True Conversion According to Christ – Luke 15:21

Before true conversion can take place, there must first be regeneration—the inward work of salvation that forms the foundation of genuine faith. Put simply, without regeneration, there is no authentic conversion. Salvation begins with this inner transformation and then becomes visible outwardly in the believer’s life. In today’s passage, particularly verse 21, Pastor Paul highlights what it means to be converted and what ultimately causes conversion.

True conversion is not a vague feeling but a concrete reality. Just as the Holy Spirit stirred the prodigal son to rise and return to his father (v. 20), so too does the Spirit initiate action in the sinner. Regeneration is monergistic—the Spirit works alone—while conversion is synergistic, as God’s grace moves the sinner to respond in repentance and faith. Like sheep that often wander, sinners repeatedly stray, yet are drawn back to Christ through salvation, turning from sin and redirecting their lives toward God (1 Peter 2:5).

C.H. Spurgeon captures this relationship between regeneration and conversion:

“Regeneration and conversion, the one the secret cause and the other the first overt effect, produce a great change in the character…. And as there is a change in character, so there is a change in feeling. The man had been an enemy to God before; but when this change takes place, he begins to love God…. Conversion is the beginning of a life-long conflict; it is the first blow in a warfare which will never end till we are in glory.”

Marks of genuine conversion include:

A deep hatred of sin and a sensitive conscience toward it, accompanied by the desire to please God through faith.
A transformation of mind and nature that loves Christ and seeks to live according to God’s will.
A childlike faith (Matthew 18:3).
A daily reliance on the resurrection of Jesus as the center of Christian life.

But how does a sinner come to be converted to Christ? Conversion is possible only by God’s grace. When grace is fully applied to the heart, it becomes God’s effectual call to repentance. This grace was already at work in the prodigal son’s heart long before he reached his father’s home. Even in the far country, God’s grace was preparing him to return. In the same way, God’s grace works in sinners before repentance takes root, shining its light into their hearts.

As the prodigal son repented and set out for home, his father saw him from afar. The father’s love had already chosen restoration; his heart was waiting in compassion to receive him. God’s love operates in the same way—grace and compassion make repentance possible. However heavy the sin, God’s grace abounds even more.

The father’s swift embrace and kiss symbolize this truth. God’s grace is never sluggish or hesitant; it comes quickly, covering guilt and sin with strength and love. Frederick Lehman beautifully expressed it:

“The love (grace) of God is greater far, than tongue or pen can ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell. The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave his Son to win. His erring child he reconciled and pardoned from his sin.”

This kiss signifies reconciliation—the forgiveness of sins, the restoration of a relationship, and the gift of a new beginning. As John MacArthur explains,

“Here in this father the Lord Jesus Christ presents Himself, the one who left the glory of heaven, came to earth and bore the shame and humility to embrace repentant sinners, who come to Him in faith, and give them complete forgiveness and reconciliation.”

It is vital to remember that repentance alone does not merit salvation. Repentance without grace has no power, and grace without repentance bears no fruit. Grace is the cause; repentance is its effect. The prodigal son illustrates this:

He knew his sin was ultimately against God the Father.
He understood that the fear of God outweighed all other fears.
He recognized that sin leads to eternal death.
He showed thanksgiving and humility, without which repentance cannot endure.

Thus, the story calls us to self-examination. Is our conversion genuine, grounded in God’s grace through the Spirit’s regenerating work? The truly converted continually turn their gaze toward God, just as a sunflower follows the sun. May we strive to bear fruit for His glory, relying wholly on His grace.

September 7, 2025 0

You Didn’t Want It – Luke 13:31-35

The mistrust that led to Jesus’ eventual crucifixion stemmed from a combination of political, religious, and spiritual misunderstandings. Among the groups most resistant to Jesus were the Pharisees and Herod Antipas. Although the Pharisees warned Jesus that Herod sought to kill him, their motives were questionable. Today’s text depicts the Pharisees as hypocrites who, despite pretending concern, rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus responds by affirming that his journey and mission are governed not by human threats, but by divine purpose and timing.

Herod Antipas’s hostility toward Jesus may have been motivated by jealousy or political fear. As Jesus gained popularity, Herod may have perceived him as a threat to his influence. Additionally, Jesus’ teachings and actions challenged the societal order and religious establishment, possibly leading Herod to believe that Jesus was a destabilizing force. These tensions contributed to a growing desire among the ruling class to eliminate Jesus as a perceived threat.

In response to the Pharisees’ warning, Jesus refers to Herod as a “fox,” a term indicating cunning and insignificance in comparison to divine authority. This remark underscores the disparity between Herod’s limited earthly power and Jesus’ supreme spiritual authority. Jesus asserts his control over all realms—spiritual, earthly, and cosmic—making it clear that human leaders like Herod cannot thwart God’s plan.

Jesus proclaims his authority over the spiritual realm by referencing his ability to cast out demons. This ability highlights his divine power, as demons are invisible, spiritual beings that only God can command. Numerous New Testament accounts, including Mark 5:4, illustrate this authority. The Pharisees and Herod lacked the spiritual insight necessary to recognize Jesus’ divine identity, blinded instead by worldly desires and ambitions.

In addition to spiritual authority, Jesus rules over the earthly domain. Colossians 1:16-17 speaks of his sovereignty over all creation. His power to heal and perform miracles affirms that he governs life and death itself. Jesus provides meaning and coherence to existence, and his dominion over earthly events ensures that those who serve him in this life will also be rewarded in the next.

Jesus’ control extends to the cosmic level. He willingly submitted to the Father’s plan, including his death and resurrection in Jerusalem. Herod held no real power over Jesus’ fate; rather, Jesus orchestrated his own suffering as part of God’s redemptive plan. His death was not a defeat but a divine victory, and only through belief in the gospel can sinners be saved. His power transcends all earthly and spiritual barriers.

Despite the clarity of Jesus’ identity and work, many—both then and now—fail to acknowledge him as Lord and Savior. This failure often stems from self-will and a preference for worldly pleasures over spiritual truth. The Pharisees and Herod represent those who reject Christ not due to ignorance alone but due to hardened hearts and misplaced priorities. The same danger persists for those who resist surrendering their lives to Christ.

Ultimately, Jesus holds dominion over all existence. He alone offers both physical life and eternal salvation to those who repent and believe in his redemptive work. His death and resurrection removed condemnation for believers and established a path to eternal life. Rejecting him means remaining in spiritual darkness, but accepting him brings freedom and eternal hope through the perfection of his saving work.

April 13, 2025 0

A Sure Sign of True Salvation – Luke 13:22-24

One of the things we gain from the Bible is the ability to see that God is personal—He communicates with us and reveals Himself to us. The Bible is deeply intellectual, and through it, we are able to learn who God is. Often in Scripture, God—or someone else—asks a question and then answers it. For example, in Matthew 16:15–16, Jesus asks, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus frequently responded to questions or accusations from His enemies with questions of His own.

In today’s passage, we’re presented with a great question—one that comes from a disciple who is genuinely curious about salvation and desires to be saved himself: “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” Or, put another way: How many will be saved? How hard is it to be saved?

In Jesus’ day, there was a common belief that when the Messiah came, all Jews would be saved simply based on their ancestry. It was a form of spiritual universalism. That same attitude exists today—many people assume they’re saved simply because they grew up in church, were raised in a Christian home, or live a generally moral life. But we must ask ourselves: Are we saved? How many of us are actually saved?

When we look at history, the numbers appear to be few. In Noah’s day, only eight people were saved from the flood. In Sodom and Gomorrah, only Lot and his family escaped. Out of all his family and community, Abraham alone was called out by God. In Romans 9:6–8, Paul reminds us that not all physical descendants of Israel are truly Israel. Only a remnant will be saved. Jesus calls His followers a “little flock.” R.C. Sproul and Leonard Ravenhill have observed that many who profess faith are not actually saved.

At the time of this question, Jesus was traveling from city to village—from large crowds to small little villages. He was spreading the gospel wherever He could, no matter how few people were there, He traveled His own way to Jerusalem, the place where He would be crucified. He was proclaiming the gospel while fulfilling it.

It was on the way when Jesus was asked, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” Jesus doesn’t directly answer how many will be saved or the steps to be saved. Instead, He gives a command: “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” (Luke 13:24) This is not how to be saved but how to know who are saved.

The key word in Jesus’ response is not narrow door—it’s strive. Your attitude and effort determine which door you will enter. Without striving, you will naturally drift toward the wide and easy door. So the question becomes: Are you striving? What is Striving?

To strive means to devote serious energy or effort, to struggle, to labor. The language carries the idea of agonizing. Christians are called to strive from the beginning and continue striving throughout life. The Apostle Paul compares it to running a race for a prize—requiring great self-control and discipline. Jacob wrestled with God at the river Jabbok until he received a blessing. Jesus agonized on the cross until He declared, “It is finished.” Christians strive. We cannot lose this intention.

What do we strive For? This striving is not for our salvation, as if we could earn it. Salvation is by grace through faith. But we strive because we are saved. We pursue a goal.

Strive Against Sin and For Repentance – We sin every day, so we must repent every day. Striving means hating sin, fighting it without compromise, even at great personal cost.
- Hebrews 12:4: “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”
- Jesus said it is better to lose an eye or a hand than to be thrown into hell. That’s how seriously we are to fight sin.
Strive for God’s Glory – “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) Whatever happens—loss or gain, health or sickness—we glorify God. The apostles sang hymns in prison. We honor God in all things because He is always present and worthy.
Strive to Seek God’s Kingdom – Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and He commands us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We are not just citizens—we are servants and heirs. This kingdom is our inheritance, our future home, and our greatest treasure.
Strive to Pray – Prayer is not natural, it requires discipline. In Colossians 4:12: Epaphras was one who “struggled in prayer” for others.Prayer is dependence, just as a slave cannot do anything without the command of their master. It is humility. It is crying out for help even when we are weak. (Psalm 107:6). We are the byproduct of our prayers. God works through prayer. His promises are available to us in prayer. Strive to pray.
Strive to Preach the Gospel – Why did God choose and save us? In heaven, we will still worship and fellowship. But evangelism is for now. It’s part of our mission on earth. We often fail to evangelize because we fear man and desire his approval. But Jesus strived to share the gospel, and so must we.

How Do We Strive?

Self-Denial – Matthew 16:24: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” George Müller said he had to die to himself, to the world, and to the opinions of others. In Matthew 16:22, Peter tried to rebuke Jesus because of his own desires and ideas. But self-denial is the way of Jesus.
Be Born Again – Self-denial is impossible unless we are born again. We cannot truly strive unless we have new life. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Be Filled with the Holy Spirit – 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says we are saved through sanctification by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes Jesus real to us. He turns knowledge into obedience and empowers us to reveal Jesus to the world. (Acts 4:13)
Have Real Saving Faith – We are saved by faith alone. But real faith always strives. It doesn’t need anything else—money, comfort, blessings—because Jesus is the treasure. True faith is more precious than diamonds. Don’t be like the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:20, who walked away from salvation for his wealth. Strive to have the kind of faith that sees Jesus as the only treasure worth having.

What Hinders Our Striving? Worldliness. 1 John 2:16 warns that if we live by the world’s values, we are not striving. You can’t serve two masters. Striving for heaven and the world leads to ruin.

What Is the Narrow Door? The narrow door is difficult. Don’t believe the lie that the Christian life is easy. Jesus said we must count the cost. From the very beginning, the path of following Jesus is a path of the cross. The narrow door also means suffering. Jesus, though perfect, suffered. We should expect the same. Acts 14:22: “Through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus’ whole life was one of striving and suffering. His purpose was to suffer and die for the lost. He is the door of the sheep. Matthew 11:12: “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” This is the holy war. Those who strive against sin and for righteousness will take the kingdom.

Are You Striving? This is not a call to works-based righteousness. It is a call to take your salvation seriously. To examine yourself. To press on. To run the race with endurance. Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” Will you strive? Will you repent daily, glorify God in all things, seek His kingdom, pray persistently, and proclaim His gospel? Will you take up your cross and follow Him? The door is narrow. The way is hard. But if you strive then you have true salvation in Jesus Christ and eternal life.

March 30, 2025 0