A Study On What The Scriptures Teach Concerning God s Demands For Conversion

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1 A Study On What The Scriptures Teach Concerning God s Demands For Conversion By Pastor Harry Richardson Through his servants, God calls people to turn to him. He wants to save the world which is alienated from him, and to restore those of his backslidden people who return to him and renew their commitment to the covenant. The need for conversion The world is alienated from God Ro 1:21 23 Romans 1:21 23 (NASB95) 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. See also Ro 1:28; Ro 3:11 12; Ps 14:3 Romans 1:28 (NASB95) 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, Romans 3:11 12 (NASB95) 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE. Psalm 14:3 (NASB95) 3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. The world does not know God Ga 4:8 Galatians 4:8 (NASB95) 8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. See also 1 Co 1:21; 1 Co 15:34; 1 Th 4:5; 2 Th 1:8 1 Corinthians 1:21 (NASB95) 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

2 1 Corinthians 15:34 (NASB95) 34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. 1 Thessalonians 4:5 (NASB95) 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 2 Thessalonians 1:8 (NASB95) 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. God s people have turned away from him Mal 3:7 Malachi 3:7 (NASB95) 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, How shall we return? See also Nu 14:43; Dt 9:12; 1 Sa 15:11 Saul; 1 Ki 11:9 Solomon; 2 Ch 25:27 Amaziah; Je 8:5; Eze 6:9; Da 9:11; Ac 7:39 Numbers 14:43 (NASB95) 43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will be there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, inasmuch as you have turned back from following the LORD. And the LORD will not be with you. Deuteronomy 9:12 (NASB95) 12 Then the LORD said to me, Arise, go down from here quickly, for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have acted corruptly. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them; they have made a molten image for themselves. 1 Samuel 15:11 (NASB95) 11 I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands. And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all night. 1 Kings 11:9 (NASB95) 9 Now the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 2 Chronicles 25:27 (NASB95) 27 From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD they conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. Jeremiah 8:5 (NASB95) 5 Why then has this people, Jerusalem, Turned away in continual apostasy? They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return. Ezekiel 6:9 (NASB95) 9 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive, how I have been hurt by

3 their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes which played the harlot after their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed, for all their abominations. Daniel 9:11 (NASB95) 11 Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him. Acts 7:39 (NASB95) 39 Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, God s demands for the conversion of all people Is 45:22; Ac 17:30 Isaiah 45:22 (NASB95) 22 Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. Acts 17:30 (NASB95) 30 Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, See also Ps 65:5; Jon 4:11; Zec 9:10 Psalm 65:5 (NASB95) 5 By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea; Jonah 4:11 (NASB95) 11 Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals? Zechariah 9:10 (NASB95) 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; And the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. God s demands for the conversion of his own people God s desire to save his people Eze 33:11 Ezekiel 33:11 (NASB95) 11 Say to them, As I live! declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?

4 See also Je 3:22; Joe 2:12 13; Zec 1:3 Jeremiah 3:22 (NASB95) 22 Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness. Behold, we come to You; For You are the LORD our God. Joel 2:12 13 (NASB95) 12 Yet even now, declares the LORD, Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; 13 And rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil. Zechariah 1:3 (NASB95) 3 Therefore say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return to Me, declares the LORD of hosts, that I may return to you, says the LORD of hosts. God s faithfulness to his people Je 3:14 Jeremiah 3:14 (NASB95) 14 Return, O faithless sons, declares the LORD; For I am a master to you, And I will take you one from a city and two from a family, And I will bring you to Zion. See also Le 26:40 42; 2 Ch 30:9; Ho 3:5; Ho 6:1 3 Leviticus 26:40 42 (NASB95) 40 If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also in their acting with hostility against Me 41 I also was acting with hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled so that they then make amends for their iniquity, 42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land. 2 Chronicles 30:9 (NASB95) 9 For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him. Hosea 3:5 (NASB95) 5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days. Hosea 6:1 3 (NASB95) 1 Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. 2 He will revive

5 us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him. 3 So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth. God s promise of restoration 2 Ch 7: Chronicles 7:13 14 (NASB95) 13 If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. See also 1 Ki 8:48 49; Ne 1:9 1 Kings 8:48 49 (NASB95) 48 if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and pray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name; 49 then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven Your dwelling place, and maintain their cause, Nehemiah 1:9 (NASB95) 9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell. The call to conversion through God s servants The encouragement of his leaders Jos 24:14 15 Joshua; 2 Ki 11:17 Jehoida Joshua 24:14 15 (NASB95) 14 Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

6 2 Kings 11:17 (NASB95) 17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they would be the LORD S people, also between the king and the people. Josiah: 2 Ki 23:24 25; 2 Ch 34: Kings 23:24 25 (NASB95) 24 Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. 25 Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him. 2 Chronicles 34:31 33 (NASB95) 31 Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book. 32 Moreover, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand with him. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33 Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the LORD God of their fathers. 2 Ch 15:11 15 Asa; 2 Ch 19:4 Jehoshaphat; 2 Ch 29:6 10 Hezekiah; Ps 51:13 David 2 Chronicles 15:11 15 (NASB95) 11 They sacrificed to the LORD that day 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep from the spoil they had brought. 12 They entered into the covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and soul; 13 and whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. 14 Moreover, they made an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets and with horns. 15 All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had sought Him earnestly, and He let them find Him. So the LORD gave them rest on every side. 2 Chronicles 19:4 (NASB95) 4 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

7 The ministry of his prophets Je 35:15 2 Chronicles 29:6 10 (NASB95) 6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the LORD our God, and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and have turned their backs. 7 They have also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the LORD was against Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, of horror, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us. Psalm 51:13 (NASB95) 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. Jeremiah 35:15 (NASB95) 15 Also I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them again and again, saying: Turn now every man from his evil way and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to worship them. Then you will dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your forefathers; but you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me. See also 2 Ch 24:19; Je 25:4; Ho 14:1 2; Jon 3:2 2 Chronicles 24:19 (NASB95) 19 Yet He sent prophets to them to bring them back to the LORD; though they testified against them, they would not listen. Jeremiah 25:4 (NASB95) 4 And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear, Hosea 14:1 2 (NASB95) 1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. 2 Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him, Take away all iniquity And receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips. Jonah 3:2 (NASB95) 2 Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you. The preaching of believers Ac 26:16 18

8 Acts 26:16 18 (NASB95) 16 But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me. See also Ac 2:38; Ro 10:14 15; Is 52:7 Acts 2:38 (NASB95) 38 Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:14 15 (NASB95) 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS! Isaiah 52:7 (NASB95) 7 How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, Your God reigns! Rejection of God s call to conversion Is 9:13 Isaiah 9:13 (NASB95) 13 Yet the people do not turn back to Him who struck them, Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts. See also Je 3:10; Ho 5:4; Ho 7:10; Am 4:6 11 Jeremiah 3:10 (NASB95) 10 Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but rather in deception, declares the LORD. Hosea 5:4 (NASB95) 4 Their deeds will not allow them To return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, And they do not know the LORD. Hosea 7:10 (NASB95) 10 Though the pride of Israel testifies against him, Yet they have not returned to the LORD their God, Nor have they sought Him, for all this. Amos 4:6 11 (NASB95) 6 But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, Yet you have not returned to Me, declares the LORD. 7 Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you While there were still three months until harvest. Then I would send rain on one city And on another city I would not send rain;

9 One part would be rained on, While the part not rained on would dry up. 8 So two or three cities would stagger to another city to drink water, But would not be satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me, declares the LORD. 9 I smote you with scorching wind and mildew; And the caterpillar was devouring Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees; Yet you have not returned to Me, declares the LORD. 10 I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses, And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me, declares the LORD. 11 I overthrew you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze; Yet you have not returned to Me, declares the LORD.

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