Christian Conversion
What is the heart and core of true Christianity? What is it that we as followers of Christ, have committed to? What are the benefits and ultimate rewards? For each of us, where does our conversion have its real beginning? Upon our commitment what is it that God expects us to accomplish with our lives? How do we keep ourselves in an ongoing, right relationship with our Creator? There could be more questions, but what I hope to develop and detail is how to understand and focus on our calling. We need to learn and appreciate the sometimes troubling challenges of our daily walk with God and Jesus Christ.
The Foundation We Build Upon
When Jesus walked the earth proclaiming the Gospel and ministering to the people, He was often in the presence of the Jewish religious leaders. They too were very interested in His words and teachings. They were constantly on the alert, looking for a way to trip Him up and make some fault in order to discredit Him with the people and to justify themselves.
From among them a respected lawyer asked Jesus this question, “What is the greatest commandment of all?” Let us pick up Jesus’ answer in Mark 12:29-31. Jesus begins His teaching in verse 29… “The first of all the commandments is Hear O Israel, the Lord God is one. Verse 30…And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul (life) and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. Verse 31…And the second like it, is this…You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater than these.” Matthew 22:40 adds this… “On these two commandments hang (are attached) all the laws and prophets.”
Our human nature, being what it is, these things are not our priority. This does not necessarily mean the natural man does not recognize and in some ways acknowledge. We try to be right with our neighbors, which means all we have contact with, by extension, including mankind as a whole.
However, to love God and neighbor as Jesus stated and practiced and as the focus of the original Greek implies, takes much more than what is the natural state of all men and women.
A Christian’s Calling
The starting point of one’s Christian life and the journey that follows begins here in John 6:44… “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him and I will raise him up at the last day.?” Again, as it is written in John 6:65… “Therefore, I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by the Father.”
Matthew 22:14… “Many are called but few are chosen.” In the 2000 years from Jesus’ ministry to our time, God has called many to an opportunity to the first and better resurrection, to everlasting life in the spiritual Kingdom of God. The chosen few are those who have responded and stayed the course to the end.
How does one confirm their calling and thus become chosen, one of God’s elect, for a whole new way of life? Selection means redemption by Christ’s sacrifice which makes one reconciled (in good standing) with the Lord God. John 3:17 tells us… “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world (all mankind) through Him might be saved (converted).” It is understood that not all are being saved at this time. For the vast majority past, present and future, their opportunity lays ahead. God would have all come to the truth. When all is said and done, very few will deliberately turn away. (Romans 11:7-8, 25-27; Ephesians 1:7-10; 1 Peter 3:9).
The Essential Ingredient
The first thing that is necessary when God’s Spirit motivates and leads to bring a man or woman to recognize the unique opportunity being offered, is the recognition and acceptance of truth. God in several ways, provides help. But making truth (the instruction of scriptures) a part of one’s life is a responsibility that lies with the individual.
John 17:7 plainly tells us… “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth.” The Book we call the Bible, the inspired Word of God is that only source which distinguishes the truth from error and lies. This Book is the correct way to understand and live life. The Holy Bible, the anointed scriptures, are God’s words of truth for all mankind for all time.
God caused His words to be accurately recorded by the Prophets and Apostles. The words of Jesus our Messiah, are directly quoted for our edification and maturing into true and dedicated believers and followers of Jesus. His words and examples are a light that are our assurance of a safe journey.
The Lord God, “desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4) And we also learn from John 8:32… “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.?” In lll John 3-4 we have these words of encouragement… “For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.” So should this feeling be for each other. A Christian’s true beginning is accepting the truth of God that leads into a life of learning, maturing and walking in truth and righteousness.
The truth of God opens one’s mind to the manner of being that He is. God is a covenant God. His promises stand fast and do not change for any reason once pronounced. The name Lord God brings forth the revelation that He is and always will be truth, justice, righteousness and unchanging love. He is a God of unending love, mercy, grace and kindness. He is dependable and unfailing in His commitment and dealings with each of His responsive children (converted Spirit begotten sons and daughters). But more than this, we individually begin to see ourselves as we really are; men and women sincere in many ways, yet sinners under the death penalty.
As scripture tells us, sin is the transgression of the law. The commandments and law are those divinely ordained directives given for the good of all mankind. In the instruction of the law is given the required manner of behavior and conduct in our personal relationship with God and our neighbor. Breaking or in some way failing to meet the formal coded requirements brings a penalty. As we come to more fully acquire the truth of God into our understanding of life, the real meaning, we come to realize the cause of our separation from Him and begin to earnestly seek reconciliation.
Repentance
We come to clearly see and grasp the fact we are not as one with God and His Son. This realization makes us determined to change the relationship into something much more personal and agreeable to God. II Corinthians 7:10… “For Godly sorrow produces repentance, leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” Godly sorrow is the beginning of seeing ourselves as God sees us.” It is at this point in our calling we begin to place our hope and trust in Him. We start gathering the necessary ingredients to establish and grow in faith. We are willing to face the challenges and hard work of making life changing commitments. At its very core, repentance is change. It is a change from our previous way of thinking and living. The driving desire is now to please God with the life we now live for Him. We now become diligent to fully appreciate and understand the words, “Love God and love neighbor.”
We now strive for meaningful and accurate understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the writings of the Prophets and Apostles. We begin to comprehend God’s great plan of eventual salvation for all mankind and the unique place we find ourselves. As Romans 8:6 tells us… “To be carnal minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life.” We become more and more willing to let God’s Word, the Bible, change our thinking and soften our hearts. James 4:8 states… “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
Repentance and Identifying Sin
The process of true repentance involves recognizing and dealing with what the Bible commonly calls sin. John gives the basic definition for sin: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness.” I John 2:3-4 makes clear what law He means. Verse 3… “Now by this we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. Verse 4… He who says I know Him and does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.” Verse 6 completes the thought…. “He who abides in Him (Jesus) ought himself also walk just as He walked.” Also consider… “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments and His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3).
Why the great concern about sin? Romans 6:23… “The wages of sin is death.” This is the death from which there is no resurrection. Sin includes our thoughts, not just our actions and deeds. It is these things that take us into sin.
As it is written, “To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Sin can also be defined as missing the mark. God demands we surrender our self determined, willful ways. His expectation and purpose for Christians is that they bring their lives into harmony with His character. We must rid ourselves of our former way of thinking and living. We must rid ourselves of the old man and become a new man in Christ as Paul writes.
Repentance is a personal choice. The decision is ours. God does not force us. Remember James… “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
We have, if you will, three primary tools. We must be in constant communication with God by our prayers. Our growth is dependent on regular Bible study. The scriptures contain His values, standards, principles and the needed wisdom to make ongoing progress. Without God’s Holy Spirit, we just cannot do it of ourselves. Boldly request that He adds more of His Spirit.
How Sin Is Forgiven
There are three things to always keep in mind. The commandments and laws as given to Moses from God define sin. Whoever transgresses this written code of responsibility and conduct is guilty of sin. All have sinned and come under the penalty of death.
God in His great mercy and love has a way in which this penalty is lifted and we can enter into everlasting life. From the foundation of the world there was a plan (1 Peter 1:18-20).
We pray to God and ask forgiveness for our sins. We repent and determine to do better. This acknowledgment of sin expresses our remorse. God is pleased with this attitude. However, the death penalty is still there. Forgiveness must accompany a statement of faith. This statement, with true heartfelt repentance, will put us in good standing with God. Becoming as Jesus is a lifelong process; the end result is to be at one with God and Christ.
1 John 2:2… “He Himself is the propitiation, our reconciliation, to make us favorable for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.” John in 1 John 4:9-10 explains God’s love for us. Because of this love for all mankind, He gave to the world His only begotten Son. It is through Him that all men may live. It is God who first loved us.
The original Passover of Exodus, with the sacrifice of the Iamb and its blood wiped on the door posts and lintel is a type which pictures Jesus’ shed blood and death on the stake. I Corinthians 5:7…. “For indeed Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us.” As the Apostles John and Paul tell us, there is no remission of sin without blood. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, He entered the most holy place once for all, having for us, obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). The temple sacrifices pointed to the one true sacrifice that cleansed all men. Hebrews 9:22… “And according to the law, almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission for sin.”
Jesus lived the perfect, sin free life. Thus His Father ordained that for all men and women, true confession and faith in His blood sacrifice gains salvation. The death penalty we deserve for our carnal works of the flesh is lifted. His shed blood washes away our sins. It is like running water washing over a cut finger. The running water, symbolized by Christ’s blood, takes our blood (sins) down the drain never to be found. Jesus’ redemptive work reconciles us to God. Our sins, every last one, are gone, never to be recalled.
In this matter, we must exercise unchanging faith in all He has done for us and is doing for us as our High Priest at God’s right hand. As long as we never forget this act of supreme love and always, on a regular basis, acknowledge our sins and short comings, we remain in good standing with God. We can call Him Father and ask whatever we will. We must always remember and believe Jesus died for us. And it is the resurrected, living Messiah who will give us everlasting life on His return.
All Who Believe Must Be Baptized
Faith and repentance takes a believer to baptism. When we are baptized, complete submergence in water is a sign of our sincerity and commitment to live a life of righteousness, keeping the commandments and law with understanding and the exercise of wisdom. Like a child, we are allowing God to strengthen and lead us by His Holy Spirit. Further, it is now our sincere desire to recognize sin in our lives and avoid it in our daily living. We no longer give ourselves over to habitual sin, but rather work day by day to crush all sin from our lives. We are now determined to put into our lives, the sinless character of our Savior. It is, and will continue to the end, an ongoing task that will require continuous recognition and effort against our human nature. The natural tendency is to want to do things our own way – the way that ends in death. Christians are of a different mindset. The desire is to submit and please God and receive the gift of everlasting life.
Matthew 28:19… “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Baptizing in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is not found in the earlier and better manuscripts. These words are considered to have been added at a later time to bolster the trinity doctrine. Acts 2:38 is correct. “And Peter said to them, repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
It is through Jesus Christ, our Mediator, that we are reconciled to God the Father. It is by the acceptance of His name and works that we become as one with God. Jesus is our elder brother and He gave Himself for us. Everything He did and is doing for His Church is good and pleasing to God. God forgives our sins, mistakes and careless habits. Through faith in Christ’s sacrifice we are justified (acceptable) and sanctified (made separate or set apart). See Acts 22:16, Hebrews 8:12, Isaiah 1:16-18 and Romans 5:8-10.
Paul explains in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 6 that we are sanctified by the blood of Jesus. We are clean, holy and set apart and special to God. With this sanctification is justification. No longer do we have any kind of fault, blame or guilt to separate us from God.
God expects us to come and stand before Him unencumbered. We must put all feelings of guilt behind us. It is past and gone. Thinking on the negative and being full of self pity is not right. As David wrote, God removes our sins as far as the East is from the West. To God, our sins are totally forgiven and forgotten. So it should be with us also.
Laying on of Hands and Receiving God’s Holy Spirit
In Hebrews 6:2 is found the doctrine of laying on of hands, doctrine of baptisms, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Immediately after baptism, there follows the ceremony of laying on of hands. It is at this time God’s Holy Spirit is given to the repentant Christian. Acts 19:6 tells us … “And when Paul laid hands (and prayed) on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them.” It is at this time that God gives an earnest, small down payment, to start us on our new lives. As we now walk in this new life and when we ask, God is most willing to add more of His Holy Spirit.
God’s Spirit keeps Christians focused and on track. It helps us maintain dedication to the vision and promise. We need God in us. By ourselves, we are not sufficient for the task at hand.
We do not overcome our sinful natures and selfish ways in an instant. No, it is a life long process, requiring constant alertness and effort. Romans 8:13 tells us if we live according to the flesh we die, but the Spirit gives life. So let us live by God’s Spirit (Romans 7:18-24). Please read Paul’s comments on our future glory.
God’s Spirit in us is needed for change. Galatians 5:22-23 explains that an important part of change is producing fruits in our lives, such as love, joy, patience, peace, kindness, gentleness, self control and more. As we mature with time, our life should more and more demonstrate these fruits. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2… “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable perfect will of God.”
Let Us Consider This Matter Further
God issues the invitation. Even though we respond, our efforts would be short lived. This is because our natural inclination is to do what we want to do, to live as we desire and determine apart from God. Because God’s nature is one of mercy and love, He helps us. He gives to us a very part of the essence of what He is and this draws us to Him. He grants us the desire to press on, learning and growing in knowledge, understanding, appreciation and faith. Our commitment and relationship to God the Father and His Son, become more personal and real, like two friends who spend time together, the years making the bond closer.
As we mature in our Christian walk, we come to more fully appreciate and value God’s commandments, laws, statutes and judgments. Our goal is to more fully integrate these things into our daily living. Suggested reading is Romans 7:5-14. Our growing desire is to apply His Word, the Bible, in our lives so that we become firmly grounded in His truth. As we mature in Christ, we become more aware and responsive in true repentance to confess our shortcomings, faults, weaknesses and just the plain old sins we struggle with day by day. These things become easier, because individually we are coming to recognize more fully the great mercy, kindness and love our Great God has for each of His called and selected children. Our aim is to imitate in every way, the words and example of Jesus Christ and to have His character and mind in us. Over time we see growth in this matter. We see our lives taking on the qualities of the Messiah and our great God. This is an ongoing, never ending process. Let us never tire of all the marvelous gifts God has freely given to His Church and each of us individually.
Before moving on to another important and connected matter, there is a reading assignment. In my NKJV Bible, James, Chapter 2, verses 14-26 are introduced with this heading: Faith Proves Itself By Works. This is worthwhile reading.
There Is One More Thing That Needs to be Addressed in Context of What Has Just Been Written. It Is This Matter of God’s Grace
In Luke 17:7-9 Jesus talks about a man’s servant and the relationship between them. In Verse 10 Jesus then sums up the matter as it applies to Christians in their relationship to Him and His Father, our LORD. These verses are unique. Nothing like them are found in the other three Gospels. Verse 10…NKJV… “So likewise you, when you have done all these things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what is our duty to do.'” The NLT puts it this way, “In the same way, when you obey Me, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.'”
We cannot claim we have done more than is required and expect something in return. As one commentary puts it, “We are good-for-nothing slaves of no special merit or consideration since all that was done was in fulfillment of duty and responsibility.” We serve and obey because this is what it means to follow God and His Son as their disciples.
A Rabbi of long ago wrote this: “If you have done well in the law, you have no claim to special merit, for to this end were you created.”
We have discussed in some detail what constitutes a true Christian follower of Christ, the process and necessary requirements, as set forth in scriptures; if you will, the gold standard by which one judges His own works. We keep the instruction of the Biblical law and keeping always in mind Jesus’ words of application and expansion, His words of instruction and promise for happy, prosperous and satisfying lives.
Again doing all these things does not put anyone in a position to make some kind of claim or demand of God. Our obedience and service demonstrate the intent of our heart and mind which are strong, convincing evidence to God of our love and sincerity to become at one with His Son. This is pleasing and acceptable to God.
Let us now continue to explain the grace of God and the gift He desires to grant each of His Spirit begotten, born again children.
Grace is the undeserved giving or granting of the gift of everlasting life to a converted and striving Christian; an undeserved, unmerited and unearned gift. It is an act of generosity which at its source is true love; love that foremost and always is desiring the best for others. This is true Godly love; this is agape love. This love is what God also expects of us towards all, far and near. This is the core of the great commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves.
The supreme way that God manifests His loving grace towards us and for all mankind, is by giving the gift of spiritual everlasting life. Works do not earn anyone salvation. Works, keeping the commandments and law, put us in good standing with God. Our works demonstrate our heart, our sincerity and our desire to please and serve God as He directs.
God is a covenant keeping God. He makes promises and He keeps them. We do our part and God in effect says, “I know your hearts and minds and I trust you, thus in due time I will give you life everlasting.” Jesus said, “You see and know Me, so you have seen and known My Father.”
Faith, works and grace cannot be separated. They are as one. It is like a three legged stool. If one leg is removed, it will collapse and be of no use or value. So it is that understanding and acknowledging God’s grace is as necessary as faith and works.
One final thought: What is the reward God offers us as spirit beings? Our reward in His Kingdom is one of rule, responsibility and service under Christ in His millennial rule on earth. Our human lives as we lived, will determine our positions.