Building With The Word – 2 [False Converts]

In our last post, we looked at specific concrete characteristics of true converts of the Christian faith. We learnt from the lips of Jesus that true converts hear the word and apply the word to experience transformation in all areas of life. We must all strive to be like that.

Today, we will turn our focus on false converts. We must not be surprised when people behave otherwise in the church because not everyone who shows up in the congregation of the saints is a true believer. Jesus illustrated this with His parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13:24-30.

Who then is a false convert? In the article How Can I Detect A False Conversion?, it is stated that,

“A “false conversion” is no conversion at all. A false conversion may look like a true, Spirit-caused conversion, but it is not. The reasons for false conversions are varied. Sometimes the person experiencing a false conversion doesn’t even realize it. At other times, there is intentional deception on his/her part. Not everyone who claims to have been converted has, in fact, been converted.”

According to Jesus, the characteristics of false converts can be seen in the following passage:

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

(Matthew 7:26‭-‬27 NKJV)

What can we learn from the above passage?

#1. The Word Of God

One thing is common with true and false converts: the sayings of Jesus come to both of them. Thus, Jesus said, “everyone who hears these sayings of Mine”. The external word of God reaches out to both of them without partiality.

In Matthew 13, Jesus told the parable of the sower in which he said that there was only one good soil but three bad types of soil. The soils represent the heart of men who received the word and how it produces fruit in them. We preach to all men but few respond.

#2. Response To The Word

Here again, there are two main responses to the word of God that reaches out to the false converts.

1. They Hear The Word

The false converts, like the true converts, hear the word that comes to them. In the parable of the sower, the farmer threw the word very wide to many people. They all heard it. False Converts hear the sayings of Jesus being preached.

2. They Do Not Do The Word

The second response by the false converts is that they do not do the word they hear. It is at hearing level and not doing level. They are like King Saul who was disobedient to the instructions of God to wait for the prophet before making sacrifices. False Converts are not obedient to the word of God.

#3. Results Of The Word 

Now, the last question we want to answer about the journey of the false convert is this: what is the effect of the word of God in their lives? Absolutely nothing! Simple put: a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

Here are four (4) result areas in their lives:

1. Identity

Jesus calls people who hear the word and fail to do it as being “like a foolish man”. Only unwise people will hear their Teacher and disregard His counsel. That is their identity.

In Proverbs, King Solomon said the unwise man had his farm overgrown with weed because he failed to tend and keep it.

2. Work

The false convert “built his house on the sand”. They built on quicksand. They build their lives with false teaching and worldly wisdom that perishes with time.

How we are building our lives, family and work is a reflection of who we are. Indeed, who we are will determine how we will build.

3. Tests

Jesus then says that when false converts build, they are tested just like the true converts. “The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house”.

Life will test what we build. We will be tested to prove what we have built is sustainable.

4. Fall

And finally, we see the result of the testing. Jesus said when it was tested, “And it fell. And great was its fall.” It was not the tests that caused it to fall but the materials used to build.

Hebrews 4:2 says that the word of God did not profit them that heard it because they did not mix it with faith. They heard it and disregarded it and got nothing in return.

Our Christian life hinges on obedience to God’s word. If we fail this, we are only reflecting who we are as false converts.

May the Lord deliver false converts and make them true converts of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What have you learnt from this post? Share with us.