The Beginning of Conversion

7 MAY

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Ezekiel 18:21-22

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Ephesians 2

If this humane invitation of God does not stir us, we have no excuse. For He bears witness that He is gracious to us when we heartily desire to be reconciled to Him. Still, He requires serious repentance.

A kind of half-conversion can be discerned in many who think they are safe before God if they can only bring forward something worthy of praise. But that is like a servant offering his matter muddy wine, which is mixed not only with dregs but also with filth. So are the works of those who do not put away all depraved desires and strive to free themselves from corruptions of the flesh.

Note what is taught here, that the beginning of conversion is to renounce oneself and one’s lust. To that must be added another part of duty, for when anyone bids farewell to his vices, he must also devote himself in obedience to God. The prophet here joins the two together, since one cannot be separated from the other. Hence the Spirit here shortly defines what true and legitimate conversion is. He says that when someone is converted, his life is prepared for God, since God will forget all his sins. This confirms the doctrine, for God cannot be entreated as long as He imputes our sins to us. Hence, we may deem Him gracious to us, for He promises that as soon as we truly repent, all our sins will be buried and no longer remembered.

The incomparable goodness of God is that He deigns to forget all our sin as soon as He sees us earnestly desirous of returning to Him.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION:

This text is excellent material for self-examination. If true conversion involves fleeing from or evil desires and corruptions and devoting ourselves obediently to God, it should be our regular practice to examine ourselves to make sure that, by God’s grace, we have indeed done these very things. Have you?

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke