Christianity is a relationship. Giving your life to Jesus is what it means to be a Christian. Making a decision for God is becoming a Christian. Being a faithful person means that I am a Christian. Being a Christian means I love God and others. Christianity is defined as believing in Jesus Christ, after all it’s his “name” in the term.
All of these concepts have found themselves spoken and believed in evangelical, “gospel” preaching churches. Many of these sentiments have validity in some fashion. Yes, it is true that Christianity includes having a relationship with God, but is it accurate to say that this is Christianity? Loving God and loving others is the chief mark of a Christian, but is this the definition of being a Christian? My opening statements could take this blog post in a number of different directions, but I desire to point out a term that has fallen upon hard times in evangelical and fundamental Christianity–conversion. Many do not like this word because it sounds like a relic from a time when worship services where conducted in cathedral like buildings with tall steeples and stain-glass windows. It is a term often thought not suited to our contemporary way of thinking in the church. Now, more than ever before, we need a true understanding of this very good and Biblical concept noted by the term “conversion.”
What is true Biblical conversion? A short definition is that it is God regenerating a sinner- change brought about by faith in Jesus Christ. But what actually happens when a sinner is converted, or better, what actually is spiritually and eternally obtained when a sinner is converted? This is a topic as large as the New Testament and arguably the entire cannon of Scripture, so please forgive me for condensing it down into a paragraph. The following understanding of conversion is taken from three years of intense study and preaching through the Letter to the Romans penned by the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit. More specifically, this understanding of “Biblical conversion” is compiled from the study of Romans chapter 3-8. It is a condensed definition and the entire paragraph below needs further explanation with various roads springing from it. But I digress, and you get the idea–this is not an absolutely thorough explanation of these chapters in Romans nor does this paragraph say everything it could say about conversion.
True conversion then is obtaining a legal standing of righteousness before God based upon Jesus Christ imputing (reckoning) my guilt upon himself, while simultaneously imputing his perfect righteousness upon me. This justification by God is secured for me by the satisfactory atonement paid by Christ in dying on my behalf, as I am unable to atone for my own sin. Jesus’ resurrection fulfills the payment of his atonement and secures my forgiveness and reconciliation toward God from my previously separated/sinful state of rebellion and enmity. But conversion does not just end with this legal standing, conversion (through the cross and resurrection of Christ) also obtains for me the death of my old self (my unregenerate “Adam” nature) and the creation of a new self within me. This new self is enabled by the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit to freely resist sin and to serve God righteously. This is God’s process of making me righteous (sanctification). Since my new self is not connected to my old depravity, I am freed from the authority and bondage to rebellion and sin. And I am free to put to death the deeds of the flesh, living righteously in loving obedience to my new Lord, Jesus Christ.
This is what Romans teaches is obtained in conversion. If we studied this clearly, carefully and expanded upon this understanding of conversion, I believe we would be less likely to propagate false conversions as seems to happen a lot in church today. But the obvious question that follows, “How does one obtain this conversion?” By reformation? By faithfulness? Deciding upon this conversion? Raising one’s hand in a service? Bowing at an “altar”? Emotional outpouring of regret and hope for restoration? No, Paul says very clearly, that our conversion is not secured by any tear or any determination we can muster within. Our conversion is enacted by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit in opening our hearts to the Gospel and granting us access to this conversion through penitent faith in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ to secure our conversion. Sinners must respond to the Spirit of God putting their hope in Christ alone–this grace of faith is the means God provides for us to obtain conversion. If you are converted it is because God has graciously provided for you to respond to his grace through humble repentance believing his Gospel–You are converted because he has done all that must be done to secure eternal life, rest in the work of the Son, cease to rest in your own labors.
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