In this booklet we will examine the Bible's teaching on conversion.
Contrary to what many think, it is not just a one-time event. Instead
the Scriptures reveal that it is a process.The process begins with God's
calling, followed by the key steps of repentance, baptism and the receiving
of the Holy Spirit-finally climaxing with the return of Jesus
Christ, when the dead in Christ are resurrected to immortality and given
eternal life. That is the ultimate transformation, being changed from
a mortal to an immortal being!
The word conversion is heard often in religious circles. People commonly
speak of their "conversion," or how they came to be "converted." What
do these words mean?
Conversion, in a religious context, generally refers to a change from
one belief to another, or the addition of a new religious belief. But
is that all there is to conversion?
Some use the word conversion to mean almost any dramatic change for
the better that people choose to make by their own efforts, sometimes
erroneously giving the impression that all such self-induced changes
are from God. This, however, is simply not true. People can and do change
without God's intervention-but not in the same way that conversion
is described in the Bible.
Even without any religious background, people-simply because
of the dictionary definition of the word-understand that conversion
refers to a change. If something is converted, it is changed in some
way.
The biblical concept of conversion certainly involves change. For example,
the Scriptures relate that Paul and Barnabas, as they traveled toward
Jerusalem, "passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the
conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren" (Acts 15:3, emphasis added throughout).
