Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the Great English preacher of the 19th century, had very real concerns about people claiming to be Christians based off of the whole "just pray the prayer" or "walk the aisle" mentality of his day. This mentality is still alive and well today in the Evangelical Christianity of America, which cares more about numbers than true conversions.Spurgeon could not stand the idea of men being allowed 'to jump into their religion as men do into their morning bath, and then jump out again just as quickly, converted by the dozen, and unconverted one by one till the dozen has melted away."
As a result, Spurgeon offered these marks of true conversion:
"When the Word of God converts a man, it takes away from him his despair but it does not take from him his repentance.
True conversion gives a man pardon, but does not make him presumptuous.
True conversion gives a man perfect rest, but it does not stop his progress.
True conversion gives a man security, but it does not allow him to leave off being watchful.
True conversion gives a man strength and holiness, but it never lets him boast.
True conversion gives harmony to all the duties of Christian life;... it balances all duties, emotions, hopes, and enjoyments.
True conversion brings a man to live for God. He does everything for the glory of God, -whether he eats, or drinks, or whatsoever he does.
True conversion makes a man live before God... He desires to live as in God's sight at all times, and he is glad to be there.... And such a man now comes to live with God. He has blessed communion with him; he talks with him as a man talks with a friend."
Taken from: "The Forgotten Spurgeon" by Iain Murray
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