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Conversion
The most important thing that could possibly preoccupy us on this earth is the quest for salvation. The attitude of those penitent sinners in Jerusalem was appropriate. "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" they asked. (Acts 2:37) There is no greater question than that. You may amount to many things in this life. But if you have not equipped your soul to meet the judgment day, your life has been a total, miserable failure. In the next several issues of StraitWay, therefore, I intend to discuss the Biblical concept of conversion. Conversion means that a change takes place in a person's life. The word, conversion, simply means "a changing or turning". To convert something is to change it or make it become something else. If you drive a convertible, you drive a car that can change. It can take on a different form before your very eyes. Likewise, when a person is spiritually converted, they are changed. They experience some changes in their life. The person seeking Christ experiences a change in their intellect, in their will, in their allegiance, and ultimately in their relationship with God. Each of these will be discussed individually in future articles of this series. Conversion involves the forgiveness of a person's sins. Acts 3 records the preaching of Peter and John to those who were lost (needing conversion). As they stood on a certain porch of the temple, Peter said, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." (v.19) From this we easily learn that the "blotting out" of a person's sins occurs upon their conversion. The two concepts are inseparable. If a person desires that their sins be forgiven, they must experience a conversion or change in their life. Sins separate us from God. (Isa.59:1-2) Conversion leads to the removal of those sins. Jesus Christ is the means by which a person is converted. We have just noticed that conversion brings about the blotting out, or forgiveness, of sins. This process, then, must involve the Son of God. He was called "Jesus" because He would save His people from their sins. (Matt.1:21) Paul proved that all are under condemnation for their sins. (Rom.3:9,23) But through faith in Jesus, folks today can have the same standing before God as did Abraham because of his faith. (Rom.4) Sinful mankind can have access by faith into the grace of God. (Rom.5:1-2) Jesus Himself plainly said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (Jn.14:6) So conversion is related to the forgiveness of a person's sins but this can only occur through Jesus Christ. Conversion cannot take place without a person's obedience. The spiritual conversion of a person is a process that must be made practical. That is, it must at some point become something to which a person can relate and in which a person can participate. For me to tell you that Jesus Christ is the means by which a person's sins are forgiven is great but I must also tell you how this forgiveness takes place through Jesus Christ. Remember the question of those during the Pentecost? "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:38) They understood that Jesus Christ was the means of forgiveness, but wanted to know how they could be recipients of such a blessing. It is not enough to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. It is not enough to pray Him into your heart. (That's not how He gets in there anyway.) It's not enough to recognize Him as a tremendous historical figure who lived a sinless life, died a cruel death, and was resurrected. These things must be made practical in the lives of men and women seeking to be converted. It is the one who obeys God who receives the blessings of Jesus Christ into his life. Jesus, we're told, is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. (Heb.5:9) Conversion, then, involves the forgiveness of sins through God's mercy, Jesus' blood, and our obedience. In the next few articles, we'll address this obedience required of man. We will seek to answer the question, "what shall we do?" - Jason Malham | Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 7 | Page 8 | |