“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:1–3 (ESV)
“What do we mean by conversion? It is the first exercise of the new nature in ceasing from old forms of life and starting a new life. It is the first action of the regenerate soul in moving from something to something else. The very term suggests that: conversion means turning from one thing to another. The term is not used very frequently in the Scriptures but the truth which the word connotes and represents appears constantly.” – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Conversion is a total change in one’s direction in life or moral orientation. For Christians this means a change from an orientation that does not take God into account to one in which the individual submits to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
In the Old Testament, conversion is basically a turning or returning from one’s former course of life toward the Lord, the God of Israel. Israel often had to return to their God (Deut. 4:30), either as individuals (Ps. 51) or as a nation (Jer. 4:1); foreign nations needed to turn to God for the first time (Ps. 22:27).
The characteristic feature is that one turns from wickedness (Jer. 26:3; 36:3; Ezra 18:21, 27; 33:9, 11), from a life of disloyalty to God to a life of obedience to God (Is. 10:20–21; 14:2; Jer. 34:15; Hos. 14:4). “Conversion means a change in inward orientation that finds expression in a changed lifestyle,” explains the Tyndale Bible Dictionary.
In the New Testament, the doctrine of conversion began with John the Baptist. He initiated the call to conversion (Matt. 3:2; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3), giving a prophetic call for people to change their minds (which is the root meaning of the Greek term) in the light of the nearness of God’s kingdom. This change of life must include a change in actions to prove its reality (Matt. 3:8; Lk 3:8).
Jesus preached the same message (Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15), adding that since the kingdom had arrived in His person, obedience to Him was part of the good news of conversion. Yet it could also be bad news, for one would be damned if he failed to make this radical change (Matt. 11:20; Luke 13:3–5). Conversion is radical but also simple, for it requires the simplicity of a child who commits his whole self, not the calculating self-protectiveness of the adult (Matt. 18:3).
There are three primary biblical words for conversion. They include (1) Shoob (Heb.)meaning to turn back. to turn away or to retreat (Psalm 19:7; 51:13; Isaiah 6:10); (2) Haphak (Heb.), which refers to turn, to change and to be converted (Isaiah 60:5); and (3) Epistrepho; Epistrephe (Gr) meaning to turn, to revert or to have a moral revolution (Matthew 13:15; Mark 4:12; Luke 22:32; John 12:40; Acts 3:19; 15:3; 28:27; James 5:19-20).
What is the goal for believers in Christ when sharing the gospel? I leave you with thoughts from Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon.
“The grand object of the Christian ministry is the glory of God. Whether souls are converted or not, if Jesus Christ be faithfully preached, the minister has not laboured in vain, for he is a sweet savor unto God as well in them that perish as in them that are saved. Yet, as a rule, God has sent us to preach in order that through the gospel of Jesus Christ the sons of men may be reconciled to Him. Here and there a preacher of righteousness, like Noah, may labor on and bring none beyond his own family circle into the ark of salvation; and another, like Jeremiah, may weep in vain over an impenitent nation; but, for the most part, the work of preaching is intended to save the hearers. It is ours to sow even in stony places, where no fruit rewards our toil; but still we are bound to look for a harvest, and mourn if it does not appear in due time.”
Soli deo Gloria!
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