Repentance and Conversion

And when Simon saw that the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! (Acts 8:18-20)

Simon believed, but it wasn't enough. He was amazed by the power and glory of God, but his heart remained hard and unrepentant; therefore, he saw the Holy Spirit as a commodity to be bought and sold. This entrepreneurial spirit is entrenched in the church to this very day, and much that masquerades as ministry is the peddling of the Gospel derived from the same counterfeit spirit. It is so much easier to preach power than repentance, because many men want the power of God, but few want to die to themselves and pick up their cross. You see, men must not just believe in God, but repent and be converted – that is true belief.

We suppose we are saved because we made a confession of faith and prayed the "sinner's prayer." Then we got baptized in water and joined a Bible-believing church. We may have also stopped doing certain things, stopped going certain places, or stopped keeping company with certain folks. Yet, all of these things can be done by someone who simply made an emotional or mental "decision" for Christ (as sincere as they might be) but was never truly saved. That is because salvation is a sovereign work of the Lord, and nothing we do can bring about the new birth found in Jesus alone -- He did it all! Eternal life is a most precious gift of God, and the only true measure of salvation is the indwelling Holy Spirit, given to each of us who truly receives life from God. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. (Romans 8:9) May the Lord Himself sanctify you wholly, may your endurance and your good works prove that you really are God's child, and may there be no doubt that you are truly saved by grace and through faith. Amen.

Let's Pray - Father, may I not fall short of repentance. Forgive me for coming to You on any other basis than the shed Blood of Jesus Christ. Thank You and Amen.