What Is Conversion?
Do you remember this story from Acts 16:16-30?
16 "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
First, notice that the damsel in the beginning of this passage was possessed, by an evil spirit and yet she seemed to be doing God's work in pointing out that "these men are servants of the most high God" but then Paul commanded the spirit to come out of her, and it did. This is Bible evidence that some people can say Godly things and yet not be of GOD.
Next notice how God controlled events to bring this sinner to a point where he could come forward with the question " Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
God is the same yesterday and today. He does this today. I have had this question asked of me. You will have it asked of you. We should be able to give a clear and easy to understand answer.
1. What universal call does God make to sinners?
“God commanded all men everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30.
2. For what purpose did Jesus come among men?
“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5: 32.
3. What was the constant theme of His preaching?
“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4: 17.
“Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3.
4. How may repentance be defined?
“Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions.” Ezekiel 18: 30.
A mere emotional outburst in itself is not worthy of the title ‘conversion,’ neither is a simple
change of opinion. Religious conversion manifests itself in a redirection of the will, and the forming of a new pattern of behavior.
In conversion what matters is not the rate of speed with which you turn, but the angle through which you turn, and the direction in which you are left facing.
5. Why must the turning from sin to God be clear and uncompromising?
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24.
6. How wholehearted, therefore, must- the repentance of the sinner be?
“Therefore also now, said the Lord, turn you even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God.” Joel 2:12, 13.
7. What appropriate words does the Lord suggest the returning sinner should bring to Him?
“O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” Hosea 14: 1, 2.
8. In whose name may the sinner confidently present his plea?
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Acts 2: 38.
9. Of what does God further assure the repentant sinner?
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7.
10. Beside revoking the punishment, what new spiritual power will He bestow on those who turn again to Him?
a. A new heart.
“I will give them an heart to know Me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7. (See
also Ezekiel 36:26, 27.)
b. The Holy Spirit.
“Repent, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38.
11. How will true repentance manifest itself in the life?
“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” Matthew 3:8.
There can be no repentance without reformation. Repentance is a change of mind; reformation is a corresponding change of life..
It seems to me that a great deal of what is called, and in a sense is, evangelical teaching, fails to represent the full counsel of God, in the matter of man’s redemption, because it puts a one-sided emphasis on faith, and slurs over the accompanying idea of repentance
12. How widely did Jesus intend the gospel of repentance to be preached after His departure?
“Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47.
13. How earnestly did the Apostle Paul fulfil the gospel commission?
“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21.
14. What reward had he for his labor?
“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance.” 2 Corinthians 7:9.
15. What are God’s ministers today exhorted to do?
“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them
repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:25.
16 "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
First, notice that the damsel in the beginning of this passage was possessed, by an evil spirit and yet she seemed to be doing God's work in pointing out that "these men are servants of the most high God" but then Paul commanded the spirit to come out of her, and it did. This is Bible evidence that some people can say Godly things and yet not be of GOD.
Next notice how God controlled events to bring this sinner to a point where he could come forward with the question " Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
God is the same yesterday and today. He does this today. I have had this question asked of me. You will have it asked of you. We should be able to give a clear and easy to understand answer.
1. What universal call does God make to sinners?
“God commanded all men everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30.
2. For what purpose did Jesus come among men?
“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5: 32.
3. What was the constant theme of His preaching?
“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4: 17.
“Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3.
4. How may repentance be defined?
“Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions.” Ezekiel 18: 30.
A mere emotional outburst in itself is not worthy of the title ‘conversion,’ neither is a simple
change of opinion. Religious conversion manifests itself in a redirection of the will, and the forming of a new pattern of behavior.
In conversion what matters is not the rate of speed with which you turn, but the angle through which you turn, and the direction in which you are left facing.
5. Why must the turning from sin to God be clear and uncompromising?
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24.
6. How wholehearted, therefore, must- the repentance of the sinner be?
“Therefore also now, said the Lord, turn you even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God.” Joel 2:12, 13.
7. What appropriate words does the Lord suggest the returning sinner should bring to Him?
“O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” Hosea 14: 1, 2.
8. In whose name may the sinner confidently present his plea?
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Acts 2: 38.
9. Of what does God further assure the repentant sinner?
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7.
10. Beside revoking the punishment, what new spiritual power will He bestow on those who turn again to Him?
a. A new heart.
“I will give them an heart to know Me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7. (See
also Ezekiel 36:26, 27.)
b. The Holy Spirit.
“Repent, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38.
11. How will true repentance manifest itself in the life?
“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” Matthew 3:8.
There can be no repentance without reformation. Repentance is a change of mind; reformation is a corresponding change of life..
It seems to me that a great deal of what is called, and in a sense is, evangelical teaching, fails to represent the full counsel of God, in the matter of man’s redemption, because it puts a one-sided emphasis on faith, and slurs over the accompanying idea of repentance
12. How widely did Jesus intend the gospel of repentance to be preached after His departure?
“Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47.
13. How earnestly did the Apostle Paul fulfil the gospel commission?
“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21.
14. What reward had he for his labor?
“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance.” 2 Corinthians 7:9.
15. What are God’s ministers today exhorted to do?
“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them
repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:25.
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Monday, June 06, 2005
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