Acts 19:18-19 And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.… I. THE NOMINAL CHRISTIAN — 1. Believes. These Ephesians, like many in the midst of heathendom today, were convinced of the errors of paganism and the truth of Christianity, but no more. And in the midst of Christendom multitudes are believers simply in the sense of accepting the facts and doctrines of the gospel as Divine. 2. Professes, or no one would know that he is a believer. Not indeed voluntarily, except that he does many things that real Christians do — goes to Church, and perhaps to the sacrament. If asked, he says without hesitation that he is a Christian. 3. But this faith and profession are merely superficial, and cover an unrenewed heart and an inconsistent life. The concealment is sometimes successful, and many a nominal Christian passes for a real one, as here apparently — for these Ephesians had to "show" their deeds. But the covering is very thin and may frequently be seen through by men, and always by God. II. THE NOMINAL CHRISTIAN BECOMING REAL. 1. By a heart faith. The fact of their coming shows that their believing had become a far deeper and more influential act than intellectual assent. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." 2. By confession of the fact of sin instead of the profession of the fiction of Christianity. "With the mouth confession is made of salvation," and the confessor thereby evinces his desire for the real thing instead of the sham. 3. By self-exposure of the real state of heart and life. They "shewed their deeds." This was — (1) Voluntary. (2) Before man as well as God; for the one had been deceived and the other mocked. III. THE REAL CHRISTIAN — 1. Believes. But instead of merely assenting to the generally received doctrine, having refused a saving trust in Christ, he now lives by faith. 2. He confesses Christ instead of professing an adherence to the Christian religion. 3. He shows his deeds which are in conformity with his faith and confession. (J. W. Burn.) Parallel Verses KJV: And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.WEB: Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. |
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