Sincerity: Conversion, Apostasy

No. 192

God has the high prerogative to search hearts and determine whether a person's conversion is genuine or not. This is why the Apostle commands that a new convert should not be made a bishop, lest pride lead to apostasy. It is a great work of God to test men and prove their sincerity, and it is an act of the judge of the world to make manifest their works at the last day. God, speaking in a human way, speaks of trusting the profession of hypocrites and being deceived. The falling away of false professors is often called the falling of righteous men from their righteousness in Ezekiel. They are called righteous men in the same way true saints are. See WJE 20:516.

TERMS & REFERENCES

Term Set A: sincere sincerity

Term Set B: conversion apostacy apostate convert hypocrite

Max Distance Between Terms = 10

Reference List A/B

WJEO 2:170 - Religious Affections
WJEO 2:402 - Religious Affections
WJEO 5:103 - Apocalyptic Writings
WJEO 12:186 - Ecclesiastical Writings
WJEO 12:417 - Ecclesiastical Writings
WJEO 12:440 - Ecclesiastical Writings
WJEO 12:613 - Ecclesiastical Writings
WJEO 15:354 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 17:115 - Sermons and Discourses, 1730-1733
WJEO 18:64 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:236 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 19:307 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 22:388 - Sermons and Discourses, 1739-1742

Reference List B/A

WJEO 1:317 - Freedom of the Will
WJEO 12:396 - Ecclesiastical Writings
WJEO 12:459 - Ecclesiastical Writings
WJEO 23:55 - The "Miscellanies," 1153-1360
WJEO 25:355 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:478 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758