Conversion
A Sermon on Conversion
Originally preached March 12, 1954
Scripture
Sermon Description
False converts are more common than one might think. True conversion is an act of God upon the human heart. But what exactly are characteristics of a true conversion? In this sermon on conversion, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tackles these questions, showing how conversion is the first exercise of the new nature in ceasing from old forms of life and starting a new life. For the new convert, it is the moment at which one passes from spiritual death to eternal life in Christ. Imposters throughout church history claim to accept Jesus and then turn from Him after a period of time. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out, it is entirely possible to undergo a counterfeit, temporary conversion if one submits to a false gospel based on feelings or experiences. “Yet,” Lloyd-Jones notes, “the defense of the Christian faith must not rest on something we experience, but on its objectivity.” True salvation is not based on whimsical feelings but on two essential factors of salvation. Believers are less concerned with personal experiences and emotions, and instead yearn to know God Himself.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon begins by explaining that the work of the Holy Spirit in applying redemption is now moving to the manifestations and results of regeneration. While chronological order is difficult, conversion is the first exercise of the new nature.
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Conversion is defined as ceasing from old forms of life and starting a new life. It is the initial step in the conscious relationship with God. Conversion is essential according to Matthew 18:3.
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The agency of conversion is the Holy Spirit through the effectual call. The call becomes effectual, leading to human activity and response. Both divine and human activity must be included in conversion.
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The characteristics of conversion must be considered due to temporary conversion, counterfeit conversion, and variable elements. Definitions are important to address these issues.
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Temporary conversion is dealt with in Jesus' teaching and produces no fruit. Counterfeit conversion resembles true conversion but is produced by other means. It can produce change but is not based on truth.
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Variable elements in conversion include time, drama, feelings, and age. These are not essential and conversion may be sudden or gradual, dramatic or not, emotional or not, at any age.
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Essential elements of conversion are repentance and faith, as stated in Acts 20:21. Both are necessary. Repentance comes before faith.
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Repentance comes first as taught by John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, and Paul. One must understand the need to repent before believing in Christ. Repentance is necessary to be right with God, which is the primary goal.
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The sermon closes with a prayer for understanding God's word, testing ourselves, avoiding false assurance, helping others, and glorifying God.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions on Conversion
What is conversion according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones' definition?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, conversion is "the first exercise of the new nature in ceasing from old forms of life and starting a new life." It represents a turning from one thing to another, and is the first conscious action of the regenerate soul in response to God's call. It is the initial step in the conscious history of the soul in its relationship to God.
What is the difference between regeneration and conversion in the application of redemption?
In regeneration, a person is completely passive and plays no part at all; it is entirely the work of the Spirit of God in the heart. Conversion, however, involves human activity - the person acts, moves, and responds to God's effectual call. Regeneration is what God does to us unconsciously, while conversion is our first conscious response to that work.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by a "temporary conversion"?
A "temporary conversion" refers to situations where someone appears to accept the gospel with joy and enthusiasm, but has "no root" in themselves, so they only last for a while. When troubles or persecution come, they fall away. This is illustrated in Jesus' parable of the sower, where seed falls on rocky ground, springs up quickly, but withers because it has no root.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguish between temporary and counterfeit conversions?
A temporary conversion is something that happens as a result of the presentation of biblical truth, but doesn't take root. A counterfeit conversion is a phenomenon that resembles Christian conversion but is produced by some other agency, not truth. Counterfeit conversions may involve dramatic life changes and even church membership, but they're not based on Christian truth and don't represent genuine spiritual rebirth.
What are the variable elements in conversion that Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies?
The variable elements in conversion include: 1. The time element (sudden vs. gradual) 2. The dramatic quality (dramatic vs. quiet) 3. The intensity of feelings 4. The age at which it occurs
These elements may vary from person to person, but they are not essential to genuine conversion.
What are the two essential elements of conversion according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
The two essential and permanent elements in conversion are: 1. Repentance toward God 2. Faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ
Both are essential, and if either is missing, it isn't true conversion. This comes from Acts 20:21 where Paul describes his ministry as "testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe repentance must come before faith?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that repentance must come before faith because: 1. Scripture consistently presents repentance first (John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, and Paul all began with the message of repentance) 2. Logically, a person won't see any need to believe in Christ unless they first understand their wrong relationship with God 3. The primary purpose of salvation is to bring us into right relationship with God, and repentance addresses the fundamental problem of our wrong relationship with Him
What danger does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify in modern evangelicalism regarding conversion?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several dangers: 1. Standardizing the variable aspects of conversion and expecting everyone to have the same experience 2. Focusing too much on psychological experiences rather than spiritual conversion 3. Emphasizing subjective experiences over objective truth 4. Forgetting that the primary goal is to be reconciled to God (not just to have experiences or happiness) 5. Stopping at Jesus without realizing that He came to reconcile us to God
Why is it important to properly understand the biblical doctrine of conversion?
It's important to understand the biblical doctrine of conversion because: 1. It helps us distinguish between true, temporary, and counterfeit conversions 2. It prevents us from unnecessarily questioning our own salvation if we don't have certain variable experiences 3. It keeps us from wrongly judging others based on variable aspects of conversion 4. It maintains focus on the essential elements of repentance and faith 5. It upholds the consistency of biblical teaching and the historical pattern seen in revivals 6. It keeps the focus on reconciliation with God rather than merely emotional experiences
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the relationship between age and conversion?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly rejects the notion that conversion must occur during adolescence. He calls this idea "utter rubbish" and "unscriptural," noting that he had personally witnessed a striking conversion in a man aged 77. He emphasizes that because conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit, age is completely irrelevant, and there is hope for salvation regardless of how old a person is.
Great Biblical Doctrines
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.