human
implementation, and makes us but puppets or pawns of God. I can
not believe the Bible teaches this.
It
seems to me the Bible shows God dealing with man as a creature
of choice, capable of understanding and acting upon divine
instructions. If this be true (and there is no space here to
argue such a subject) then we are changed by our response to
stimuli. We are moved by external forces, but being intelligent
creatures we can subject ourselves to some forces, move away
from others. To the extent we can perceive destinations, we can
seek and move in that direction.
As
respects spiritual and eternal goals, all this would be
meaningless without revelation of the divine will. Man seems to
have a yearning for something higher than himself, but he must
have guidance from that higher plane if he is to attain to it. I
believe the Bible is an unfolding of the divine will — God's
plans for His creatures — and that God guides man by an appeal
to the intellect, emotions, and will of man. He teaches
us to desire, and to come to Him.
| |
Man's
sin separated him from God and made salvation a matter of love,
grace, and mercy. God gave His Son as our Redeemer; but gave Him
in such a way as to appeal to the heart of man. He is the
perfect manifestation of Deity to man. Our sin is dark and
accusing against His purity. His unselfish sacrifice on our
behalf draws us to Him, and His resurrection assures us of His
power to give a new life. As faith grows our attitudes change
and we hunger for further instruction. We are taught, hear,
learn, and come unto God (Jn. 6:44-45). Yes, God draws
us; and Christ said, "I, if I be lifted up ... will
draw-" (same word). The story of the Cross, the gospel,
draws.
One
is changed by God, by what God has done for him, because this
changes his thinking, his motives, his goals. When the heart is
changed, the life is changed. "He is a Jew which is one
inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit,
and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of
God." (Rom. 2:29).
The
Holy Spirit uses an instrument to prick and cut the heart. It is
the "word of God" (Eph. 6:17, Acts 2:37). Many things
contribute to a person's change, initially and in the growth
toward maturity. Our associates, further study, worship, and the
introspection that goes with it — all help to shape and mold
us anew. But in the absence of divine revelation as the
standard, we can not change God-ward. The new creature
has been reconciled unto God to the word of reconciliation
(2 Cor. 5:17-21. Christ provides the means, but we must
hear, believe, and obey His will.
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
