Convinced, Convicted, and Converted 2021 11 14
Acts 26:24 – 29
There is in this world much spiritual confusion. So many people believe that simple belief in something is the same as having faith in it. An example is in the great rise in the western world of eastern mysticism, yoga, transcendental meditation, visualization, positive thinking, etc., all of which often overlap. These teach that you can create your own reality by believing something strongly enough. If what you want doesn’t happen, it’s because you don’t believe it enough. You have to convince yourself that you already have it, and then it will be. Some teach and many believe that we are all god, or a part of the so-called divine whole. Unfortunately, believing something doesn’t make it so, nor does simply believing something is true make it apply to you. You can go to the gas station, for example, and believe till the day you die that there is gasoline available in that pump that will make your car run, but until you actually move by faith and put it into your car, it will do you no good. You have to believe, or be convinced that it’s gasoline, believe that your car needs it (conviction) and pump it into your car where it is converted to horsepower to move your car when it’s burned. This is so much like so many who believe that the gospel is the truth, but fail to go beyond that.
Today, we are going to look at three different men and three different endings to their story. One of them was convinced that the Gospel is true, one was not only convinced, but was also convicted of his own sin and need, but only one was convinced, convicted AND converted. Which one has eternal life?
- Festus was Convinced (Acts 26:24 – 29 )
- 24 ¶ And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
- 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
- 26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
- 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
- 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
- 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
- 24 ¶ And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
- knowing that God is who He says He is
- knowing that all things were created by God
- knowing that God has standards
- In today’s church, this man might comfortably attend regularly, not only convinced that everything he hears in church is good, but also that he is good enough the way he is. Unless he repented, he went to hell and is going to spend eternity in the lake of fire.
- Felix was Convicted (Acts 24:22 – 25 )
- 22 ¶ And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
- 23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
- 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
- 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
- 22 ¶ And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
- knowing that God’s standards are perfect and that man is not
- knowing that I am a sinner and must be reconciled to God
- Such a man knows the Bible is true, knows that he is a lost sinner that is going to hell the way he is, is under great conviction under the word of God, yet runs away to escape the conviction, rather than running to Jesus Christ in repentance. Unless he repented, this man also went to hell and is also going to spend eternity in the lake of fire.
III. The Jailer was Converted (Acts 16:25 – 34 )
- 25 ¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
- 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
- 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
- 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
- 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
- 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
- 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
- 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
- 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
- This man was converted from a life of sin and self to a life of grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This is what it means to repent. He turned from the way he was going to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
- This man was convinced that the men sitting in his jail knew the truth, absolutely convicted that he was a lost sinner in need of being saved, and when he heard the gospel, powerfully converted by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. This man, when convinced and convicted, did not run away, but instead believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and was converted, or saved. This man has eternal life!
- Even being both convinced of the truth and convicted of personal sin and the need of a Saviour is not enough; you must be converted, no longer trusting in your own goodness, but trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and his righteousness.
- Mt 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- Unless you are truly converted, it is a sure thing that you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. It is also a sure thing that you will spend eternity in conscious torment in what the Word of God describes as the lake of fire. Rev. 20:10, 14, 15
- It’s good to be convinced that God is who He says He is, but even the demons believe that! “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19
They will spend eternity in the lake of fire with millions of unconverted people who were also convinced!
- It’s good to be convicted of your sin that separates you from God, because God says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that the wages of sin is death, that is, eternal separation from God in the lake of fire.But being convicted of your sin does not save you! What is does do is tell you that you need a Saviour! The Bible tells us that the gift of God is eternal life through his Son, Jesus Christ. But unless you accept that gift and be converted, you are still separated from God and still on your way to the lake of fire.
Conclusion
Conversion changes you – only the truly converted are truly God’s children, forgiven and cleansed of every sin, having eternal life and producing fruit. Convinced, convicted AND converted! Convinced and convicted will not keep you out of hell! Only by putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God as your Saviour will convert you from a lost, dead, hell bound human being into a saved, eternally alive, heaven bound child of God! Make sure you really have trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour! Knowing you should and even feeling a powerful feeling is not enough! You could simply be convinced and convicted! Be sure you are converted! Make sure you have trusted in Jesus Christ, the ever-living Son of God as YOUR Saviour! Believe ON the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!