True Conversion, 1of7

~ The Need for Conversion ~

 

Introduction ~ True conversion includes a new attitude toward God, shown forth always by an outward change in the life. 

 

In this series of posts, we look at 1) the need for conversion, 2) the process of conversion, 3) the motive for conversion, 4) objections to conversion, 5) correct thinking about conversion, 6) how conversion occurs, and 7) evidence of conversion.

 

Scripture ~ “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘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.  Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me’” (Matthew 18:2-5.

 

“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” (Acts 3:19-20).

 

Quote ~ “True conversion means turning not only from sin but also from depending on self-made righteousness. Those who trust in their own righteousness for conversion hid behind their own good works. This is the reason that self-righteous people are so angry with Gospel preachers, because the Gospel does not spare those who will not submit to the righteousness of Jesus Christ!” —George Whitefield

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Bible Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.  Emphasis is added.

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Author web page: “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell” http://booksrlr.com/ – 11 national and international book awards.

Daily blog page: “Abundant Life Now” http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/

·         An INDEX of past topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

·         The current TOP 10 reader favorites are listed at the bottom of the page.

·         His personal TOP 10 favorites are listed in the right-hand column of the blog. 

Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/robertlloyd.russell 

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Christian Conversion, 2of2

 ~ The New Manner of Life ~

 

With true Christian conversion the individual’s complete life is affected.

 

The New Manner of Life…  

“Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:23-24).

 

Is Now Holy Before God ~ “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

 

Is Now a Family As God Intended ~ “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.  Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.  Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:18-21, see also 1 Peter 3:1-7).

 

Is Now Honest in Business ~ “We urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12).  “Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12).

 

It Now Does Good In The World ~ “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:15-17).

 

Closing Thought ~ “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.  Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:10-12). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Bible Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.  Emphasis is added.

FREE Author Newsletter: Subscribe today and receive a FREE welcome gift followed by occasional news and special offers.  https://www.subscribepage.com/rlr  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way and you can easily unsubscribe at any time. 

Author web page: “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell” https://booksrlr .com/ – 11 national and international book awards.

Daily blog page: “Abundant Life Now” http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/

·         An INDEX of past topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

·         The current TOP 10 reader favorites are listed at the bottom of the page.

·         His personal TOP 10 favorites are listed in the right-hand column of the blog. 

Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/robertlloyd.russell 

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Christian Conversion, 1of2

 

~ The Old Manner of Life ~

 

With true Christian conversion the individual’s complete life is affected.

 

The Former Manner of Life ~ “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  question 1:  How many banks does an individual have to rob to be a bank robber in the eyes of a judge?  question 2:  How many sins does an individual have to commit to be a sinner in the eyes of God the righteous Judge?

 

Was Corrupt and Deceitful ~ “Your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Ephesians 4:22).  

 

Was Lawless and Self-Centered ~ “[God] delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) — then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority.  They are presumptuous, self-willed.  They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord” (2 Peter 2:7-11). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

* * * * *

Bible Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.  Emphasis is added.

FREE Author Newsletter: Subscribe today and receive a FREE welcome gift followed by occasional news and special offers.  https://www.subscribepage.com/rlr  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way and you can easily unsubscribe at any time. 

Author web page: “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell” https://booksrlr .com/ – 11 national and international book awards.

Daily blog page: “Abundant Life Now” http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/

·         An INDEX of past topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

·         The current TOP 10 reader favorites are listed at the bottom of the page.

·         His personal TOP 10 favorites are listed in the right-hand column of the blog. 

Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/robertlloyd.russell 

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3 Conversions: Christians

~ Three Great Changes for all Believers ~    

Translated   ~  Past—at the time of conversion. All believers were translated at the time of their conversion. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14 KJV).

Transformed  ~  Present, through contemplation. Believers are to be in the process of being transformed during their remaining time on earth.  “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). 

Transfigured  ~  Future, at the time of glorification. All believers will be transfigured at the time of their glorification.  “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.  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” (1 Corinthians 15:49-53). 

“And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:17). 

   

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:29-30). 

Have you been translated? Are you being transformed? Will you be transfigured?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

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7 New Things

~ A Christian Is New—Not Modified! ~

When a person becomes a Christian, all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Seven closely related factors which each Christian possesses are listed below.

A new mind about God / repentance ~ To become a Christian requires repenting of one’s sins. Repentance involves an abrupt change in thinking about sin and about God (Acts 20:21).

A new attitude toward God / conversion ~ Closely related to repentance, conversion is actually the result of genuine repentance (Matthew 18:3). The individual literally becomes new as he is born spiritually (John 3:3). Previously he was born physically—now born again this time spiritually—literally “born from above.”

A new status before God / justification ~ A Christian is justified. This means that justice has been accomplished—their sins have been paid for in full on the Cross (Romans 4:25). God has not dismissed their sins, rather the full price of their sins has been paid by Jesus Christ. Because of the Cross it is “just as if they had never sinned” in God’s eyes.

A new relationship before God / a son of God ~ The believer is now is part of the family of God (1 John 3:1). All creatures belong to God as a result of creation—those who have acknowledged God for who He is and what He says have been adopted into the family of God. As part of God’s family they are entitled to full rights and have a full inheritance (Galatians 4:7).

A new life from God / regeneration ~ A Christian has been regenerated (Titus 3:5). This is not a fixed-up old life but a new spiritual life which coexists with the natural life. “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:12-13) A key word in this verse is “know.” There is no uncertainty about the future for the Christian who understands the Word of God!

A new position before God / sanctification ~ The Christian has been sanctified, literally set apart, by God for a new and glorious life, ministry, and future home in heaven (Jude 1). The God who created the universe has set you apart for His glory!

A new place with God / glorification ~ While there is a sense of glory from the time of conversion (Romans 8:30), the ultimate glorification of the believer occurs in the future at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. At that time we shall be changed and shall be with God for eternity future.