Page 55 - TH200 Abundant Life A4 Final

Conversion: Turning from Old to New

for until one recognizes the need to change, he or she will feel no need
for conversion. Second, there must be a decisive turning to God. This is
the action step. Third, there must be obedience, for conversion means
a changed life.

Now let’s apply these three steps to our introductory illustration of
the boy who left home. We saw the preparation step in the boy’s careful
consideration of his ways. Next, we viewed the action step in his decisive
turn toward home. Finally, a complete change was evident in his life as
he obediently took up his chores.

The Relation to Repentance and Faith
Conversion is closely related to repentance and faith. In fact, on
occasion conversion is used to represent either or both, and thus
represents all of the activities by which we turn from sin to God. You
will recall that repentance turns us from sin and produces sorrow for
it by pointing to the cross. Repentance does not seek to excuse sin;
rather, it freely admits the sins committed and the attitudes held that
are contrary to God’s law. Faith is the positive activity by which we turn
to God. We look to God who has provided the cross as a cure for the
disease of sin that infects us. And we trust our life and future destiny to
Him. When we repent and believe, we are converted.

The Elements of Conversion
As we have noted previously, a person is a whole being. Generally
speaking, then, what a person does is a result of what he or she is
wholly: intellect, emotions, and will. Each of these elements involved
in repentance and faith is also
involved in conversion. One cannot
be converted unless that person
knows what he or she is doing. What a person does is
Neither can one be converted if a result of what he or
that one does not have feelings
about what he or she is doing and she is wholly: intellect,
is inclined toward conversion. And emotions, and will.
quite obviously, a person can’t be
converted unless he or she wills
it to occur.

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