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  VERTICAL VS. HORIZONTAL
  by Selwyn Hughes
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Summary: The sermon highlights the difference between horizontal and
vertical conversion, emphasizing the importance of a deep inward change
that comes from surrendering to God.

Topics: "Spiritual Conversion", "Inner Transformation"
Scripture References: John 3:3, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:4

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DESCRIPTION
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Selwyn Hughes emphasizes the importance of experiencing a deep, radical
vertical conversion in Christ, rather than settling for superficial
horizontal changes. He shares his personal journey of initially being
'horizontally' converted by trying to be a good person, but later
encountering a profound inward change through a total surrender to God,
leading to a transformative vertical conversion. Hughes warns against
being converted to mere religious practices or external behaviors,
stressing the need to truly encounter Christ for a genuine and life-
changing experience.

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CONTENT
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"... God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we
were dead in transgressions ..." (vv. 4-5)

For reading & meditation:

Ephesians 2:1-10

A Hindu once said in my presence: "A man may change his acts but not his
character." He was saying that a change is possible, but not a vertical
change; there can be improvement, modification, a change of attitude,
but no deep radical change. The Christian church is not without a
sprinkling of what yesterday I called "horizontal" conversions. Many
historians have called attention to the fact that when Christianity
swept through Europe, there were many genuine conversions to Christ but
many horizontal ones too - people taking the Name of Christ for
political or economic expediency. They were converted horizontally but
still in need of a vertical conversion. When I was about fourteen years
of age I was "horizontally" converted. I was a mischievous young man,
and one day in church I made up my mind to be "a good boy." I tried hard
to give up such things as swearing, stealing, and so on, but it didn't
last. Although I felt religious, there was no great inward change. On a
horizontal level I was converted, but not in relation to God. About a
year later, sitting in the same church and under deep conviction of sin,
I made a complete and total surrender to God. I was vertically
converted. I walked out of that church feeling as if I had been turned
inside out. From that moment my life was changed, old habits began to
disappear, and my whole being was flooded with light. I tell you with
all the conviction of my being, the vertical was much different than the
horizontal.

O God, help us not to be converted to the things surrounding Christ -
religious rituals for example - but to Christ Himself. For if we don't
touch Him we don't touch life, and there will be no deep inward change.
In His dear Name we ask it. Amen.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/selwyn-hughes/vertical-vs-horizontal/
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