TRUE CONVERSION ( THE NEW BIRTH)
TRUE CONVERSION ( THE NEW BIRTH)
Bible Test Luke 22:32.
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail. When you are CONVERTED, strengthen your brethren.
The above test tells us that although Peter who had been following Jesus for the past three years, was not CONVERTED! The devil was seeking to derail his faith, but Jesus having prayed for him, told him to strengthen the disciples when he must have been CONVERTED.
This shows that we can know about Jesus, be in the Church for years and yet not be converted or born again.
Question 1: How important is conversion to us?
Answer: Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be CONVERTED, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
NOTE: it's a matter of life and death. Only the converted or born again will be saved or enter the kingdom of heaven.
Question 2: But how is one converted or born again?
Answer: Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
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;
Romans 10: 9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
NOTE: conversion takes place when one confesses of and repent of his or her sins because the person has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. This means such a one has decided to live his or her life in accordance with the Law of God.
Question 3: Through What means can this conversion take place?
Answer: 1 Peter 1:23, 25. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD of God, which lives and abides for ever....25 But the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Question 4: Can one be a Christian and yet not be converted? In other words, are all Christians converted or born again?
Answer: Ideally, all Christians ought to be converted or born again, but the sad reality is that many Christians are not converted or born again. Remember Judas and even Peter? They were followers of Jesus, but both betrayed Him. Fortunately, Peter repented and was converted.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of WATER and of the SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Question 5. So what is the difference between one who is converted and one who is not?
Answer: The difference is that one has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, while the other has not, even though he or she may even have been baptised.
Question 6: Can you throw more light on this? How can one know for example that he's converted or born again or that he or she have the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Answer: The following things will be observed in the life of the person.
1. He will change (confess, repent and forsake) his or her bad ways. In fact, the person will become a "new creature" The way he talks, dress, the things he use to like, eat or drink, the places he use to go, etc 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
2. The fruit and gift of the Holy Spirit will be increasingly manifested in the life of the person. Galatians 5:22-23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 1 Corinthians 12
3. The persons love for God will be revealed or seen in his or her love for others. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death.
4. The person will not love the world, but the love of God and His kingdom will be his priority and guiding principle in life.
1 John 2:15-17. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
John 17:15-16 "I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. "
5. The person will obey God's law. The law of God instead of looking like an obstacle (like the Devil paints it) will be a delight and a lamp to guide his feet.
Question 7: Are you saying that a converted Christian cannot sin?
Answer: No... He or she is human and can sin... But he'll not be comfortable in it, until he repents and get right with God again. The person does not have a habit of sin. The power of the Holy Spirit will give him or her more and more victory over sin.
1John 1:9 "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. "
Also if we have truly been converted and have received the Holy Spirit, your purpose in life will automatically change.
You will seek his kingdom first before anything.... Heaven will always be on your mind.( Matthew 6:33)
You will be mission minded: just like Paul was moved with compassion for the unsaved, and desired to preach the gospel to them so that they may be saved, that is exactly what will happen to you.
You will desire to spread the word of God throughout the world. Just like Jesus commanded ( mark 16:15)
And your greatest joy is to see people turning from their sins.
And you would be willing and ready to die for your faith.
Because the Holy Spirit has taken charge you no longer value this life so much that you want to save your life, instead of standing for the truth.
If you notice after peter received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and became converted, his life changed, and he became bold preaching the gospel, he was not afraid to die for Christ just like he was before the crucification of Christ. Not only him, but all the disciples. (Act 4:31)
Question 8. But how can all this be possible? It seem difficult o.
Answer: The truth is that on our own, this is impossible. The carnal mind is in enmity with God and cannot obey His law....
But with God, it is easy and possible. If we sincerely ask him for help, He'll help us.
All we've been discussing here is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is the one that gives us power to confess, repent and forsake our sins and then obey God's law.
Jesus says "if ye ask for the Holy Spirit shall I not give you"? ( Luke 11:13)
So let's ask for the Holy Spirit
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
1John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Romans 8:3-6 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 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.
A converted or born again person can fall, backslide and lose his salvation if he becomes careless, overconfident and refuses to repent of his or her sins.
The teaching that once one is saved, he cannot fall is satanic.
The Bible tells us to
1. Work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Philppians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
2. Examine yourself whether we are still in the faith or not.
2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
1 Cor 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Matthew 25:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Bible Test Luke 22:32.
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail. When you are CONVERTED, strengthen your brethren.
The above test tells us that although Peter who had been following Jesus for the past three years, was not CONVERTED! The devil was seeking to derail his faith, but Jesus having prayed for him, told him to strengthen the disciples when he must have been CONVERTED.
This shows that we can know about Jesus, be in the Church for years and yet not be converted or born again.
Question 1: How important is conversion to us?
Answer: Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be CONVERTED, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
NOTE: it's a matter of life and death. Only the converted or born again will be saved or enter the kingdom of heaven.
Question 2: But how is one converted or born again?
Answer: Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
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;
Romans 10: 9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
NOTE: conversion takes place when one confesses of and repent of his or her sins because the person has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. This means such a one has decided to live his or her life in accordance with the Law of God.
Question 3: Through What means can this conversion take place?
Answer: 1 Peter 1:23, 25. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD of God, which lives and abides for ever....25 But the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Question 4: Can one be a Christian and yet not be converted? In other words, are all Christians converted or born again?
Answer: Ideally, all Christians ought to be converted or born again, but the sad reality is that many Christians are not converted or born again. Remember Judas and even Peter? They were followers of Jesus, but both betrayed Him. Fortunately, Peter repented and was converted.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of WATER and of the SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Question 5. So what is the difference between one who is converted and one who is not?
Answer: The difference is that one has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, while the other has not, even though he or she may even have been baptised.
Question 6: Can you throw more light on this? How can one know for example that he's converted or born again or that he or she have the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Answer: The following things will be observed in the life of the person.
1. He will change (confess, repent and forsake) his or her bad ways. In fact, the person will become a "new creature" The way he talks, dress, the things he use to like, eat or drink, the places he use to go, etc 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
2. The fruit and gift of the Holy Spirit will be increasingly manifested in the life of the person. Galatians 5:22-23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 1 Corinthians 12
3. The persons love for God will be revealed or seen in his or her love for others. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death.
4. The person will not love the world, but the love of God and His kingdom will be his priority and guiding principle in life.
1 John 2:15-17. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
John 17:15-16 "I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. "
5. The person will obey God's law. The law of God instead of looking like an obstacle (like the Devil paints it) will be a delight and a lamp to guide his feet.
Question 7: Are you saying that a converted Christian cannot sin?
Answer: No... He or she is human and can sin... But he'll not be comfortable in it, until he repents and get right with God again. The person does not have a habit of sin. The power of the Holy Spirit will give him or her more and more victory over sin.
1John 1:9 "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. "
Also if we have truly been converted and have received the Holy Spirit, your purpose in life will automatically change.
You will seek his kingdom first before anything.... Heaven will always be on your mind.( Matthew 6:33)
You will be mission minded: just like Paul was moved with compassion for the unsaved, and desired to preach the gospel to them so that they may be saved, that is exactly what will happen to you.
You will desire to spread the word of God throughout the world. Just like Jesus commanded ( mark 16:15)
And your greatest joy is to see people turning from their sins.
And you would be willing and ready to die for your faith.
Because the Holy Spirit has taken charge you no longer value this life so much that you want to save your life, instead of standing for the truth.
If you notice after peter received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and became converted, his life changed, and he became bold preaching the gospel, he was not afraid to die for Christ just like he was before the crucification of Christ. Not only him, but all the disciples. (Act 4:31)
Question 8. But how can all this be possible? It seem difficult o.
Answer: The truth is that on our own, this is impossible. The carnal mind is in enmity with God and cannot obey His law....
But with God, it is easy and possible. If we sincerely ask him for help, He'll help us.
All we've been discussing here is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is the one that gives us power to confess, repent and forsake our sins and then obey God's law.
Jesus says "if ye ask for the Holy Spirit shall I not give you"? ( Luke 11:13)
So let's ask for the Holy Spirit
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
1John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Romans 8:3-6 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 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.
A converted or born again person can fall, backslide and lose his salvation if he becomes careless, overconfident and refuses to repent of his or her sins.
The teaching that once one is saved, he cannot fall is satanic.
The Bible tells us to
1. Work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Philppians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
2. Examine yourself whether we are still in the faith or not.
2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
1 Cor 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Matthew 25:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
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