Pillar 4, Genuine Conversion, Luke 19:1-10

Genuine Conversion in Zacchaeus

Luke chapter 19 from verse 1. Hear the word of the Lord. He entered Jericho and was passing through and there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich and he was seeking to see who Jesus was.

But on account of the crowd he could not because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus Came to the place. He looked up and said to him Zacchaeus Hurry and come down for I must stay at your house today.

So we hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it They all grumbled. Is gone in to be the guest of a man who was a sinner. As Ikea stood and said to the Lord Behold Lord the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have defrauded anyone of anything I restore it fourfold.

And Jesus said to him.

Today.

Salvation has come to this house since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. May the Lord add his blessings to the reading of his Holy Word. Well ever known anyone whose life is just a mess a disaster and he or she is certain You're saved.

I Once worked with a man at a temporary job. I think we were setting up a Home Depot. A new Home Depot, you got to stock all the shelves and all that. I got to know this one guy there and he was very troubled.

He was on the verge of a divorce. He was cursed his wife who was having an affair with his brother who was in prison. Okay, why anyone has an affair with a man who's in prison? I don't know. But anyway, he cursed his wife.

He cursed Everything. I don't know if he could say three words without one of them being profane. So I would suggest that you ever know people like that like they just can't you know, that third word is gonna be something.

So I was suggested. Well, he why don't you go to church and talk to the pastor with the hope that if he did that He would be converted. He said he had already been saved and baptized when he was 12. He didn't need to worry about that anymore.

Some church probably claimed him as a member. He thought he had that taken care of he was sure of it. He was so sure he didn't even need to think about it anymore. He had been given assurance. I Cousin he was only about a month younger than I or a female cousin about a month younger than I.

Once what we were both about 16 I think we were walking together outside Legion Field in Birmingham outside an Alabama football game when I picked up a track that I began to read aloud and it read something like Get the thing you need the most.

And I just paused and she asked what? The track continued Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. She said oh, I've taken care of that already. Since then she married a nominal Catholic later converted to Catholicism later divorced and soon remarried asked what sort of Wedding she had the second one, you know Catholic a Protestant my uncle her father told me well.

She was married by a judge, but it was sort of Protestant. He thinks I've never seen any interest in her about spiritual things. But she's probably still convinced that she's taken care of her conversion probably sure of it.

Someone has given her Assurance we have a religious movement around us. That is what I like to call. You got to name it call it some things and since they call themselves this call it the old-time religion.

The old-time religion does what we talked about last week sells the gospel except instead of getting people to buy it with their lives it thinks that all we must do to buy it is with a decision a Single decision that then confers on us if we make this decision a status.

Many say it irrevocable status of being converted being saved. They say if you've made the decision especially made it in the right environment at the right time. You may be as the organ softly plays just as I am or as the Sunday school teacher leans on you to repeat a quote sinners prayer that they made up.

Then you are certainly saved. You're converted and you don't ever need to doubt it. No matter what you do with your life after that no matter what your life demonstrates you made the decision. The goal of the old-time religion the OTR for short is to get you to make the decision and what they give you in exchange for making that decision is Assurance assurance of salvation.

They dispense assurance of salvation like a Christmas parade throws out candy. You get assurance you get assurance. Kind of like Oprah.

I guess.

Everyone gets assurance if you say the right prayer at the right time. Just say you agree with certain things the the older and biblical message that the good trees bear good fruit. And if you don't bear good fruit in keeping with the pendants.

Then you need like Paul said in Corinthians to examine yourself whether you have or whether you are really in the faith. There's salvation. Conversion being born again really makes you a new creature and that will definitely show not in perfection.

It doesn't make you a perfect creature yet, but a new one with a new nature. It will show in change now that message the biblical message that understanding of Salvation that there is a genuine salvation and a counterfeit conversion is that is lost in the old-time religion so it makes for sick churches full of people like my cousin or my former co-worker who Really probably almost certainly really are not converted but are sure that they are.

They've been given assurance by people who don't clearly understand conversion. But a biblical church knows what genuine conversion is. What is genuine conversion? Well, we see one right here in Luke chapter 19.

This is one to say the story of Zacchaeus. We see three facets of genuine conversion in this passage. First. There's the call. Second, there's the choice and finally there's the change. First we see a call.

Jesus's call there's this. Jesus's call is preeminent out of the crowd. Jesus calls one man. Jesus takes the initiative. Jesus's call comes first. If someone say well, hey, but Zacchaeus in Zacchaeus show his faith when he climbed up the tree.

Was it he moving toward Jesus doing his part? Well verse 3 simply says that he was what he was seeking to see. Who Jesus was that's his motivation. That's what the Bible. That's all the Bible tells us about it.

Now if if some celebrity say like Tom Cruise came to Yancey Ville if he walked down Main Street. Where you know where I live right down right in front of my house I would probably be interested enough to go out and take a look.

I saw John. I can say I saw Tom Cruise in person. I'd be curious that doesn't mean I want to follow Tom Cruise or I believe in what he says. He's a good actor. But spiritually he's kind of goofy actually.

He's a Scientologist. But I might want to take a look at him. We came nearby and that desire to see would probably be even stronger in their day. You know when you could hear about something think about that before the days of photographs and television.

You go I hear a lot about a person what he taught what was what he had done. But have no idea what he looked like so you might want to go out and see who is this great celebrity Jesus? He's coming through town and that's that's all that Luke tells us about what Zacchaeus does here when interpreting this passage.

It's important to not read into it what is not there. It doesn't tell us That Zacchaeus had any faith or was doing it was seeking Jesus. The only reason it tells us why Zacchaeus climbed the tree is because he is short and he wanted to see Jesus.

It doesn't tell us he was seeking to follow Jesus, but it does tell us that Jesus took the initiative the Lord Jesus stopped. Jesus calls out to Zacchaeus and Jesus invited himself over for a meal and so not reading anything into this passage.

It tells us that at least in this salvation. He's the one Who acts first?

Now here.

He calls Zacchaeus. Of all the people in that crowd Jesus chooses the most probably the most Unlikely person a man who collaborated with the Roman Occupiers who would be an outcast from the rest of society, but Jesus called him, you know, come down and It caused the people around to murmur against Jesus.

This is the way the gospel is. Martin Luther insisted that whenever whenever the gospel is clearly proclaimed Controversy would surely follow. It does here the people murmur. Jesus is breaking their their mores their ostracism of Zacchaeus and people like him which they set up.

They ostracize people like Zacchaeus to punish them for breaking their you know in weight breaking their law breaking their Their society. That they're the Jews that should be oppressed by the Romans.

And don't read this as a story about well Jesus including everyone. It's not as though Jesus is always opposed to ostracism. This is not a story about you know, breaking down barriers about including everyone Regardless of their lifestyle about not being judgmental.

That's not the point of the story. In fact, Jesus tells the church in Matthew chapter 18 verse 17 to treat a believer who continues in sin. Just like the Jews were treating Zacchaeus right here. He says we're supposed to regard an unrepentant brother is quite a pagan and a tax collector.

Zacchaeus is a tax collector. So in theory, there's nothing necessarily wrong with how Jewish society was treating Zacchaeus nevertheless. He was Jesus's choice. Jesus takes the initiative. Calls him chooses him.

Hey Zacchaeus.

Come down. I want to go over and eat with you. And now that doesn't mean that Zacchaeus doesn't choose something that when we talk about Jesus calling first about predestination. Another theological term really for that same thing.

We're talking about something. What we're saying is well, we don't have to choose. People don't have to choose. Well, that's wrong. We do choose. We choose because he chooses us first. Now what's the difference between genuine and counterfeit conversion.

The genuine begins with Jesus calling and that call results in us. Choosing here Zacchaeus. Here's the call up in the tree and Jesus says he must Stay with him. I find that interesting. Jesus said I must.

It's necessary for me to stay with you. For Jesus to fill his mission to stay with this outcast. Then comes the choice Zacchaeus his choice. Zacchaeus, here's that I must stay with you. Jesus says Zacchaeus.

Here's that and he hurries down from the tree. He's delighted. He says he's his heart is filled with joy. The call from Jesus come down. I must stay with you. That call creates in him Joy. This is the way it is with the Lord's call when he effectively and personally calls you.

It creates joy. It's not as though he he drags you kicking and screaming to do something, you know. You're kicking and screaming into the kingdom of God against your will to do something or go somewhere.

You don't want to go his call. Zacchaeus I must stay with you. His call creates your choice. You receive him with joy not because of you because of his call. His call inspires in you the ability and the desire.

To call on him his choice of you. Makes you want. To choose him once called. Like Zacchaeus you'll hurry to choose him. So Jesus is the guest of a sinner. Of course, he would be a guest of a sinner no matter who he decided to eat with that day even the strictest Pharisee.

But they don't know that they believe that they are not sinners if they're trying their best to keep the law. It is those people who think they are they are not sinners who think that they are pleasing to God by their own efforts.

Who are in the most danger? The one who knows he's a sinner here is the one who singled out for salvation and This is our big problem today. We've handed out assurance of salvation to people who have not over time shown the evidence of change and because they are now assured In their minds that they are saved.

They don't think they need salvation. They think it's taken care of. They think their biggest need is for. Whatever a relationship money beer whatever. They are sure. What are you sure of and why.

In other words.

How do you know? How do you have assurance notice how Luke tells us Zacchaeus repents? How do you know you've repented notice how Luke tells us Zacchaeus here repents? How do we know that we're genuinely converted?

Because of our doctrinal opinions. Are we told here Zacchaeus is converted because of his doctrinal opinions. No because of a change. How do we know Zacchaeus repents. Because he reports, you know, how sorry he felt in his heart because maybe he cried.

Because he prayed the right prayer. Luke didn't write at all about Zacchaeus his inward feelings notice that here. Let's say a word about Zacchaeus his feelings about how he tears flowed. Not even about us any prayer that he prayed and pray any sinners prayer.

Luke doesn't even tell us he repents. Luke shows us he repents. Zacchaeus is repentance. It's demonstrated in his actions. So repentance isn't just an emotion of sorrow just kind of sorry. We did these things wrong, although it definitely produces that sure, but it is a root cause.

Repentance is of a of observable Behavior in other words repentance shows itself. It can be seen. You've seen those you particularly this time of the year before and after photos of people on diets do our diet plan this is before this is what whoever Marie Osmond looked like after, you know after.

Basically starving yourself on that Nutrisystem Paltry little food they give you you'll be skinny after and they put the two pictures side by side before they were fat now. They're skinny. Well repentance is like that before you are living one way and After you're living another way you can take a picture of the difference you can see it.

Now if the emotion of sorrow doesn't lead to photographable changes. That's not real repentance. That's a counterfeit. It's just a feeling. This is vital for us to understand for a biblical church today because there is in many quarters today in the old-time religion and emotion and out in omission of Repentance because there is a theology of cheap grace easy believism and This theology one could be a Christian but not Really have Jesus as Lord.

They say somehow Faith is defined as accepting a few facts about Jesus. That's what they say faith. You don't argue with some facts about Jesus you supposedly that's called faith, but it's like it's faith.

Like in the way I believe in Australia. I believe in Australia. I'm gonna go out on a limb. I believe there's a really place. There's a really there's a place there call us. I've never seen it. I've taken by faith.

I have no reason to doubt it. I even have a friend who lives in Australia. He says he does. Sometimes I get messages from this guy who says he's Australia, you know. But the existence of Australia has absolutely no impact on my life.

Does it change me a bit if I found out later today that the idea that Australia is just made up maybe by the US National Park Service to hide the fact that they have that there's a strange National Park somewhere out in Montana.

Somewhere that they would want to keep it being trampled. From all kinds of tourists. They have all these kangaroos and koala bears all that stuff around all these strange animals if I find out that's what's been going on all this time.

My life won't change a bit. Except for maybe I want to plan a trip to out to Australia. There's actually a Montana maybe that but the doctrine of Australia whether I accept it or reject it makes no impact on my life.

And that's what some people think that believing in Jesus for salvation is you just kind of agree with these facts of History that he died for our sins that he rose from the dead. He's somehow related to God and the deal is done and you'll go to heaven.

And so they think most people, you know, most people offered with that will think sure. Why not? I have nothing to lose. And I'll say I agree with those facts. I have no reason not to. I'll repeat a prayer and voila.

I'm Saved. I've taken care of that now. Where's the best bar for picking up girls? That's the way people think right? Probably all of you know some people who claim to be Christian perhaps they've been baptized.

But they don't show any fruit in their lives. But we see here that the idea that one could be a genuine Christian and not Experience a radical change that one could just agree with a few facts about the Lord Jesus and supposedly be saved.

That's a false idea. That it's a common belief today, but that common belief that between Christians and the lost sort of a third category. Or maybe that Christians between the these radical, you know Christians you really take it seriously and the loss going to hell is a third category of so-called carnal Christians.

They're Christians, too. They're just they just didn't opt for the elite status because and they're they're still saved because they don't disagree with the facts. Whose lives are their life is not at all marked by repentance and faith.

That idea is a false doctrine. The Bible absolute does not teach that it's a cover-up for an unbiblical doctrine of conversion but I'll buy people who don't understand what real conversion is and it can be a dangerous cover-up and when you combine this idea of The carnal Christian is really not a Christian with a false idea that faith is just kind of intellectually agreeing with a few basic facts.

You know kind of like believing in Australia. Then and you combine that particularly with once saved always saved. Well, you get the result you get unsaved people who earnestly believe that they've taken care of their salvation.

Who are told that they are saved by churches been given assurance and who are often included as church members. No matter what their lives say and who testify to the world that salvation is absolutely worthless.

How do we know we're genuinely converted. Don't that's if that's the case. How do you know? Is it because of our morality and manners? No, it's not just knowledge. Is it just you got to be decent person.

Whether we really know Jesus or not. Well, of course not, you know, look at the rich young ruler gonna read not gonna read that passage. But it covers shortly before this and Luke and Luke chapter 18 verses 18 to 30.

So it's almost set up as a contrast between these two men. Rich young ruler. He's devout. He kept the law least outwardly. He appeared sincere. He respected Jesus and he goes to Jesus to ask these questions.

He was he meant it. He wasn't a scoffer he wasn't like the Pharisees trying to set him up for some, you know trick question. He was asking sincere questions. He asked right questions. He could even feel sorrow about his unwillingness to obey Jesus.

He'd probably be considered a model church member in many places today now that he wasn't willing to go 100 into Following Jesus or probably just today would just be put off as well. He's a bit of a carnal Christian.

Remember he's already got he's got morality. He's got religion not to mention. He's money and power. He's not a hypocrite like the Pharisees out to destroy Jesus. So so he's decent. He's religious. He's earnest and he's been that way for all his life and our day.

We might be surprised that such a man would even question his salvation, but the truth is that he is not converted. He's experienced no Radical inward change for the rich young ruler the Lord Jesus made it precisely clear.

What kind of change was expected of him? Remember he was supposed to liquidate all his assets sell everything he has give it to the poor and become one of the disciples that would be a Photographable change brought about in his life.

You could see the difference between before and after if he really believed in Jesus true conversion produces Change it did in Zacchaeus his life. It would have in the rich rulers life. The rich ruler and Zacchaeus are opposites.

The only thing they have in common is they're both rich. But the rich rulers is justly rich. Zacchaeus used his power to built money of the powerless. He's basically like today's more like a mafia guy.

I mean you got to put him in that category. It's not like we see tax collector. We got to think our IRS a respectable occupation, but no, I think in our day. It's more like a mafia enforcer. Okay, it's that kind of reputation.

That's that's that's a kiosk the ritual the rich ruler. He's a respected leader. He's admired. He's accepted. He's probably an elder in a synagogue. Zacchaeus was an outcast but it was a kiosk who heard Jesus with joy the rich ruler received Jesus's call with regret and.

Slinked away.

He was too attached.

To his money.

If the rich ruler believed that Giving away his wealth if he really believed what Jesus said that giving away his wealth and following Jesus would give him Treasure in heaven. Well, he would have thought nothing of it.

He would have done it. He would have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. If he had faith it would have produced. It's Siamese twin virtue faith faith faiths. Siamese twin virtue of repentance. And he would have turned and he would have followed Jesus.

Zacchaeus did. Notice for both repentance is shown. Common theme in Luke repentance is shown. But how how they handle their money if your faith Nick makes no impact on your checkbook. We have reason to question whether it's real.

The rich young ruler. Didn't have faith. So there was no change Zacchaeus did and so gave. I'll tell you about a co-worker who was really troubled always profane. He was a Baptist. I Know someone else Who is very faithful and considerate as committed to her family as anyone could be she's he's moral helpful and kind.

But I know she's not a Christian because she doesn't profess to be a Christian. She's a Buddhist. She's my mother-in-law. She is a good moral person who will faithfully sacrifice to her ancestors. That's the way she was raised and so far.

She doesn't want to change. She was born in Indonesia, by the way, but lived most of her life in Singapore now imagine. Instead of being born in Indonesia and raised in Singapore. She had been born and raised Here in Castle County, North Carolina same kind of person same character.

Right here. She would almost certainly be a church member somewhere wouldn't she? Because it's kind of the thing you do in this atmosphere. She'd be faithful to you know. She'd be the type that comes for every meeting Sunday school Wednesday night.

She had cooked for the potluck dinner. She had stayed after to clean up. She had volunteer where needed. She probably almost certainly tithe. She would be a pillar of the church. She might even make a decision at the right time now.

Hopefully with all that church attendance all that exposure to the Word of God. She might genuinely be converted and counter the grace of God. But perhaps she wouldn't. After all decisions are not necessarily conversions.

There's nothing we human beings can do to guarantee that God will save Anyone if Jesus said in John 3 we must be born of the Spirit and then he says that the Spirit blows we talked about This in Sunday school today the Spirit blows.

Where he wills.

All the words he's sovereign. He goes where he wants to go. He does what he wants to go. He brings new life where he wants to bring it. We can't control him. We can't corner him. We can't make him save the people if they say the right prayer if they repeat after me and so this faithful lady Could go her whole life in church.

She was born right here and live right here. She could go her whole life in church and not really be saved. Just like the rich ruler was moral and religious even went to Jesus seeking counsel but he wasn't saved.

And If we think of salvation is just a combination of you know, easy believism cheap grace and an end of moral life. We'd almost certainly think she's a true Christian look at her life. She's moral. She's a pillar of the church.

Just like in our day. We'd probably assure wouldn't we wouldn't we wouldn't we assure the rich ruler that he was saved? Now let's Change your sex. Just say she's a man a he and not a she and so he responds as a child to brothers emotional invitation.

Same kind of character. Fateful. Raised in church response to one of those emotional invitations maybe one of those manipulative types. It first has the person to raise his hand and then come stand up and then come forward and then say a prayer and then is Told he is saved.

But maybe he's not saved. Maybe he's he's given an assurance, but maybe he's just.

Dutiful.

And being the responsible dutiful type. After being told now, he's a Christian. So he feels an obligation to go to church. What are you supposed to do? It's the kind of person does what he's supposed to do like before.

He's a pillar of the church. Maybe he's successful in business or his whatever career it goes into and so he gives he ties and he'll probably almost soon be made a.

Deacon.

If he's in a Baptist Church the functional equivalent of an elder and they're totally messed up unbiblical system. That's beside the point right now. And he'll have a great influence on the direction of the church or maybe at another meeting as a young man.

He's even manipulated into giving his life to full-time Christian service because that's what you got to do. If you're really sincere, right. And so he goes to seminary and becomes a pastor. But if it's just easy believism plus morality and be decent and dutiful He might never have really encountered the grace of God, which means according to Romans 1 He is someone who hates God that is according to Ephesians 2 He is still dead in his trespasses and sins and he's leading the church and that's how churches die.

How do we know that Zacchaeus is saved? Notice how Jesus puts it in verse 9.

Today.

Salvation has come to this house. I Love that line so different than what we expect you think about it. You're just reading about me. You can guys can glaze it over that not think about it, but think about that.

There's a double meaning there. He's not just saying that Zacchaeus was saved. He said Salvation has come. Jesus's name by the way means the Lord is salvation. So he is the Lord. So he is salvation. So quite literally he salvation came to that house.

He's also saying something important about salvation. Think about the way it's put now think about how maybe You or us we would typically describe this event. If it were for me and just a few weeks ago, I remember I described Kanye West.

Kanye West. I said God Scott saved. It's kind of the typical way of saying things if it were me. My usual say way of saying this let's say, you know Zacchaeus got saved. Is that the usual way that usual expression?

It sounds as if Zacchaeus did the work himself. Zacchaeus Subject got verb save object. Sounds as if Zacchaeus did the work himself that he's the active one he's the subject of the verb as if salvation were out there for the taking and Zacchaeus went out and he got some for himself.

Like we talked about getting milk at the store, right? It's there. You can get it if you want it, but that's our way of saying things. Jesus says it totally differently here. Salvation has come to this house in Jesus's way.

Salvation is active salvation subject. Has come verb to this house's direct objects come to you Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus didn't go out and get some salvation.

No.

Zacchaeus did not go out and get some salvation. Salvation went out and got Zacchaeus Salvation. Jesus himself is the active one. Zacchaeus isn't the subject. He's the object. Remember the gospel. Remember the gospel.

Jesus.

Saves and that's what he did here to Zacchaeus. He emphasizes this again in verse 10, which is basically Jesus's mission statement. His personal mission statement. The Son of Man referring to himself came to seek and to save.

What was lost? Notice it. What he says. He doesn't say. He just came to seek and invite the lost. He didn't come just to make salvation possible. To seek and and plead with the lost to beg. Please come if you want.

Come. He didn't say. He's come to seek and hope the lost respond to his invitation. Hope they positively take up that offer. He came to seek them out like Jesus did here and to save him as Jesus does here.

Why did the Lord Jesus call Zacchaeus. Notice what he says at the end of verse 9. He says that salvation has come to Zacchaeus because as in view of the fact that he is a son of Abraham. Now, what does he mean?

Is he just saying well Zacchaeus is Jewish too. So he gets saved. Well, obviously not. Probably everyone in that crowd is Jewish descendants of Abraham whom Jesus did not bring salvation to. The rich young ruler was a son of Abraham literally speaking, but he wasn't saved.

So what does he mean? Well in John chapter 8 verse 39 Jesus told the Pharisees some of the same kind of people who were grumbling against Jesus here for choosing Zacchaeus. Jesus told them that you are not sons of Abraham.

You're not oh, you may be physically descended from them, but you're not really sons of Abraham. Zacchaeus though.

Is one.

Now you couldn't tell it by looking up at his life up until this point, but God knows those who are his. That's why he stopped in front of that tree. There's a son of Abraham in that tree. Surrounded though by literal children of Abraham.

He looked up and saw in the tree a Spiritual son of Abraham and Jesus called him as Jesus says in John chapter 10 verse 27. My sheep hear my voice. Zacchaeus heard and believed. Well, finally the Lord Jesus explains now why all this happened the call the choice the change.

Because he says in verse 10 He came the Son of Man the one who brings in the kingdom of God on earth to seek and to save the lost. That's his purpose. This is his mission statement. It's clear and as as bold as it could possibly be to seek and to save not just to invite.

Not just to beg but to effectively save the lost. It's not just to teach church kids to be well-mannered well-dressed and well-adjusted successful people. It's not just for our entertainment. Not to entertain the saved.

It's not to mobilize us for politics. It's to seek and to save.

The lost.

So there are three things we need to do with this seems to me very quickly.

Adopt.

Adapt and be adept. First adopt the Lord's mission. If seeking and saving the lost is the mission of Jesus It sure better be ours. A biblical church has the same mission the Lord the Lord Jesus has. Evangelism is a pillar of A biblical church that means that our prayer meetings and our private prayers had better have more to do with fulfilling that mission than anything else like health.

Adopt Jesus's priorities that his missions it is ours. We adopt. That is our mission. For example, we you know, we we could have a gym. That serves the mission or we could I guess get a traditional building that makes us feel more respectable.

Which do you choose? Depends on what values you've adopted. That means we'd be willing to sacrifice every secondary goal to be big or Respectable or just comfortable for that mission like Jesus. We have to be willing to withstand the grumbling of those who think we should be spending our time with maybe with better people.

Evangelism is a priority. Secondly adapt to the biblical reality that when salvation comes in your life, it will make a change. A Change you can photograph that you can see in your checkbook a change that you will receive with great joy like Zacchaeus.

Adapt to that adapt the policies the think about how the church is organized how membership adapt to that reality. And we made a mistake Christians in particular in America over the past century or so and too quickly and too freely telling people people like the rich young ruler.

Or worse.

Maybe just some young kid who responds to an emotional invitation. We've made the mistake that telling him. Well now you've taken care of your salvation. Give an assurance. So now we just have to think about it anymore.

That's what they hear. Anyway now. Now that we see here. What genuine salvation is? How are we supposed to say that a small child is genuinely converted? You know, what can you see in their life that shows you?

They're genuinely converted here. She may be I can save people from the womb, but how do we know? That means that baptism is for disciples for people who show with their life that they are converted. It means that church discipline is also a pillar of a biblical church.

So that we we take away assurance of salvation when someone's life shows it's questionable. Adapt to the reality of what True conversion is. That's why we're doing this membership renewal right now. Do you want to renew your membership?

Are you converted. If so, you will sign on instead of just kind of letting everyone pass just for you. For maybe for a whole Lifetime we're trying to adapt to that reality. Finally be adept at Reaching out like Jesus did here in a way that's attractive.

To people be adept at challenging hypocrites who think that they've taken care of their salvation when their life hasn't changed. And be if you're gonna attack you tell others to question their salvation.

Be adept at examining ourselves after all devoutness church forms. Maybe what you were raised with morality does not necessarily indicate true conversion. Conversion involves a change of.

Allegiance.