Truth is Stranger than Fiction

Editor's Note: The following is from a Baptist Press story of Adrian Rogers sermon to the students at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary on August 22. As you consider the theology of his statement, remember that Rogers was the chairman of the Baptist Faith and Message study committee which recommended the revisions passed by the SBC in Orlando. Rogers is pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, Tenn., and former president of the SBC 1979-80 and 1986-1988.

"When a Christian sins, God has four steps he can take that person through, Rogers said:

1) Conviction. Conviction is a feeling of being dirty, along with a desire for cleansing. However, "If you're living in sin and there's no conviction, let me just tell you plainly, you need to get saved," Rogers said. "If God's hand is not heavy upon you, you are lost." If a person does not get his life right with God because of conviction, then God uses a second step.

2) Chastisement. Chastisement can take a variety of forms, Rogers said, citing sickness, sorrow, failure and heartache. If after conviction and chastisement the Christian has not turned from his sin, Rogers said God uses a third step.

3) Challenge. "You don't want to be there," Rogers said. Usually a challenge "will come only one time," from either a preacher, a family member, a tragedy or a sermon, "but God in some way will say, 'You are the man'" who did something wrong, as the prophet Nathan told King David. If a Christian still has not repented after conviction, chastisement and challenge, Rogers said God brings about a fourth and final step.

4) Consummation. At this point, Rogers said, God is saying, "Something is going to be done about this" because if a person is truly a child of God he cannot continue in sin. "I'm telling you, there is a line that you cannot cross," Rogers said. "God will kill you because you're his child. If you're living in sin and God kills you, you'd better thank God for it because if you're living in sin and God doesn't kill you, you've never been saved."

September 2000