Biblical Meaning of Conversion

What is the Biblical Meaning of Conversion?

To help understand the Biblical meaning of conversion we will consider the experience of Peter starting with this verse:

“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32)

This could be a discouraging verse to many people.  It implies that Peter was not converted even after he had spent over three years with Jesus. As a close disciple he had even declared that he was willing to die for Jesus:

“Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.” (John 13:37)

What does Peter’s experience say about our hope for true conversion? Let’s investigate the Biblical meaning of conversion and what it means to be converted more closely. Then we will apply it to Peter.

Traditional Legal Model – a person is converted when they proclaim they are a follower of Jesus. We would certainly assume then that all the disciples were converted.

Biblical Healing Model – Christian conversion is much more than mental assent to follow Jesus. To be converted is to be changed but how much change is needed?

Converted Meaning

Converted (adjective)

• noting a specified type of person who has been converted from the religion, beliefs, or attitudes characteristic of that type: a converted Christian; a converted thief.

Conversion (noun)

• the act or process of converting; state of being converted.
• a change in character, form, or function.
• a change from one religion, political belief, viewpoint, etc., to another.
• a thoroughgoing spiritual change that involves repentance and a turn toward God or right living.
• a change of attitude, emotion, or viewpoint from one of indifference, disbelief, or antagonism to one of acceptance, faith, or enthusiastic support, especially such a change in a person’s religion.
  (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/conversion)

Biblical Meaning of Conversion – Stages

We hear sometimes of things like a person converting from Islam to Christianity (or the other way around). When that happens, what has really changed? A choice was made to discard one set of beliefs (say Islam) and accept another set of beliefs (Christianity).

Why might a person make such a choice? There could be many reasons such as: conviction, family, convenience, curiosity, pressure, incentives, disillusionment, impulsivity, Divine prompting.

We might call such a change “conversion,” but is it – in the Biblical sense? In many cases, such a change is simply a switch in identity and allegiance.

The person is now going to a church rather than a mosque.  Are they now converted to Christianity? Have they been changed? Are they fully converted?

What will going to a church lead to? We could say a new focus. The “converted” person now:

• goes to different places
• associates with different people
• reads different material
• hears different messages

That change in focus will lead to new information. The person now learns the basics and more of the new religion that they are focusing on.

That new information then leads to a new understanding and that would include a new understanding of self. The new information may (should) lead to a realization of the convert’s own condition and great need:

The question is “is the person really changed at that point?” They could be, perhaps, changed to miserable.

 An understanding of our own wretched condition should lead to a desire for a change, a remedy or a conversion of the heart as David expressed:

 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10)

 As a person keeps going back and learning more and rightly dividing the word, they will come to understand the love of God and His true character:

That new information of how good God is will lead to a better understanding of self (in contrast). That understanding leads to true repentance:

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

A conversion only to stage 2 or 3 in the diagram cannot lead to a person acquiring a Christ-like character. It takes a change in understanding of God to lead to a true and complete conversion which will lead to a change in heart attitude, to true agape love.

This relates to the new covenant experience. Refer to these pages for more details:

https://characterofgod.org/covenant-definition/
https://characterofgod.org/dispensation-meaning-bible/

Peter and the Biblical Meaning of Conversion

Let’s apply this process to Peter as an illustration.

#1

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” (Matt 4:18-20)

Was Peter converted at this point (stage 1)? How far along was he in the process? Why did he make that change? Perhaps one or more of: family, convenience, curiosity, pressure, incentives, disillusionment, impulsivity, Divine prompting or maybe the fishing was just not good.

“He [Jesus] saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt 16:15-16)

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:67-68)

What stage was Peter at here? Likely about stage 2 or 3. Did he understand his own condition at this point? No, this was over a year before the Last Supper.

What about at the time of the Last Supper?

“And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” (Luke 22:33)

Sounds like a genuine conversion, doesn’t it? But what did Jesus say to him in just the verse before?

“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32)

“And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” (Luke 22:34)

Was that for Peter’s benefit?  Yes, the aim was to help Peter understand the condition of his own heart. And that he was not, in fact, ready to go with His Lord to prison and to death. Immediately after reporting Peter’s words of denial, Luke writes:

“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61-62)

Now Peter is very much getting into stage 4. The bitter weeping indicates that he now saw his true condition. It can help each one of us to see and want to change our “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev 3:17) condition when we rightly understand Jesus’ character in contrast.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor 3:18)

Biblical Meaning of Conversion – Complete Conversion

Complete conversion can only happen if a person understands, believes and appreciates the true character of God.

If a person could clean up their outward behavior, the mess on the floor would they be converted?

Does that restore the relationship? Perhaps they would just be a very good legalist.

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Gal 2:16)

Learn more about the function of the law at: https://characterofgod.org/romans-5-12-21/

If a person could clean up their mind, their thinking (represented by what is in the sink) so that they never think a selfish, lustful, bigoted, or proud thought, would they be fully converted?

I don’t think it is going to be possible to perfect outward behavior or thinking while believing the many misconceptions of God’s character including that He will kill those who reject Him. – Threats always destroy true love and lead to rebellion.

A Scenario

Which would upset you more?

1. Your adult child borrowed something (a tool perhaps) for a year and when you asked for it back, they forgot they had borrowed it, claimed it was theirs and refused to return it.

or

2. Your adult child thought you were willing to kill them if they strayed too far from your idea of orthodoxy.

Is God more concerned that we keep less consequential laws (including, for example, to return a full tithe) or that we understand His character?

“And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” (Jer 24:7)

Note the order given in this verse in Leviticus:

See how this diagram so well illustrates the cleansing of the sanctuary here: https://characterofgod.org/daniel-814-the-cleansing-of-the-sanctuary/

Back to our Islamic friend who “converted.” He was converted from what to what?

That would be conversion from one religion to another but it is not true and complete conversion to becoming a loyal friend of God.

We need to understand that we are sinners which is what the Old Covenant helps us to realize:

“Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Psa 53:3)

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9)

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,” (Mark 7:21)

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Rom 3:23)

Biblical Meaning of Conversion – Not All the Same

While the stages outlined above likely describe the experience of most people, there can be variations. The case of Saul’s seemingly very-sudden conversion (Acts chapter 9) seems to be quite different. Part of the difference from the case of Peter would be from the fact that Saul was already very learned in the scriptures being a Pharisee. God mostly needed to get his attention and change his focus and then Paul (who certainly had a very sharp mind) could piece the truth together. But that only with the help of time he spent in Arabia where, some speculate, He received instruction from the Lord.

Everyone’s experience is different but God’s aim in each case is that we come to know God and thus gain eternal life.

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

Once we come to know, appreciate and love God as He truly is, then we will be converted.

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