Conversion E-Book

Michael Lawrence

• Herausgeber: Crossway
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Serie: Building Healthy Churches
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 157

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Does what a church believes about how people become Christians change how we do evangelism? In this concise book, Michael Lawrence explains the doctrine of conversion and helps us consider the relationship between what we believe about how people are saved and our approach to sharing the gospel in the context of the local church. Readers of this book will understand how the local church should participate in the conversion process through ordinary means, such as biblical preaching and intentional relationships.

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“Conversion is essential and misunderstood. Lawrence understands this and explains what the Bible teaches simply and compellingly. This small book is a big gift.”

Mark Dever, pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC; president, 9Marks

“This discipleship resource has it all—pastoral clarity, urgent relevance, practical brevity, and faithfulness to the Scriptures. Line by line, every chapter contains fodder for significant discussions on what the Word says about evangelism, conversion, and the church. I’m so thankful that Michael Lawrence wrote this book—I’ll be referring to it often.”

Gloria Furman, author, The Pastor’s Wife; Missional Motherhood; and Alive in Him

“Down-to-earth, clear, practical, straight shooting, biblically cogent treatment of the nature and necessity of conversion. This is an excellent book.”

David F. Wells, distinguished senior research professor, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; author, The Courage to Be Protestant: Truth-Lovers, Marketers, and Emergents in the Postmodern World

“This is a biblically informed and extremely relevant book for pastors and sheep alike. Michael Lawrence hits the nail on the head when it comes to the conversion experience. Being born again is not the result of a superficial, emotional, and man-motivated prayer. This is a call to reexamine the Scriptures to see that conversion is a divine work from beginning to end, which should be externally evident by the way true disciples live in love-motivated obedience to Christ; by the interest they show in belonging to a local body of believers to whom they are accountable; and by the way they live the gospel in holiness and practice evangelism. Conversion requires repentance, and repentance requires a work of the Holy Spirit. I am delighted to see this book published at this time.”

Miguel Núñez, senior pastor, International Baptist Church, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; president, Wisdom & Integrity Ministries

“In this important book Michael Lawrence outlines the biblical theology of conversion with clarity. The aim here is not to suggest that conversion makes people nice, because it is possible to be nice and not be converted. On the other hand, conversion is not a matter of mere subjectivity, for it is possible to feel converted and not be. Lawrence argues that conversion is an act that begins with God (regeneration) and bears fruit in men (repentance and faith). This overflow of God’s grace not only allows us to repent and believe, but also enables us to be inserted into the people that God created in Christ Jesus. In short, conversion culminates in membership in the local church. I heartily recommend this book.”

Jonas Madureira, senior pastor, Reformed Baptist Church, São Paulo, Brazil

“Real conversion is not a facade of ‘niceness,’ nor does it depend on a decision made once years ago. True conversion is nothing less than rebirth, new creation, and new life in Christ. This book offers a clear and compelling account of conversion, according to the Scriptures. And it shows how essential a right understanding is for the life of every believer and every church. Highly recommended.”

Constantine R. Campbell, associate professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“With theological precision, but with plain and accessible language, Michael Lawrence guides us through the Scriptures to help us understand what true conversion is and what are the fruits that evidence it. This is a book I would like to place in the hands of all members of our church.”

Sugel Michelen, pastor, Iglesia Bíblica del Señor Jesucristo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

“If there is a subject that Satan has tried to confuse people about, it is the nature of true conversion. What better way to get religious people to land in hell than by letting them think they are converted when in fact they are not? Michael Lawrence has clarified this matter for us by building up from the oft-forgotten truth of regeneration, which is the foundation of conversion. He ends with the practical implications of this truth when held in biblical proportions. His pen is that of a skillful writer, and it oozes with wise pastoral counsel. I highly recommend that those of us who know that we are truly converted should also read this delightful book so as to avoid leading others astray.”

Conrad Mbewe, pastor, Kabwata Baptist Church, Lusaka, Zambia; chancellor, African Christian University, Lusaka, Zambia

9Marks: Building Healthy Churches

Edited by Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman

Church Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus, Jonathan Leeman

Church Membership: How the World Knows Who Represents Jesus, Jonathan Leeman

Sound Doctrine: How a Church Grows in the Love and Holiness of God, Bobby Jamieson

Church Elders: How to Shepherd God’s People Like Jesus, Jeramie Rinne

Evangelism: How the Whole Church Speaks of Jesus, J. Mack Stiles

Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God’s Word Today, David Helm

The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ, Ray Ortlund

Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus, Mark Dever

Conversion: How God Creates a People, Michael Lawrence

Building Healthy Churches

Conversion

How God Creates a People

Michael Lawrence

Conversion: How God Creates a People

Copyright © 2017 by Michael Lawrence

Published by Crossway1300 Crescent StreetWheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design: Darren Welch Design

Cover image: Wayne Brezinka

First printing 2017

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture reference marked NIV is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4335-5649-4ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-5652-4PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-5650-0Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-5651-7

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Lawrence, Michael, 1966– author.

Title: Conversion : how God creates a people / Michael Lawrence.

Description: Wheaton : Crossway, 2017. | Series: 9Marks: building healthy churches | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016054948 (print) | LCCN 2017017632 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433556500 (pdf) | ISBN 9781433556517 (mobi) | ISBN 9781433556524 (epub) | ISBN 9781433556494 (hc)

Subjects: LCSH: Conversion—Christianity. | Discipling (Christianity) | Church.

Classification: LCC BT780 (ebook) | LCC BT780 .L39 2017 (print) | DDC 248.2/4—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016054948

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

2022-03-02 03:34:14 PM

For Adrienne,

whose love for me

reminds me of the gospel

every day

“Once you were not a people,

but now you are God’s people;

once you had not received mercy,

but now you have received mercy.”

(1 Pet. 2:10)

Contents

Series Preface

Introduction

 1  New, Not Nice: The Necessity of Regeneration

 2  Saved, Not Sincere: God’s Work, Not Ours

 3  Disciples, Not Decisions: The Character of Our Response

 4  Holy, Not Healed: Implications for the Christian Life

 5  Distinct, Not Designed: Implications for the Corporate Life of the Church

 6  Summon, Don’t Sell: Implications for Our Evangelism

 7  Assess Before You Assure: Implications for Ministry

 8  Charitable, Not Chary: The Danger of an Overly Pure Church

Conclusion

Notes

General Index

Scripture Index

Series Preface

Do you believe it’s your responsibility to help build a healthy church? If you are a Christian, we believe that it is.

Jesus commands you to make disciples (Matt. 28:18–20). Jude says to build yourselves up in the faith (Jude 20–21). Peter calls you to use your gifts to serve others (1 Pet. 4:10). Paul tells you to speak the truth in love so that your church will become mature (Eph. 4:13, 15). Do you see where we are getting this?

Whether you are a church member or leader, the Building Healthy Churches series of books aims to help you fulfill such biblical commands and so play your part in building a healthy church. Another way to say it might be, we hope these books will help you grow in loving your church like Jesus loves your church.

9Marks plans to produce a short, readable book on each of what Mark has called nine marks of a healthy church, plus one more on sound doctrine. Watch for books on expositional preaching, biblical theology, the gospel, conversion, evangelism, church membership, church discipline, discipleship and growth, and church leadership.

Local churches exist to display God’s glory to the nations. We do that by fixing our eyes on the gospel of Jesus Christ, trusting him for salvation, and then loving one another with God’s own holiness, unity, and love. We pray the book you are holding will help.

With hope,

Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman

Series Editors

Introduction

Recently I was talking to one of my friends about his two adult kids. He’s worried about them. They’re not into drugs or partying. They both have healthy, warm relationships with their parents and peers. They went to excellent universities and excelled. They’re athletic, ambitious, beautiful, charming young adults. If they were your kids, you’d be proud of them, as my friend is. Still, you’d be worried, because neither of them seems to have the slightest interest in Jesus Christ. And to make matters more difficult, both of them identify themselves as Christians.

These two kids were raised in the church. They learned their Bible lessons in Sunday school. They were active in the youth group. They were never outwardly rebellious. They each prayed “the sinner’s prayer.” They were baptized. When they went off to college, they kept the nice, moral behavior they’d learned at church, but . . .

They basically left Jesus behind. They didn’t abandon the name of “Christian.” They simply stopped showing interest in the Christian life.

You understand why my friend is worried. He has nice kids who are convinced they don’t need Jesus because they already have him. Yet the more he watches their adult lives unfold, the less and less confident he is that they even know Jesus at all.

I serve in a church where I’ve had a conversation like this with scores of parents. It’s a heartbreaking conversation, not least because these parents feel betrayed: they did what they were told to do! They raised their children right. They led them in the sinner’s prayer. They took them to church and enrolled them in all the right programs—all in the confident expectation that by doing so, their children would love Jesus too.

And it didn’t work.

At this point, you might expect me to launch into a chapter or book on parenting. But I’ll leave that to more seasoned and experienced hands. And it’s not clear to me anyway that the problem here is a problem of parenting. Many great, conscientious parents in our churches are in the same predicament as my friend.

Instead, I suggest we focus on two other problems. First, there is a problem of theology—specifically, our theology of conversion. Second, there is a problem with how we apply that theology to our church. How do we work out our beliefs in practical ways that express those truths we claim to believe?

Too often our confessional theology says one thing, while our practical theology says something else. We say that regeneration makes us new creatures in Christ, but then we teach our kids a moralism that atheists could duplicate.

We say that Christianity is about a trusting relationship with Jesus, but then we treat it like checking a box on a decision card.

We say that only the Holy Spirit transfers a person from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, but then we employ the marketing tools used for getting someone to switch brands of toothpaste.

Again and again, what we claim in our doctrinal statements about conversion doesn’t match what our churches practice or their ministry models. So it shouldn’t surprise us that our kids end up being something less than Christian.

Of course, this isn’t a problem that just affects parents and children. It affects churches. When our converts from one evangelistic campaign are nowhere to be seen when the next campaign rolls around; when our members treat church as optional, to be balanced with sports leagues and vacation houses; when giving and attendance fall far short of the membership numbers; when volunteers are hard to find unless it’s a social event, the problem probably isn’t our evangelism technique, or poor leadership, or uninteresting worship services, or bad volunteer management. The problem may well be our practical theology of conversion. Too often we treat the symptoms. But what we really need is to go after the underlying disease.

And that’s what this book aims to do.

In the chapters that follow, I want to think carefully about the doctrine of conversion from the Scriptures. But I don’t want to stop there. I want to think about the difference doctrine should make in the life of the church—from the way we go about evangelism, to our membership and discipleship practices, to how we think about the church as a whole.

In other words, this is a book of doctrine, and this is a book of practice. It is a book about conversion, and it is a book about the church. After all, God creates a people through conversion. Show me someone’s doctrine of conversion, and I can tell you a lot about his church. Or rather: show me his church, and I will describe his functional doctrine of conversion, regardless of what he might say in pen and ink. Our churches embody our doctrine.

So getting our theology of conversion right means more than having correct theology. It means developing ministry practices that both reflect and undergird our theological convictions.

Good theology is intensely practical, and if it’s not, then it isn’t worth the name.

1

New, Not Nice

The Necessity of Regeneration

In the introduction, I mentioned my friend who was concerned that his well-mannered adult children weren’t really Christians. You might say they were nice, but not new—not new creations.

His experience raises questions about the doctrine of conversion, as well as what that doctrine should look like in the life of a church. It’s crucial to get both our doctrine and our practices right. Churches should believe that God makes people radically new, not just nice. Not only should they be able to write this out on paper, but they should also live it out. What does that look like?

In two of the most important passages in Scripture for understanding conversion, both the prophet Ezekiel and Jesus help us answer that question. Let’s start with Jesus. He said we must be “born again” to enter the kingdom of God. Speaking to a Pharisee named Nicodemus, Jesus observed,

“Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”(John 3:3–8)

The Appeal of Nice

It’s worth recognizing the powerful appeal of nice.

Nicodemus and Pharisees like him believed that people entered the kingdom of God by being nice, which for them meant being a good Jew: keeping the Law of Moses, going to the temple, offering all the right sacrifices, and staying away from Gentiles. I’m not suggesting Nicodemus thought he was perfect. He probably knew he should be a better person. Perhaps that’s why he went to Jesus in the first place. But at the end of the day, moral righteousness was the standard to which he aspired. Nice people got into the kingdom.

These days, there are lots of different kinds of nice. There’s the polite but detached tolerance of “live and let live” nice. There’s the socially conscious and politically engaged nice. There’s religious nice in many different denominational and faith-community forms. There’s “spiritual but not religious” nice. There’s even what’s known in my town as “Portland nice,” a sort of nonconfrontational, “let’s not make you feel uncomfortable, even though we’re silently judging and dismissing you in our minds” nice.

But for all the different kinds of nice, the appeal of nice hasn’t changed much in the last two thousand years. To be a nice person, a good person, a person who’s becoming a better person, is to feel good about yourself. It’s that appeal of moral self-commendation that binds our modern variations together into a common religious program that Nicodemus would have recognized (see Luke 10:25–29). Nice allows you to commend yourself to others, and maybe even to God. Nice gives you the means of self-justification and the ability to vindicate your life to whoever is asking. That’s appealing.

The Assumptions of Nice

The appeal of nice is always based on three ideas: an optimistic view of human beings, a domesticated view of God, and a view of religion as a means of moral self-reform. Fundamentally, Nicodemus assumes that he is able to do whatever he needs to do in order to vindicate himself to God. He assumes that God is the kind of God that will be pleased with his best efforts, and he assumes that the point of religion is to help him become a better person. This is how nice works. God wants me to be good. I’m able to be good. Religion will help.

No churches ever explicitly teach the religion of nice. In fact, they typically teach the exact opposite. But those same churches are filled with people who believe that God will accept them based on how good they’ve been. I’ve heard it on too many living room couches and nursing home beds. Not perfect—no one ever says that—but good enough.