How literal is conversion

Conversion is a term that is widely used in the religious circle, but I wonder how many people have taken the time to ponder on the significance of conversion, and what actually transpires at conversion, and whether it is a real and literal process.
To the majority of people, conversion is simply a change from one belief to another, a change from lack of belief to having faith, or the act of turning away from sin to God. But is there something more practical and literal that takes place at conversion which is openly manifested in the life of the individual who is converted?
I therefore beg to ask the question is the plea to be converted figurative, metaphoric or is it a literal and practical exercise? To better understand the significance and profoundness of conversion, let us look at some practical examples.

1.      From pride to humility

Jesus Christ said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).

2.      From serving idols to serving the One and only true God

As alluded to by Peter who admonished the people saying; “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21).

3.      From slaves of sin to slaves of God/righteousness

Let us look at some of the admonitions given in regard to this area of conversion;

a.        “Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13).

b.      “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? (Romans 6:16).

c.        “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).

d.      “For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness” (Romans 6:19).

e.       “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness” (Romans 6:20).

f.       “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:22).

4.      From a natural/carnal mind to a spiritual mind

It is stated quite explicitly that; “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit: For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:5-7).

It is stated also that; “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one” (1Corinthians 2:14-15).

This area of conversion also brings about a conversion of how the individual actually lives and walks in his/her daily life, for we have been admonished saying; “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:16-17).

 And so the admonition continues, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors --- not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:12-13).

This conversion is so significant and practical that the converted individual is expected to; “No longer should live the rest of his/her time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles --- when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries: In regard to these, they think it strange that we do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of us” (1Peter 4:2-4).

5.      From being citizens of the kingdom of darkness to becoming citizens of the kingdom of light

Necessitating a redirection of our loyalty and primary focus, for this reason we are to; “Give thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14).

Now since this conversion has been effected, the converted has been instructed saying; “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth: For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-11).

6.      From a spirit of fear, to the Spirit of power, love, and sound mind

Here again is a literal conversion that takes place in the life of one who is truly converted, for it is stated quite clearly that, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2Timothy 1:7).

With a truly converted individual, it is no longer the individual who exercises the power, but the Holy Spirit who dwells in him/her. Like the apostle Paul wrote saying; “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Also he said; “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2:13-16).

From mortal and corruptible to immortal and incorruptible

The final conversation will be our final victory as it is written; “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed ---in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.`

“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory: O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:50-58).

Therefore, with all these examples, conversion cannot simply denote a change from one belief to another, or from a lack of belief to faith, and not even simply turning from sin to God. It is much more profound than that.

To be continued

Copyright © 2018 by Lucius Joseph