How Can a Person Get Converted?
To be converted, a person needs to first look at the cross. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The ultimate expression of divine love is the Father’s sacrifice of His own Son, through whom it becomes possible for the believers to be “called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Meditating upon God’s love will melt the heart of the unconverted person and lead him to “Cast away from” him “all the transgressions and get “a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezekiel 18:31). This transformation can take place by cooperating with the Holy Spirit. As a person fixes his eyes on Jesus, his life will be changed to reflect His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). He who desires to be converted will believe in Christ as a personal Savior from the deadly penalty of sin.
The believer in Christ will learn about God’s truths from the Scriptures. The Word of God will transform his life and cleanse it from all unrighteousness (Romans 12:2). Jesus declares, “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can a person overcome sin unless he feeds daily on the Scriptures (John 15:4).
Also, to be converted, a person needs to communicate with God continually through Prayer. The believer will claim God’s promise for a new heart, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). Every good relationship needs time to grow. As a person spends time with the Lord in daily study of His Word and prayer, the more his spiritual life will be renewed, empowered and transformed.
Finally, a believer needs to witness to others about God’s love and what He has done in his life. The Word of God teaches, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Personal testimony is the most powerful way to reach others and to establish the Christian in his faith.
Then, God promises the believer, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes” (Ezekiel 36:26, 27). Only God can activate the miracle of conversion. Without Him, our nature can’t change (John 15:5). “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
God provides the urge that awakens a person’s desire to be converted, He empowers him to make the decision to receive salvation, and He gives him the power to make the decision effective so that redemption is carried in his life. Thus, salvation is a cooperative work between God and man, with God giving all the needed powers for the Christian’s use.
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
