James H. Cagle
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Ps. 19: 7)
“Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them”(Acts 28:25-27).
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3: 19).
To go through a conversion or be a convert of some sort is to experience an alteration, a change from one state to another, a change of heart or disposition evidenced by a new course of life and love to God; change from one side, party, or religion to another.
One is not a convert and has not been converted and experienced conversion unless there is a change from what they were to what they’ve converted to.
Every true, born-again, believer, is a Christian that became a Christian by becoming a convert of Jesus Christ. They have turned from sin to Jesus Christ and had their life completely changed. They are not what they use to be. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5: 17).
The Bible everywhere attributes salvation to God. To save the sinner is the work of God. Salvation includes bringing about this change of mind and heart that is called conversion.
“The law is perfect” and therefore the standard of judgment to show the sinner the awfulness of his sin and his need of the Savior. Paul said, “for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3: 20).
Because the people of Jesus’ day had rejected what they saw and heard, they were not receptacles of the truth, and therefore would not have the faith to believe and be converted and be saved.
Paul said, “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10: 17). The reason the word did not profit some who heard it was that it was not “mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Heb. 4: 2).
Conversion or salvation is not possible without repentance. Repentance is to “change one’s mind and purpose.” “Repentance, to be of any avail, must work a change of heart and conduct” – Cuyler Conversion is the evident outward change that corresponds to repentance and faith as an inner change.
Martyrs
On God’s Holy Word the Church doth stand,
Led and sustained by the Shepherd’s hand,
That leads us by where His martyrs have died,
Who, through fiery flames on Him relied.
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Their way, though fraught with many an ill,
Our Lord, they knew was leading them still.
Suffering prison, flame and the sword,
Many died for the Word of the Lord.
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Since we to Jesus our love did vow,
To God’s Christ our Sovereign we bow.
Never to earthly powers be wed,
Though into prison or flames we’re led.
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Through all our trials, let it be said,
The Church triumphantly is still led.
Till Christ, Who by His glory and might,
Doth take us home from this sin-cursed night.
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Then, with the blood-washed throne, we will stand,
And praise our God for His guiding hand.
That led us through prison, flame and sword,
That we might honor our Precious Lord.
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The martyrs, then, who had suffered earth’s frown,
Will wear a bright and glistening crown.
Who more than life our Savior did love,
Despised earth’s honor for Christ’ above.
James H. Cagle
