Adapted from the small booklet 'What is True Conversion' by Stephan Smallman, which touched my heart greatly and reminded clearly of Christ's wonderful completed act on the cross:-

{Does this mean that a person can be spiritually alive but not yet converted? Yes, most definitely! If people were not alive to the things of God, they would not even be able to hear the gospel. After all, we are "dead in [our] transgressions and sins" (Eph 2:1-3) until God makes us alive by the same power that raised Christ from the dead (2:4-10).

In another era people like this were called "awakened sinners." We don't consider this possibility, I'm convinced, because the evangelistic training we receive teaches us to press as quickly as we can for a "decision". We shold welcome the idea that people we know personally or who come to our churches are exploring and seeking to know Christ. More often than not, the Spirit takes time to make people aware of their sin, and to make the essential realities of the gospel clearer and clearer, until the need to "embrace Jesus Christ freely offered in the gospel" becomes irresistible.

Pray that our churches and our small groups and our kitchens be environments where these people feel welcome to come and ask questions, and where the Spirit can take whatever amount of time He chooses to bring about a true expression of faith in Jesus.}

Amen!

I will continue from this book with the Heidelberg Catechism, with a question asked: 'What is your only comfort in life and in death?' If anyone wants to borrow this, it's a short read of only an hour at most, so ask it from me!