Need help looking for sermons on "False Conversion"

Other than sermons by Ray Comfort, are there other sermons on SI about false conversion or a similar topic? Thank you!In Christ,Doug

I don't believe there is such a thing as "false conversions."I believe Scripture teaches that man turns away from God for various reasons. It is God who bestows His grace, it is man who chooses to hear.Matt. 13:18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”The first three example speak of those who fall away.In ChristJeff

So you believe that everybody that goes to church is "wheat" and is saved? and that there are no "false" converts in the church and if they fall away they would leave? What about 'Depart from me, I never knew you..." scripture, can you explain this one? to those who thought they knew Christ and were saved, doing ministry in His name?I disagee..In Christ,Doug

Brother Doug wrote:What about 'Depart from me, I never knew you..." scripture, can you explain this one? to those who thought they knew Christ and were saved, doing ministry in His name?The last part of that verse states this:'you who practice lawlessness!’Can one be known by Christ who does not walk with Christ? This idea fits perfectly into the Parable of the Sower. If one continues to be transformed by the Word of God, one will have his heart softened and humbled by that Word. To continue this thought that is portrayed in Scripture read:John 8:John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”John 8:33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.Here, like in the parable of the sower and Matthew 7 Scripture speaks about lawlessness and freedom. Listen to verse 35: "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever." Two abide in the house for a time, yet the one who practices lawlessness will not remain in the house. The parable of the sower speaks of the same process. So the question really is "who is being conformed into the image of His Son?"One cannot hide the glory that comes from being known by Him. Lawlessness in Scripture always speaks of not mixing faith with what one hears.In ChristJeff

I agree with you Doug. Any one who thinks they are saved and in reality according to Scripture they are not, is what many refer to as a false convert. Of course, not everyone who thinks they are saved is really saved. (Catholics, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, the easy believism sin your way to heaven group and many other modern church going christians - not to mention the Easter and Christmas crowd - all of which think they are soundly saved and on their way to heaven) I don't think their would be very many to argue that all these people are saved and going to heaven and that their is no such thing as a false convert. Most false converts were simply preached half truths and lies upon which they base their salvation.Anyway - here is some good info from Dave Wilkerson.http://www.tscpulpitseries.org/english/1990s/ts900115.txtI have more but I need to find it - just give me some time.

Here are 14 sermons on the subject by Jonathan Edwards. Although I haven't read it, there is an additional chapter---a 30-page testimony, from a Chinese Christian, "to the benefit of reading Edwards."Knowing the Heart: Edwards on True and False Conversioncan you explain this one? to those who thought they knew Christ and were saved, doing ministry in His name?As my footnote to add to this discussion, I don't think we can equate as interchangeable "those who thought they knew Christ" with those who were "doing ministry in His name." I think I understand what you meant, but I think it's worth mentioning that there is a difference between professing good and "Christian" works to save us from hell and professing a personal knowledge of relationship with Christ. (I am focusing on people being decieved, not hypocrites who decieve.) A believer’s experiential relationship with Jesus is a primary (albeit subjective) assurance in this life, outside of the objective truths of scripture. If our knowledge of that relationship, as well as confidence in that knowledge can be false, then all the peace, grace, conviction, and assurance that we experience in our spiritual lives may in fact also be false. For what it's worth...I do not believe the goats were saying to Jesus "We thought we knew you!" Instead they were saying, "We performed spiritual and moral deeds in your name." I think we need to untangle phrases like "(they)think they are soundly saved and on their way to heaven" from "those who thought they knew Christ". They do not contain the same understanding.I hope the book is useful to you! Bless you brothers.MC

This sermon is entitled, "True and False Converion", by Ray Comfort:https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=437&commentView=itemComments

YeshuaIsMyGd,Just to clarify - I wasn't talking about people who celebrate Christmas and Easter, but the ones who show up for Christmas and Easter service only, do absolutely nothing else all year (don't pray, don't read the Bible, don't worship, etc.)and think because of these two services a year and calling themselves "Christians" they were hear "welcome into glory my good and faithful servant" on Judgment Day. That is what I mean by the Christmas and Easter crowd - not those who celebrate those holidays.Sorry if my statement was confusing.

A question.For those who label themselves Calvinist, isn't the idea of "false conversion" a moot point?In ChristJeff

For those who label themselves Calvinist, isn't the idea of "false conversion" a moot point?Why would you think that? Calvinists such as Edwards, Spurgeon, and Pink urgently addressed the danger of false faith. Apparently the problem was common in their times as well.MC

I think it's always been a problem. There has always been false Christians creeping into the church. It's interesting to see in the epistles how many people they would greet and "receive." Rom 16:1-2 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

My point is directed more towards the teaching of irresistible grace. It just seems futile for those who believe in such a doctrine to worry about who is a false convert. You are either converted or not period. Yet Scripture does not support this idea of false conversion. Rather it speaks to those who day by day say "Yes Lord." Rev. 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’Rev. 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’Rev. 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’Rev. 2:26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—Rev. 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.Rev. 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.Rev. 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.Rev. 21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. All but one of the churches were warned of specific situations which required those to "overcome." The Holy Spirit is available to all who will say "Yes Lord." The wheat and the tares, what cause one to grow to become a tare? What cause one to become fruitful? What does Scripture say?In ChristJeff

My point is directed more towards the teaching of irresistible grace. It just seems futile for those who believe in such a doctrine to worry about who is a false convert.Nevetheless, the preachers I mentioned, (as you probably know,) had some very pointed things to say about false faith. One of the mistakes I think we make about the Calvinist doctrine of irresistable grace, is the idea that Calvinists presume to concern themselves with who is the elect and who isn't. They certainly didn't feel that irresistable grace was manifested by a mere profession of faith. Even within the framewok of election, they felt that the elect's claim of justification was bore out in the sanctification. Even AW Pink, well known to champion the soverignty of God, would not let the professing Christian rest without rigorous self-inspection. One thing I would like to confirm here...when we all say "false conversion" I assume that we are talking about a false faith---a kind of faith that appears Christian on the outside...A self-deceived unregenerate hope for heaven through means of church conformity, religous humanism, and intellectual profession of doctrine.I bring this up because I agree with you Jeff when you say...You are either converted or not period. MC

Brother Mike wrote:Nevetheless, the preachers I mentioned, (as you probably know,) had some very pointed things to say about false faith.The origin of false faith rests in the carnal mind. The carnal mind can never please God because it is God who must speak through the Holy Spirit to man to give him the things of Christ. False conversion comes from man saying that he is saved. True conversion comes from God telling man that His Spirit is working in him to reveal Christ in him. This is the seal of the Spirit in those who are being converted for Christ glory. How can one who does not obey be known by God? Being known by God means that one continues to seek God because he has said, "Yes Lord." The relationship begins as a small mustard seed. The Lord teaches us to "hear" His word. It all begins with reading the Holy Scriptures. Understanding comes from hear Him speak to you. This is the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the renewing of the mind according to Him speaking to you that enables you to hope in the "substance" that is given to you by Him. The evidence of what you hope in becomes evident to all who know you. It is Christ in us that reveals to the world that the "substance" in what they hope for is futile. It is this "futility" that ferments hatred in those who see the glory of Christ in His disciples. Genesis 3:15, 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. In ChristJeff

How can one who does not obey be known by God?Well said Jeff. If our sotierology, whether Arminian, Calvinist or whatever, can't find it's way to Jeremiah's prophecy "I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." then we should question the legitimacy of our faith. MC

To continue on:So false conversion really means that one has refused to obey the Holy Spirit. All begin their walk as babes in Christ.All have been given all Spiritual gifts. See 1 Corinthians 1. Yet all begin still under the influence of the carnal mind. Paul teaches in Romans 7 and 8 that those who remain under the influence of the carnal mind will not please God and in fact will be those who Christ will say, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness. Yet there will be those who say "yes Lord." Those who walk with Christ will learn of His righteousness through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Their minds are being transformed time after time learning from the Spirit those things which are Christ's. It is these who submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, these are the ones who are truly converted and their hearts cry out Abba Father. These are the ones who Christ teaches about in beatitudes. These are the ones who actually thirst for His righteousness. The word of God is the source of one's faith; beginning with the Holy Scriptures and then the receiving of the refreshing, the receiving of the word of knowledge, the receiving of understanding which give wisdom. So those who repent and then stop walking are those who never grew Spiritually. These are those who cannot glorify Christ because they have continued to submit to the carnal mind. In ChristJeff

His promise is freely given to all who decide to listen to Him. All things will be freely given so that salvation is realized by those who decide to open their ears to His instructions. All grace necessary for conforming us into His Son's image if freely given. The promise is real. The effects of the promise become evident to those who submit. Continual submission creates a new substance for what we hope in. Continual submission creates a new song that become the strength of our life. His Life saves us.In ChristJeff