How should a biblical understanding of conversion impact us personally as Christians?
A biblical understanding of conversion should…
- make us humble because it reckons with the depth of our plight. We were dead and God made us alive (Eph. 2:5)! We were blind and God gave us sight (2 Cor. 4:6)! Understanding the depth of our plight and the power of God’s grace should continually humble us before God and others.
- make us joyful because we see how great and unlikely our salvation is.We were enemies of God and enslaved to sin! But God mercifully reconciled us to himself and set us free! Christians who understand conversion should be filled with joy at the greatness of our salvation.
- fuel our evangelism and missions work because we discover that God is powerful enough to save anyone.If he can save a rebel like you or me, he can save anyone, no matter how unlikely it might seem. We can’t convert anyone. God can. So let’s preach the gospel boldly at home and abroad.
- give us patience because we know it depends on God’s decision not our timetable. God alone can give the new birth (John 1:12-13, 3:5-8). So we should preach the gospel, pray for the lost, and patiently wait for God to work. God will bless our labors even if we see no immediate fruit.
(Some of this material has been drawn from Brad Wheeler’s article “One of the Dirtiest Words Today: C——–n”)
