If decisionism results in fake conversion, what is true conversion?
What is “decisionism?"
Simply said, decisionism teaches that a person is saved based on the outward gestures he demonstrates rather than the inward conversion of his heart. It was a liberal theology developed by Charles G. Finney in the early 1800s. Today, decisionism dominates in churches all over the world. Instead of expounding from "Moses and the prophets," modern churches made things a lot easier for sinners by taking a shortcut and jump straight to the procedures:
Admit you're a sinner;
Realize the penalty of sin;
Believe that Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again for you;
Trust Jesus Christ alone as your saviour.
Even though it is not explicitly stated in this list, it usually starts with a "decision" to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour, and it normally ends with a sinner's prayer. Nothing is changed about that person after he decided to give his heart to Jesus Christ and voluntarily walked through a set of procedures, because that is NOT the way a person is saved according to the Bible. Therefore, he continues to remain in his sin, all the while thinking that he has been born again, when in fact, he is still lost and is on his way to hell! That is what decisionism is about in a nutshell. So, if decisionism results in fake conversions, what about true conversion?
True conversion is the law of God "converting the soul" according to Psalms 19:7. That is the kind of conversion that a born again believer will encounter at some point in his life. Jesus said in:
Matthew 13:15 "For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."
Therefore, to be converted means:
the heart is no longer waxed gross, but it now understands the word of God;
the ears are no longer dull of hearing, but they now hear the voice of the LORD;
the eyes are no longer closed but are now opened so that they are no longer blind to the things of the Spirit of God.
Notice the word "converting" in Psalms 19:7 is present-continuous tense? That means that conversion is an ongoing thing for a born again believer. So, at which point was a person born again? It was at the point when the word of God began "converting the soul." How do we know if we are in the company of a true convert or a false convert?
James 3:13 "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom."
Have a conversation with him. John also tells us to "try the spirits whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1). Hear him. Observe him. Compare the words that came out of him to the 66 books of the Holy Bible. Look for “knowledge” in his words. Look for "meekness of wisdom" that accompany his words.
Proverbs 14:7 "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge."
The “lips of knowledge” can only be found in a born again believer, and this is something that a false convert will not have in him. He will not be able to shew out of a good conversation the reason of the hope that is in him, with meekness and fear. (1 Peter 5:15)
Ephesians 4:21-24 "If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
Words are the physical form of a spirit according to Proverbs 1:23 and John 6:63. If someone who profess to be a Christian but continues in the "former conversation" which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, that is his old man having a conversation with you. He may talk about Christian things but that does not make him a born again believer.
Luke 6:44 "For every tree is known by his own fruit…"
Every tree is known by his own fruit, and so is every person known by his own works. A true convert is known by his works, and a false convert is also known by his works. Real Christians are known by their faith in every word of God, and when I said, “every word of God,” I meant every word in the 66 books of the Holy Bible, strictly. The fear of the LORD can only be found in born again believers. That’s why James used the words “meekness of wisdom” to describe them.
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
A born again believer is saved by the grace of God through faith in every word of God, and the same word “faith” is also found in 2 Corinthians 1:24 "... for by faith ye stand." Without faith, it is impossible to stand, and apart from faith, we cannot be saved. This is just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego who stood against the king's order to fall down and worship the golden image because they have something in them that sets them apart from the rest of the people, and that something is called "faith." A born again believer fear God more than he fears man, and to fear God is to fear the words of the LORD.
Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
It was the fear of the LORD and faith in God’s words that has empowered Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to go against the king’s order without fear for their own lives, to do that which the vast majority of the Christians today won’t do.
When Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego stood while everyone else fell before the golden image which king Nebuchadnezzar had made, they were known by their fruits. Without real faith, one cannot stand, and apart from real faith, one cannot be saved. The same may not be said for someone who may be attending church every week, but when called to stand for the word of God, they turn to their own wisdom. They turn to their "common sense." They turn to their friends and family for advice. They turn to other Christians for advice. Finally, they turn to their pastors for advice, who in turn receive their advisory from the government. They turn to everyone for advice, but never the 66 books of the Holy Bible. The word of God means absolutely nothing to these Christians, and it will be evident in their works, even as a tree is known by his own fruit.
That is a good Word brother and good understanding, Thank you and God bless you