Page 57 - TH200 Abundant Life A4 Final

Conversion: Turning from Old to New

believe in Christianity, doesn’t that make me a Christian?” The speaker
replied, “Not necessarily. I see that you are wearing an engagement
ring. Do you believe in marriage?” “Of course,” she answered, “I’m
planning to be married very soon.” The speaker responded, “What are
your reasons for believing in marriage and wanting to be married?” She
replied, “Marriage provides security for a woman and also a home and
a family.” The speaker turned to other young ladies and asked, “How
many of you believe in marriage?” And with little exception all agreed
that they did believe in marriage. The speaker continued, “Well, this is
interesting. All of you believe in the institution of marriage. And since
I’m a licensed minister, I can perform marriages according to the laws
of our government. This young lady says that if one believes in Fascism,
he is a Fascist. If he believes in Communism, he is a Communist. And
if one believes in Christianity, he is a Christian. Since a number of you
young ladies have told me that you believe in marriage, permit me to
pronounce you married.”

The audience responded with laughter. The speaker then asked,
“What is wrong with this reasoning?” Another young lady said, “Sir,
you know that marriage is not a philosophy like Communism or
Fascism; it is a personal relationship.” The speaker said, “This is
precisely my point. Christianity is not just a philosophy, for in order to
be a Christian, one must have a personal relationship with the Lord
Jesus Christ, who is a living person.” Christian conversion is uniquely
different from all other conversions.

Acts 16:13–15 records a beautiful example of conversion in all its
aspects. On this occasion,
Lydia, a Gentile God-fearer who
worshiped the God of Israel,
was attending a time of prayer. In order to be a
As Paul shared the good news
of Jesus, she heard his message Christian one must
as the Lord opened her heart, have a relationship with
and she responded gladly. She
then gave proof of her change the Lord Jesus Christ,
by receiving baptism and who is a living person.
extending hospitality to Paul
and his fellow-ministers.

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