1. The Bible tells about conversion. Acts. 3:19.
[19] Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts. 3:19.
2. There is a prophecy of the pagan gentiles being converted. Isa. 60:5; Acts. 15:1-3.
[5] Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Isa. 60:5.
[1] And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
[2] When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
[3] And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. Acts. 15:1-3.
3. The word conversion means change. The essential meaning is a change from one state to that of another. Here is what the Dictionary says:
“Convert … to change or turn from one thing, condition, opinion, party or religion to another; to change from an irreligious to a holy life…
Conversion a change from one condition, use, opinion, party, religion or spiritual state to another…” The Wordsworth Concise English Dictionary, pg. 209, 210.
4. Thus we see the following facts about conversion.
a. The word conversion first embraces a change over, of ideas. It means a change from previously held ideas and concepts that are usually opposed to new ideas and concepts.
b. It also means a change from one type of living and activity. This change is opposed to the former type of living and activity, and follows the new ideas and concept now adhered to as the ideal way.
c. Conversion is always idealistic, it always embraces a change in the ideal-values held before, to another opposed ideal-values. This is necessary so that the conversion or change would not merely be cosmetic or superficial.
5. Since conversion is idealistically deep, it must be spiritual embracing a change from one deity or god to another Deity or God. This is a change from idols to the one true God. (Ps. 96:4-5; 1 Thess. 1:8-9).
[4] For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
[5] For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Ps. 96:4-5.
[8] For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything.
[9] For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 1 Thess. 1:8-9.
6. There are only two entities in the entire universe. They are:
a. God.
b. Creation.
7. When the true God is not worshipped, then it is creation that is worshipped as god. Dan. 5:22-23; Ps. 115:4-8.
[22] And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
[23] But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: Dan. 5:22-23.
[4] Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
[5] They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
[6] They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
[7] They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
[8] They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. Ps. 115:4-8.
8. Thus conversion is always and only conversion to the one true God. 1 Jn. 5:20-21.
[20] And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
[21] Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1 Jn. 5:20-21.
9. Since YHWH is the only true God, then real conversion is always conversion and only conversion to YHWH. (Jer. 10:10-11; Isa. 45:21-25).
[10] But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
[11] Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. Jer. 10:10-11.
[21] Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
[22] Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
[23] I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
[24] Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
[25] In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. Isa. 45:21-25.
10. It is the absence of God in a person that causes sin. (Eph. 2:12; Eph. 4:17-19).
[12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: Eph. 2:12.
[17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
[18] Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
[19] Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Eph. 4:17-19.
11. Thus when God dwells in a person (through the Holy Spirit), he keeps the Commandments of God or ceases sin. (1 Jn. 3:24; Ps. 119:1-3); Rom. 8:5-12.
[24] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 1 Jn. 3:24.
[1] Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
[2] Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
[3] They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Ps. 119:1-3.
[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
[6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
[7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
[8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
[10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
[11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
[12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. Rom. 8:5-12.
12. The life lived by the unconverted person is a life of sin. Rom. 3:9-19.
[9] What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
[10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
[11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
[12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
[13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
[14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
[15] Their feet are swift to shed blood:
[16] Destruction and misery are in their ways:
[17] And the way of peace have they not known:
[18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.
[19] Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Rom. 3:9-19.
13. Thus when conversion takes place it is a change from the life of sin to a life of not sinning. (1 Cor. 6:9-11; 1 Cor. 15:34).
[9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
[10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
[11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6:9-11.
[34] Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 1 Cor. 15:34.
14. Conversion is thus always from sinning to sinfreeness. (Ps. 51:13; Rom. 6:17-18, 34).
[13] Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Ps. 51:13.
[17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
[18] Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
[22] But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Rom. 6:17-18, 22.
15. Thus conversion and sinfreeness is in fact the same. Rom. 6:6-7; 1 Jn. 3:9-10; 1 Jn. 5:18).
[6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
[7] For he that is dead is freed from sin. Rom. 6:6-7.
[9] Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
[10] In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 1 Jn. 3:9-10.
[18] We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 1 Jn. 5:18.
FIN.
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