Building With The Word – 1 [True Converts]

A while back, I preached a sermon titled ‘Building With The Word’ in which I focused on Matthew 7:24-27 to contrast true converts with false converts. It is interesting how Jesus makes belief in Him and being a disciple very clear than our modern confused complicated teachings about true conversion. It is no wonder we have many false converts in our churches who think they are believers but are not. People have been made to believe that the moment you say ‘the sinner’s prayer’, then you are a true convert of Jesus Christ.

In answering the question, What Is True Conversion?, author and preacher Dr. Steve J. Lawson noted that,

“In the biblical sense, conversion means a turning—a spiritual turning away from sin in repentance and to Christ in faith. It is a dramatic turning away from one path in order to pursue an entirely new one. It involves turning one’s back to the system of the world and its anti-God values. It involves a turning away from dead religion and self-righteousness. It involves a complete pivot, an about-face, in order to enter through the narrow gate that leads to life.”

What does it really take to be a true convert of the gospel? Let’s hear the words of Jesus on this matter…

Matthew 7:24‭-‬25 NKJV says,

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”

These words of Jesus are the concluding part of what we popularly call the ‘Sermon on the Mount’. From Matthew 5 to 7, Jesus started His ministry by giving us instructions on how to live as children of God in His kingdom. In Chapter 5, He charged us to let our righteousness exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees (v. 20). That’s a righteousness which is from God (Romans 1:17).

From the text above, we can learn the following:

#1. The Word of God

‘Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them’ (7:24)

The word of God is the ‘sayings’ of Jesus. Whatever He had taught and was about to teach comprised His sayings (Matthew 5:2, 7:28-29).

God’s word is external to us. It is from a higher Source to us. Hebrews 1:1-2 says that in the past God spoke to the fathers through the prophets but in these last days, He speaks through His Son. His words carry life and power. Again, Hebrews 4:12 says the word is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. Therefore, true conversion starts with the word and continues with it.

#2. Response to the Word

‘Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them.’ (7:24)

According to our main text, true converts of Jesus Christ have two responses to the word of God:

a. They Hear The Word Of God

The first response of a disciple of Jesus Christ to the Master’s sayings is hearing it. They hear the word through reading and studying the Bible or by listening to faithful preaching of the word. The word comes to us in many other ways.

Paul wrote in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing the word of God. When Jesus was assessing His churches in Revelation 2-3, he consistently said to all the 7 churches that, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). Jesus wants us to pay attention to His sayings so that we can effectively do it and teach them to other disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

b. They Do The Word Of God

The second response of true converts is that they do the word they hear. Hearing the word of God only is not enough for spiritual growth. We must endeavour to obey and practice it. Someone has said that reading and studying the Bible is not to fill our head with information but to transform our lives.

Apostle James has rightly said that we must not be hearers of the word only but doers also (1:22-25). We must observe to do everything that our Master commands us to do. He said to His disciples that if they love Him, they must obey His commandments. According to 1 John, true believers continue in the word (2:24-25). Transformation comes through applying the word we hear or read.

#3. Results of the Word 

“I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock”. (7:24-25)

The work of the word of God in our lives is obvious when we obey it. You shall know true converts by their fruit (Matthew 7:17-20). When we build our lives, family, relationships, career, businesses, and ministry with the word of God, it will sound forth in good results. His word does not go forth without accomplishing its purpose (Isaiah 55:11).

Below are the three ways we see results in our lives when we apply the word of God:

1. Identity

Jesus said true disciples who hear and obey the word will be likened to a wisemen. That’s their identity in Christ. They reflect the identity of Christ who is our wisdom and power. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). The Psalmist says “the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” (19:7)

2. Work

The second result is that the wisemen build their lives on the rock of the word. A wise man uses the right materials to build his life and work. Like Paul, we are wise master builders (1 Corinthians 3:10). He builds on the rock that is immovable.

3. Tests

The next thing we see is that their work is tested by the various vicissitudes of life. The rains, the floods and the winds beat on his work. He is tested in all areas of life. 

4. Stability

The last thing is that his work survives the contrary issues without falling. Why? Because it is founded on the rock of the word of God. The righteous is tested but he survives and gives God praise. Unto Him who is able to keep us from falling (Jude 24-25).

Writing on true conversion, Paul said in I Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV) that,

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”

Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Thomas R. Schreiner wrote in Conversion in the New Testament that,

“Conversion is foundational and fundamental to the story, since only those who are converted will enjoy the new creation. Human beings must turn from sin and turn to God to be saved. They must repent of their sins and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and risen. It will be small consolation on the last day if one has contributed in a small way or even a significant way to the improvement of this world (as helpful as this is), if one is not converted.”

It is clear from Jesus’ teaching that a true disciple of Christ hears and does the word of God which inevitably produces results in his life.

May the Lord cause us to continually stay in the word and build with it.

Share what you have learnt from this post.