What Does It Mean To Be Converted?

In Acts three Peter and John are going into the temple at the ninth hour which was the hour of prayer. Laying at the gate of the temple called beautiful was a man lame from birth, asking for financial help. He seeing Peter asked for alms, to which Peter fastening his eyes upon him said “look on us”. The man looked upon them expecting to receive something from them. He did indeed receive something but something far more valuable than what money could buy, and that was his ability to walk. Peter said unto him “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” When the people saw what was done they were filled with wonder and amazement. The people gathered at Solomon’s porch greatly wondering and this gave Peter the opportunity to teach them. Peter began by giving the credit to God for the healing of the lame. Peter used this man’s healing to preach the gospel unto them. Peter’s sermon convicted them of their sin, emphasized the death, and resurrection of Christ and it being the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Peter then appealed to the people to repent and be converted that their sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19). David the prophet of God having sinned in committing adultery with Bathsheba wrote the fifty-first Psalm. In this psalm he asked, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalms 51:10-13). Did you notice the emphasis on sinners being converted unto God? What does it mean to be converted? The word converted means to revert or turn- about. Vines dictionary defines the word as “to turn about, turn towards” (epi, “towards” and No. 1), is used transitively, and so rendered “convert” (of causing a person to turn)”.

Conversion means more than just being religious. The Jews were religious but they were not converted to Christ (Romans 10:1-3). Lydia was religious but was not converted to Christ until she obeyed the gospel in being baptized into Christ (Acts 16:14-16). There are a lot of people today who are religious but who are not converted because they have never fully obeyed the gospel.  There are also those who claim to be members of the church who are not genuinely converted to Christ. It is sometimes evident by their life, the way they worship, the way they study, their lack of study, etc. What about those who leave the church to affiliate with denominational bodies.  Identify with groups that better fits their desires. Truth doesn’t matter, the church does not matter, the origination of the church, the worship of the church, the plan of salvation none seem to matter as long as we are happy and we feel good about ourselves. Now, to whom is this person converted, Christ or themselves?

Christians should have the attitude of Paul expressed in Philippians “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;…” (Philippians 3:8-10). To whom or what are you converted?

Bill Cantrell