Seven Certain Signs of True Conversion
Over the next week, or possibly ten days, I intend to write a brief summary of a very helpful booklet entitled 'Seven Certain Signs of True Conversion' by Peter Masters. In the Christian walk we are often arrested by doubts over assurance and I find it helpful to consider our conversions and test them according to scripture. If anybody has any contrary opinions or helpful additions, I would be grateful to hear.
1) Conviction of sin
This section can be broken down into seven helpful points, which are as follows:
i The clear mark of grace is the conviction of sin which leads to true repentance (Acts 2:37-38) a knowledge of the burden of sin will drive us to repent.
ii We shall see that we have 'a broken and contrite heart' (Psalm 51:17) there should not be a passing acknowledgment of sin- but a devastating realisation.
iii Conviction of sin is painful, if it is not it is likely to be superficial.
iv Christ must be acknowledged as our Saviour before anything else- friend, helper, supporter.
v We must be keen to see such a conviction in ourselves, we must have shown a deep and earnest desire to receive new life.
vi Our attitudes to sin and Christ must change, we must lose our love of sin and grow in our love of Christ.
vii We must yield wholly to Jesus as our Saviour and Lord.
I think these are good principles in expecting a conviction of sin. If we do not realise our sinfulness, why would we want a Saviour? We should continually grieve our sinful attitude to God and glorify in his grace in sending his son as our dear redeemer!
