Conversion

INTRO:
1. All accountable people must turn to the Lord in conversion or be lost.
2. Many misunderstand what it is, how it is accomplished, and when it takes place.
3. Sin takes us away from God - conversion takes us back to God.

I. What is conversion?
A. The word convert means to transform, change, or turn.
B. Biblically, conversion is mental or moral change which begins with hearing and believing and ends with gospel obedience.
C. Conversion stands for the whole plan of salvation.

II. How important is conversion?
A. Essential to enter the Kingdom - Matt 18:3
B. Essential to forgiveness - Matt 13:15; Mk 4:12; Acts 3:19
C. Essential to going to heaven - Acts 26:17-18

III. What is required in conversion?
A. Free moral agency of man - Rom 6:17-18
B. Understanding - Matt 13:15; Eph 5:17
C. Power of truth - Jas 1:18,21; I Pet 1:22-23; Rom 10:17

IV. What is changed in conversion?
A. Change of governing principle - word of God is accepted Lk 8:18; Mk 4:24
B. Change of heart, mind and conduct - this is faith and repentance - Mk 16:15-16; Rom 10:9-10; Acts 3:19
C. Change of relation - Baptism changes our state - Gal 3:26-27
D. Change of master - John 12:26; Matt 16:24
E. Change of destiny - Matt 7:13-14

V. Points to remember about conversion
A. Both God's will and man's will are involved - John 7:17
B. Only God has the right to set terms of salvation.
C. Conversion is an intelligent, sensible process.
D. The same process that saves also places us into the church.
E. Conversion puts one into the Lord's church not some human denomination.
F. There is only one true plan of salvation.
G. If we obey the same plan today, we will be what they were in the 1st Century - just Christians.