Throughout the New Testament, we encounter numerous accounts of conversions. These stories are not just personal testimonies; they teach us fundamental truths about conversion. One of the most dramatic examples is the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, later known as the Apostle Paul. Saul was once a vehement opponent of the gospel, actively persecuting Christians. The Bible describes how he would imprison those who confessed the name of Christ (Acts 9:1-2). However, in a single, transformative moment, Saul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. The Lord's question to him, "Why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9:4), brought Saul to a place of conviction and his immediate response was, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" (Acts 9:6).
This narrative highlights a critical truth: conversion happens when a person becomes deeply convicted of their sin and realises how much they have offended God. True conversion requires repentance – a turning away from sin and a conscious decision to live for God. The Bible succinctly describes it as "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21).
Another key aspect of Saul's conversion is its immediacy. The sudden shift from darkness to light occurred in a specific moment. The Bible describes this transformation as being "delivered . . . from the power of darkness and conveyed . . . into the kingdom of the Son of His love" (Colossians 1:13). This experience is consistent with other conversion accounts in Scripture. In Acts 16, the unbelieving Philippian jailer, having witnessed the faith and songs of Paul and Silas while in prison, and subsequent to a massive earthquake, asked, "What must I do to be saved?" The answer was straightforward: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:30-31). The jailer's conversion underscores the necessity of faith in Christ as the foundation of salvation.
Conversion, then, is not a gradual process but a decisive moment in which an unbeliever becomes a believer and is transformed from living for themselves to living for God. It is the most important decision a person will ever make, because of the eternal consequences. The Bible teaches that no one is born a Christian. A person may grow up in a Christian family or live in a society that upholds biblical values, but still they must make their own personal decision to follow Christ. It is a deliberate choice, not something one drifts into by accident.
As we reflect on the importance of self-examination to determine whether we are truly “in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5), we recognise that the “god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV). One of the enemy's most effective tactics is to persuade those who are not saved into believing that they are, leading to their deception.
The Jewish people during Jesus' time were particularly prone to this self-deception. They believed that adhering to the Law superficially was enough to secure their salvation. However, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reinterpreted the Law to reveal a deeper meaning. For instance, the Law's commandment against murder was not just about the physical act but also about the heart condition of sinful anger (Matthew 5:21-22). Jesus concluded His sermon by urging His listeners to "enter by the narrow gate" (Matthew 7:13-14), a shocking statement to those who believed they were already on the path to salvation.
False prophets and false professions are significant obstacles to genuine conversion (Matthew 7:15-23). Some religious leaders encouraged adherence to traditions, convincing people that outward observance was sufficient for salvation. Similarly, many today believe that mere knowledge of the Bible or religious activities can save them. But, as Jesus told Nicodemus, salvation requires a person to be "born again" (John 3:3). This new birth is not just a change in behaviour but a transformation of the heart, evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit in a person's life (Matthew 7:20).
Ultimately, conversion is a profound, life-changing event that brings a person from spiritual death to eternal life. It is not merely a human decision but a work of God in the heart (2 Corinthians 4:6), producing genuine faith and repentance. The urgency of this message cannot be overstated. It is the central theme of the New Testament and the passionate plea of the apostles: to come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved (Romans 10:1).
