#55 Sermon Review: 2 Kings 17:25,33-34 - Spurgeon
Biblical Text: 2 Kings 17:25,33-34
Speaker: Spurgeon
Sermon Title: Sham Conversion
Link to Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bySI9AH5MR4
Rating
1-100 score
1-20 Christological
5 The sermon hardly mentions Christ yet speaks of salvation.
1-20 Holds Attention
15 The sermon is fast paced and paints a picture in the mind. Yet no stories.
1-20 Compelling
18 Very compelling sermon. Could be more compelling with a story.
1-20 Memorable
5 The idea is memorable, yet nothing really ground it in the mind.
1-20 Application to Life
10 In the moment it got me to consider my own salvation and that of those I carefor.
Yet there is little to take away from this sermon.
Thoughts
Overall score is 53 out of 100
The sermon is quite good overall yet it doesn’t speak well to today's religiously ignorant audience. Context is missing for what salvation is, who the Samaritans were, what sin is, and why any of this matters. The sermon is good for believers yet lousy for a disengaged atheist.
Outline
The video is a sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon titled "Sham Conversion," delivered on December 10, 1876. The sermon uses the example of the Samaritans from 2 Kings 17:25-34 to illustrate the dangers and characteristics of false conversions. Here is a detailed summary of the key points:*
*This outline was artificially generated and deemed accurate to the sermon.
Introduction:
Spurgeon begins by discussing the prevalence of deceit and counterfeits in the world, emphasizing the need for discernment in spiritual matters.
He highlights the devil's use of deception to imitate true spiritual experiences, such as repentance, faith, and assurance.
First Estate of the Samaritans:
The Samaritans, brought by the Assyrians to inhabit the land of Israel, initially did not fear the Lord and lived indifferent to His ways.
They were ignorant of God and His laws, focusing only on their daily lives and material needs.
Spurgeon draws a parallel with many people today who live indifferent to divine matters, absorbed only in worldly concerns.
Sham Conversion:
The Samaritans' conversion was driven by terror when God sent lions among them, causing them to seek help from the god of the land.
Spurgeon warns against conversions motivated solely by fear of punishment or calamity, noting that true conversion involves a genuine sense of sin and desire for righteousness.
The Samaritans' conversion was also marked by ignorance, as they sought only to know the manner of the god of the land rather than truly knowing God Himself.
They were instructed by an unfaithful priest who likely led them in a superficial and erroneous form of worship.
Characteristics of False Conversion:
Spurgeon outlines key signs of a false conversion:
Lack of true repentance and confession of sin.
Absence of an expiatory sacrifice, indicating a reliance on Christ's atonement.
Continued worship of false gods or indulgence in sinful practices alongside professed faith in God.
A focus on outward forms and ceremonies rather than an inward, heartfelt devotion to God.
He warns against trusting in superficial religious practices or mere profession of faith without a true change of heart.
Real State and God's Verdict:
Despite their outward religious activities, the Samaritans did not truly fear the Lord, as evidenced by their continued idolatry and disobedience.
Spurgeon emphasizes that true conversion leads to a sincere devotion to God alone, breaking away from all idols and sinful behaviors.
He cautions against the danger of hypocrisy and the need for genuine, heartfelt faith that results in a transformed life.
Conclusion:
Spurgeon calls for self-examination to ensure that one's faith is genuine and not merely a sham conversion.
He urges believers to seek a thorough and sincere change of heart, breaking away from all idols and striving for holiness.
True Christians are characterized by a single-minded devotion to God, a reliance on Christ's atonement, and a continual effort to live in accordance with God's will.
