Turn And Live

Turn And Live
Joseph J. Adrian

"Turn and Live" is Nathaniel Vincent's work on conversion. To be converted to God there must be a turning from what God declares is wicked and a turning to "The Lord God." The apostle commends the brethren at Thessalonica for——". . . they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." 1 Thessalonians 1:9b. Pastor Vincent uses the well known text from Ezekiel as his spring board——"Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel." The author wonders which is greater folly——Man's initial turning from God or his obstinance in refusing to return to God. To show how desperate man's fallen condition is, Vincent asserts——"How easily are people induced to yield to Satan, desiring, as it were, to give themselves into the hands of a murderer. . . ." God's love for man, who He created in His likeness . . . can be seen in His persistent, and repeated calls to "Turn to Him and live." Why do you not hate death and destruction? What is the oft repeated response to God's call for the sinner to turn from their wicked ways and come back to God? "People's hearts are dull, their ears are deaf, and they refuse to acknowledge Him."

There is some theological debate as to what "The Urdu Saludis" is, as it relates to faith and repentance. Which comes first? Or are they exercised simultaneously? Does an individual need to feel their need of Christ before coming to Him? Or is it sufficient just to know and acknowledge that I am a sinner? Sinclair Ferguson's "The Whole Christ," Horatius Bonar's "God's Way Of Peace," and C.H. Spurgeon's sermon "The Warrant of Faith" address some of these issues. The need for such books as Vincent's "Turn And Live," Baxter's "A Call to the Unconverted," and Alleine's "An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners" (all deal with the need for "True Repentance" and "The Nature Of Saving Conversion")is vital. Books such as these that press "The Necessity Of True Repentance" are sorely needed, irrespective of when repentance takes place as a part of God's saving work.

From a Biblical viewpoint, one thing is absolutely certain——"without turning, death is certain." Satan lied to our first parents——"you shall not surely die," and he has continued throughout man's history to perpetrate that lie. However, the God who does not, and indeed cannot, lie has authoritatively proclaimed——"The wages of sin is death," and "The soul that sins will surely die." The Scriptures are clear in that assertion, and to any that deny it——"Let God be true and every man a liar." Truth is not determined by what the majority thinks, but God sets the standard. The title of one of Spurgeon's sermons, which is still in print, states the truth that Vincent is expounding in just a few words——"Turn or Burn." Why is death (both physical and spiritual, and ultimately eternal) necessary for sin? The punishment for sin is both just and necessary because God is a "Righteous God." What are the consequences for refusing God's offer of mercy? "Reason itself declares it right that the impenitent sinner be eternally separated from Him." Nathaniel Vincent's works have a strong evangelistic thrust, and they should be treasured by God's Children.