Biblical Images of Salvation: Conversion

maribethhorn
Nov 21, 2021
5 min read

People live in a fallen world where evil forces have the power to disrupt their lives. Every person is born with a sinful nature. Sin has corrupted the beauty of the world God created, but He gives people a second chance to be forgiven for their sin. He sent His son Jesus to sacrifice Himself on a cross to bridge the gap sin created between Him and His children. Jesus died for the sins of every individual, giving him or her a chance to be converted to the Christian faith in the one true God. Conversion is one of the Biblical images of salvation; it is an experience with God that can be analyzed through its theological definition, its relation to the problem of sin, and its impacts on the new life of a Christian.

Conversion is a Biblical image of salvation that can be described with its Biblical, historical, and theological contours. Conversion can be defined as turning from a past life of sinfulness into a new life with Christ. Gabriel Etzel and R. N. Small, authors of Everyday Theology: Exploring the Christian Faith, describe conversion when they state, “While many refer to conversion as a salvation experience, conversion is only one aspect of the larger salvation experience. At conversion, a person experientially begins his faith journey” (191). Conversion is just one part of the salvation experience. Conversion begins a person’s journey and relationship with Christ. Millard J. Erickson, author of Introducing Christian Doctrine, further explains, “Conversion is a single entity that has two distinguishable but inseparable aspects: repentance and faith. Repentance is the unbeliever’s turning away from sin, and faith is his or her turning toward Christ” (351). Conversion consists of two parts: repentance and faith. In repentance, a new believer essentially gives up and seeks forgiveness for his past sinful desires and actions in pursuit of a relationship with Christ. In faith, a new believer devotes himself to God and trusts in the love of Jesus. Conversion can be defined as a part of the salvation experience and the beginning of one’s relationship with Jesus; it involves both repentance of sin and faith in God.

Conversion relates to the problem of sin in an individual’s life because it is the turning point from sinfulness to purity in forgiveness. Conversion addresses the problem of sin because the new believer must repent of his sin to receive the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. The Bible explains the act of repentance in conversion when it states in Acts 2:38-39, “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call’” (NIV). Peter declares that God has called people to repent of their sins and receive forgiveness; by repenting for their sins, people will receive the Holy Spirit as God has promised. The Holy Spirit will guide a person in his walk with Christ and live within him. The problem of sin in a person’s life will be washed away by the blood of Jesus. Gabriel Etzel and R. N. Small state, “True repentance encompasses the entire person; one's intellect is aware of sin, one's emotions experience sorrow over sin, and one's behavior turns from sinful actions” (191). Theologians describe true repentance as something that impacts every part of a person’s life. The new believer’s mind becomes conscious of the presence of sin and feels the guilt of his wrongs. The Holy Spirit convicts the person at conversion, leading him to repentance. Furthermore, the new believer turns from his sinful past to pursue obedience to Jesus. The person must not only recognize his sin at conversion, but he must also turn away from it in submission to Christ. Conversion therefore addresses the problem of sin by allowing the new believer to become aware and receive forgiveness of sin through repentance; conversion eliminates the problem of sin because Jesus’ blood removes the mark of sin in a person’s life and frees him from its bondage.

Conversion impacts the new life of a Christian in many ways. When a person converts to Jesus Christ through repentance and faith, he must now obey the commandments of God. Ezekiel 18:21 states, “But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die” (NIV). In conversion, a person turns away from his sin; by turning away from sin, he must keep the decrees or commandments of God by doing what is morally right. God instructs believers in the Bible to obey His ten commandments and obey the Great Commission. When a person has converted to faith in God, he must obey God’s commandments in keeping with repentance. If a person repents and has faith through conversion, he will receive salvation; he will enter heaven when he dies and escape the penalty for his sin, which is eternal punishment in hell. Conversion impacts my own walk with Christ. I am an English major, and one day I wish to spread the gospel in obedience to the Great Commission by writing a devotional book. When I was converted to Jesus, I turned from my sin to pursue obedience to God by following what the Bible teaches me and following what the Holy Spirit calls me to accomplish in my life. The Holy Spirit, which entered me at conversion, impacts my daily life by leading me to obey the will of God and glorify Him in everything that I do; I obey the Holy Spirit by resisting temptation to sin, such as resisting the temptation to lie to my parents. The conversion experience impacts the everyday life of a Christian by calling him to obey the commandments of God and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in making daily decisions.

Conversion is a crucial aspect of salvation; it is an encounter with God that can be evaluated through its theological definition, its relation to the problem of sin, and its impacts on the new life of a Christian. Conversion is the beginning of one’s walk with Christ; it involves both repentance and faith. Conversion eliminates the problem of sin by offering a person forgiveness and purity as a result of repentance. A Christian’s life is impacted by the conversion experience because God commands him to pursue holiness by resisting temptation and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide him in making everyday decisions that will glorify God. Evil forces no longer have power over people who convert themselves to the Christian faith; they receive the strength of God to have victory in their battles with Satan.