CONVERSION CHANGES

“Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold” (Luke 19:8 NKJV).

When a sinner is converted, there will be changes in that person’s life (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17). If a person claims to be saved and there are no changes in his life, one can justifiably question his salvation experience. Our verse speaks of the changes that occurred when Zacchaeus was converted. We want to note four of the prominent changes.

First, he became pious - “Lord.” Jesus Christ is now “Lord.” Before his conversion Zacchaeus had little to do with God. But now Zacchaeus addresses the Lord Jesus with great respect. Conversion will change a profane man to a pious man.

Second, he became generous - “I give half of my goods to the poor.” Zacchaeus was a tax collector, and before his conversion he would extort money from people. But now as a converted man, he is going to give his money to charity. And note that he was very generous in his giving. When folks receive the greatest gift of all, i.e. the gift of salvation, it makes them a better giver than they were before.

Third, he became compassionate - “I give half of my goods to the poor.” Before his conversion, Zacchaeus would cheat others out of their hard-earned money. Now he has become a very compassionate man. He is now concerned about the “poor.” Nothing makes men compassionate as being in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Fourth, he become honest - “If I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” This statement does not suggest that Zacchaeus is not sure if he has cheated anyone, but it admits to cheating others and says where it has occurred there will be restitution. A person’s life will reflect truthfulness when he receives Christ as Savior, since the Lord Jesus is the embodiment of “Truth” (John 14:6).

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“If the man does not live differently from what he did before, both at home and abroad, his repentance needs to be repented of, and his conversion is a fiction!”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 - 1892)

English Particular Baptist Preacher

Word Study

Fail

In Rom. 9:6 we read, “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel" (NASB).

“Fail” is the Greek word ekpíptō (ἐκπίπτω = ek-pip'-to). It is made up of two words: “ek” which means out or from, and “píptō” which means to fall. Thus, the word mean to fall off or from, drop away, lose. In classical Greek ekpíptō is used of objects which fall out of their place. It was also used as a nautical expression for a shipwreck or sailors cast overboard. In the Septuagint ekpíptō also carries the idea of to fall. In the New Testament ekpíptō carries the same meaning as in classical Greek. Here in Rom. 9:6, the word is used figuratively and means to fall away and to fail, to be without effect or to be in vain. In other words, it carries the idea of non-fulfillment of the divine promise. The apostle Paul’s point is that this can never happen to God’s Word of promise - it shall never lose its intended effect (cf. Isa. 55:10-12). God’s Word does not fail, because, it is perfectly fulfilled in the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. John 1:1-3). Indeed, “all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen” (2 Cor. 1:20).

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“But he saith unto them, it is I; be not afraid” (John 6:20 KJV).

Did You Know…

If one of the slaves of an Israelite did not wish to be set free on the 7th year as God commanded, the Israelite was bore a hole in the servant’s ear as a sign of perpetual service (Deut. 15:16-17).

Bible Quiz

What was the name of Adam’s third son?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: According to 1 Timothy, how old did a widow have to be before she was put on the list of widows? Over sixty (1 Tim. 5:9).

Names For the Lord Jesus in the Bible

“SEED OF THE WOMAN”

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen. 3:15 NJKV).

1. Meaning – SEED OF THE WOMAN refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as the One who would defeat the serpent and redeem humanity from sin.

2. Insights – Biologically, a woman produces no seed. So, this promised “Seed” would have to be miraculously implanted in the womb. In this way, He would not inherit the sin nature which would disqualify Him from becoming a Savior from sin. Thus, it is a prophecy of the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Gal. 4:4-5). It is also the first prophecy in all of the Bible. Theologians call it the “protoevangelium,” which means the first gospel message. As the “Seed” or descendant of Eve, the Lord Jesus represents a new hope and the reversal of the fall. Through His sacrifice, the Lord Jesus crushed the serpent’s head even as the serpent bruised His heel on the cross.

Did You Know – Christian History

Walter L. Wilson was born May 27, 1881, in Aurora, Indiana. He was an American medical doctor and evangelist.

Wilson was raised by his grandmother and became a Christian when he was fifteen years old. At sixteen years old, he began to hold evangelistic street meetings. Wilson worked at his father’s tent-making while he attended college pursuing a medical degree. Nine years later, having completed medical school, he set up practice as a doctor in Webb City, Missouri. But he recognized that it is not enough to heal the body. Many of his patients also needed healing of soul. And so, he told people about Christ.

However, something was lacking in his witness. He did not have victory over himself or sin. One day a missionary asked him, “What is the Holy Spirit to you?” “He is one of the persons of the Godhead,” answered Walter promptly. “But what is the Holy Spirit to you personally?” asked the missionary. Sadly, Wilson confessed, “He is nothing to me. I have no contact with Him, no powerful relationship with Him, and could get along very well without Him.”

At a medical convention, he read a tract that one of his office nurses slipped into his briefcase. It pointed out that while Jesus had a body, the Holy Spirit had none. Christians are his body. He touches no one except through us. Dr. Wilson believed. He prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to take charge of each part of his body. The very next morning, he sensed the Lord urging him to tell a drug store attendant about Christ. After a moment’s protest, he obeyed. Right there, three people put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. And although Wilson was never ordained, he led many to put their trust in Jesus, winning his audience with wit and homely stories. This busy doctor went on to found Central Bible Church in Kansas City and Calvary Bible College. He authored over twenty books, reared a family, pioneered Christian radio, and, traveled widely as a conference speaker. Some men are able to master almost anything they touch; Wilson was one of them. When his father became ill, Wilson took over his dad’s tent-making business and developed camouflaging and waterproofing for tents used by the army in World War I. Wilson died on May 24, 1969.

A Little Humor

God tells Adam that He can create a loyal, faithful, loving, and supportive partner, but it will cost him an arm and a leg. Adam thinks for a while and then says, “An arm and a leg seems like a lot. What can I get for a rib?”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Salvation is so simple that people overlook it; so free they do not believe it!”