August 13 – LD 33, Day 1: The Idea Of Conversion

Isaiah 6:10 - "Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed."

Isaiah 59:20 - "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD."

To "convert" is to "turn". "Conversion" involves a turning FROM something TO something else. It refers to a "change" of disposition. Basically, we turn from sin (HC, Q/A 89: “... more and more to hate and flee from them”) to a life of gratitude unto God (HC, Q/A 90: “...live according to the will of God in all good works”).

The word and idea of "conversion" is found in the NT (cf. Luke 1:16-17) and OT.

First, consider Isaiah 6:10. Here, God makes it clear that He has more than one purpose to the gospel that He calls prophet Isaiah to preach to OT Israel. It is not just to comfort, save and convert His people, but also to harden the hearts of the reprobate wicked, to blind them. Contrary to those who teach that God sincerely desires the salvation of all (“well-meant gospel offer”), according to this Word of God, it is God's desire and purpose that a certain group of people not be saved, but rather be hardened through the good Word brought by His servant, Isaiah.

Second, consider Isaiah 59:20. This verse makes clear exactly unto whom the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, comes for in Zion. Because not all Israel is Israel (Rom 9:6-8), He redeemed not everyone at the Cross, and comes not to everyone. But He comes "unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob", that is, He comes unto them who are converted by Him.

For Meditation: Marvel that God chose to convert you, a hell-deserving sinner, from your sins. But don't stop there. Do you daily flee and turn from your sins, and turn unto God by the power of Christ's cross (cf. Rom 7:18ff)? Because our "old man" will be with us till the day we die, we need daily and constantly to "mortify" him, and be quickened unto love, joy and obedience in the Lord to do His Word and will. We need to be converted daily.