‘Awakening’ is an awareness of personal sinfulness in light of a holy God. People necessarily must be ‘awakened’ to their sin before a righteous God before they can repent and trust in Christ for salvation. Salvation is a sovereign work of God that replaces stony hearts with a hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19). We call that work of God regeneration and that is what gives men the desire to freely cling to Christ. However, being awakened doesn’t necessarily mean one will come to Christ for salvation.
Is it possible that once ‘awakened’ a person may trust in their own forsaking of sin as sufficient to make themselves acceptable before God? Without the full understanding of the Law and the Law’s fuller revelation through Jesus Christ it is relatively easy to dumb-down sin and justify ourselves. This is where the legalistic churches and the New Covenant folks contribute to the same error. Legalists lead men to overly trust in their ability to perform the requirements of the Law. Some of the New Covenant folks make allowances for the dumbing-down of the Law to meet their ’new’ standard of righteousness. Either way it is implied that we may fulfill the Law through our own efforts.
I suspect that a person such as this, after experiencing an awakening and forsaking his sin through self-effort, is like the man (Luke 11:24-26) who drives out an unclean spirit then seven spirits more evil return to fill the man’s ‘clean’ heart. His condition has worsened since before he was ’awakened’ he was merely an un-convicted sinner and but now has become a self-righteous Pharisee.
How many times have we heard someone reply, “of course I am saved! I came forward in church in response to an altar call and said a prayer!” That person most likely felt a ‘awakening’ of his/her sense of sin through an emotional and perhaps manipulative appeal and in response took some action, i.e., walked the aisle and said a prayer. He/she did what the ‘evangelist’ asked and since there was no mention of the proper use of the Law and their true sense of condemnation they easily believe that walking and praying is sufficient fire insurance for the wrath to come.
We may observe no desire for personal holiness in this person. We may observe a total lack of interest in joining a local body of believers. But when we inquire about this persons true spiritual state we are met with the indignant reply, “how dare you question my salvation!”
What do you think, is this person better off now after his ‘awakening?’
