Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-14

enuleH, the rev. Z. Nj. Ollphant
preached an interesting sermon on the
subject Turning to the Lord The
discourse was of an evangelistic ma
ture. He chose his text from Acts Is
chapter and 3rd verse. He said in
part:
The question of conversion is one
about which there are a great many
differences of opinion. People have
mlstifyed the subject. In general
terms conversion is a turning from
the love and service of satan to the
love and service of Christ.
I'm the first place conversion is not
simply a change of opinion. A man
may change his opinion about some
question of theology, yet not be a con-
verified man, his action would be SIM
ply an intellectual summer-sault. To
be converted a mans heart must be
changed. With the heart man believ-
ed unto righteousness.
I'm the second place conversion is
not simply a change of the outer NOR
al habits. A man may change his
habits and yet not be a Christian. To
be converted implies a change toward
God. The merit of salvation is not in
the change of habits, but in the blood
Of Christ shed for the remission of sin.
That which a man does is simply the
conditional part of his salvation.
The third point is that conversion is
not simply a change of unfriendliness
to a ~benevolence toword Christ. Many
people have a kindly feeling toward
the church and are not converted men
and women. Their benevolence and
works of charity, while c~ommendable,
are not in themselves sufficient. That
liberalism which would substitute
works of charity for the blood of
Christ may turn that which is praise
worthy, in itself, into a whirlpool of
destruction.
In the fourth place conversion Is
not a revulsion of feeling commonly
called getting religion religion
should get us. Christ should take pos
session of us. Change of feeling is not
an evidence of conversion, in fact
change of feeling is never in itself re-
liable evidence, we may feel that a
thing is true and yet it be untrue.
Jacob felt that his son, Joseph, was
dead, yet after a long time he discov-
cred that his sol was a ruler in Egypt.
Feeling may be the result of believing
in Christ, but it is not to be relied up
on as an evidence of a change.
The new testament's cases of con-
version, mentioned in the book Of Acts
do not speak to us of feeling, but they
do speak of people in their conversion
hearing the word of God. Believing
on the Lord Jesus Christ, confessing
him before the world, ~repenting OF
PNSS oAdo aid DClhS DdptlLGu luIO the
name of the Father and the son. and
the holy spirit, these are the steps of
conversion.
In the fifth place conversion is ac-
tive and not passive. Man is a free
moral agent, he chooses between Christ
and satan, life and death, he takes
steps by reason of which the blood of
Christ is appreciated to the forgiveness
OF his sins and then he turns to the
Lord. The miracles mentioned in the
book Of the Acts, in connection with
the conversions, are not part Of the
conversions, but only i~ncidentals. The
working of a miracle is not essential
to conversion. God is willing to save
men and their salvation depends upon
their W action.
'Sixthly:-Many figures are men
toned in the new Testament to indi-
cate the means of conversion. First
figure, 'begotten.' In James we read
81 heal his W will begat Him as with
the word of truth" The word of God
is presented to us; we hear it, it
drops into our hearts like good seed;
its principal is life, with it we are be-
gotten.
Is born again is the next figure we
find. Except a man be born again of
water and the spirit he cannot enter
into the kingdom of Cod 1'he man
is born of two elements, spirit and
water. He is born of the spirit in
hearing, believing and oDeying the
word of God. the instrument of the no.
ly spirit. He is born Of water in sub
hitting to Christ in the ordinance of
Christian baptism. A birth Of both
of these elements is essential to a COM
plete conversion to Christ.
THE dead quickened and raised-in
Ephesians, second chapter, we read of
being dead in trespasses and sins. and
being quickened together with Christ
and of being raised up. In Romans 6:
4, Paul refers TO this when he avs:
Therefore being buried with him, by
baptism, into his death, that like as
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