\u2026 thus obtaining eternal redemption.\u00a0\u00a0 (Hebrews 9:12)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n As Paul wrote:<\/p>\n God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.\u00a0\u00a0 (Romans 5:8)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n for:<\/p>\n God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood, \u2026\u00a0\u00a0 (Romans 3:25)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n So that:<\/p>\n \u2026 God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people\u2019s sins against them,\u00a0 \u2026\u00a0\u00a0 (2 Corinthians 5:19)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n For:<\/p>\n In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God\u2019s grace. Jesus wrought forgiveness of sins through His death. This took away the barrier between God and man and God was reconciled to the world. I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live<\/strong>, even though they die.\u00a0\u00a0 (John 11:25)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Believing in Jesus Christ, or, in better words, trusting in Him, is called conversion<\/strong> in the Bible.<\/p>\n On the Day of Pentecost, when the apostle Peter spoke for the first time in public and explained to the listeners that Jesus died for the sins of humanity, but was raised from the dead by God, \u2026<\/p>\n \u2026\u00a0 they were cut to the heart<\/strong> and said to Peter and the other apostles, \u201cBrothers, what shall we do?\u201d Peter spoke of three steps to receiving the new life:<\/p>\n Receiving the Holy Spirit as a gift from God is the ultimate goal. Conversion, \u2018metanoia\u2019<\/strong> in Greek, is derived from \u2018metanoeo\u2019<\/strong>, which is translated as to convert<\/strong>. The following statements are made in an explanation about \u2018metanoeo\u2019<\/strong>:<\/p>\n \u2018Metanoia\u2019<\/strong>, which is translated as conversion<\/strong>,\u00a0is derived from \u2018metanoeo\u2019<\/strong> (to convert), and is a noun that is defined by the OLB as:<\/p>\n Conversion and being converted<\/strong> are therefore all about:<\/p>\n It is:<\/p>\n As Paul wrote:<\/p>\n Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind<\/strong>. Then you will be able to test and approve what God\u2019s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.\u00a0\u00a0 (Romans 12:2)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In other words, conversion is<\/strong>:<\/p>\n A complete switch-over to another way of thinking does not happen automatically. \u2026 understand what the Lord\u2019s will is.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Ephesians 5:17)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is why one will have to make a conscious choice, to want<\/strong> to change. To be converted is<\/strong>: Realising that life is more than what one is experiencing at this moment and asking Jesus for help. Those who have been brought up with the Bible will one day also have to make the personal decision to accept the Bible as The Truth and Jesus Christ as the Son of God. For, \u201cEveryone who calls<\/strong> on the name of the Lord will be saved.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 (Romans 10:13)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Paul wrote that conversion takes place in two stages:<\/p>\n If you declare with your mouth<\/strong>, \u201cJesus is Lord,\u201d and believe<\/strong> (trust) in your heart<\/strong> that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes in one\u2019s heart<\/strong>, in other words: one is confident that Jesus is alive. Whoever trusts in Jesus in his heart, and declares this trust with his mouth, begins a new life, together with Jesus, for:<\/p>\n Anyone who believes in him (anyone who trusts in Jesus in this life) will never be put to shame.\u00a0\u00a0 (Romans 10:11)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Think, in this respect, of the murderer who was crucified<\/span><\/a> together with Jesus.<\/p>\n Whoever confirms his trust in Jesus Christ by declaring his faith out loud, in the visible world, produces his salvation and his deliverance in the spiritual world. This confession of faith in Jesus Christ is the only way whereby the spirit of man, which was dead to God, is raised again to life.<\/p>\n Before presenting conversion schematically, man\u2019s situation is repeated once again here, after Jesus\u2019 death on the cross and after God raised Him from the dead again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As was discussed in the study \u2018The road to recovery\u2019<\/span><\/a>, Jesus took Satan\u2019s authority over the world away, by His death on the cross of Golgotha. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The thick black line to God remained in place, because the relationship between God and natural man was broken by sin, as explained in the study \u2018Broken Relationships\u2019<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n God reconciled Himself to the world, in spite of this separation between God and man because of sin, because Jesus was prepared to take the punishment for man\u2019s sin upon Himself, as is explained in \u2018The way to restoration\u2019.<\/p>\n Through conversion, by faith in Jesus Christ, converted man will truly experience reconciliation with God, as Paul wrote.<\/p>\n Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ \u2026\u00a0\u00a0 (Romans 5:1)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u2026 through whom we have now received reconciliation (literally: have taken receipt).\u00a0\u00a0 (Romans 5:11)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Conversion brought into the schematic presentation would make the line to God to be completely open, because God has raised converted man to new life by faith in Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n In practice, however, believing in Jesus Christ does not always appear to automatically mean that a believer is a disciple of Jesus Christ and involves Him in every aspect of his life. This is discussed in the study \u2018Discipleship\u2019.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is why the line to God in the schematic presentation is not (yet) completely open, and is represented by a discontinuous thick black line\u00a0– to indicate that the believer is raised to new spiritual life through reconciliation to God, but does automatically live as a disciple of Jesus.<\/p>\n As a result, the believer still does not live in an open relationship with God and he is still able to be strongly influenced by the realm of darkness. That is why the discontinuous thick black line towards the darkness remains in place.<\/p>\n Conversion is an event in the invisible world. This is explained in greater detail in the study \u2018Discipleship\u2019<\/span><\/a>. <\/p>\n
\n(Ephesians 1:7)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nSince then everyone is invited by God to be reconciled to Him and to live in an open relationship with Him in this world, which will result in a life that is eternal, in God\u2019s presence, as Jesus said:<\/p>\n
\nPeter replied, \u201cRepent and be baptised<\/strong>, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 2:37-38)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
\nJust as Adam became a living soul<\/span><\/a> when God breathed His breath of life in the body He had formed, a person enters into a totally renewed relationship with God after his or her conversion\u00a0– a life that will be upheld by the power of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\nThe meaning of conversion\u00a0– a definition.<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n\u2018Metanoeo\u2019<\/strong> is a verb and is defined by the OLB<\/span><\/a> as:<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
What is conversion?<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\nOld habits sometimes go clearly against the will of God, so that drastic choices will have to be made.
\nThis is learning to discover \u2018what God\u2019s will is\u00a0– his good, pleasing and perfect will.\u2019
\n<\/em>To which Paul calls:<\/p>\n
\nConversion begins with the choice<\/strong><\/span>, to want<\/strong> <\/span>to let go of the so-called wisdom of the world, to exchange it for the wisdom of God, as revealed in the Bible.<\/p>\nConversion in practice.<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nThis is no intelligent choice, but a decision<\/strong> that is taken from the heart<\/strong>, the soul.<\/p>\n
\nA single call for help from the depths of the soul, the heart, often comes from those who did not grow up with the Bible: \u201cJesus, if you exist, help me\u201d, is often the beginning of the experience of Jesus in his or her life, and of learning to trust in Him more and more.<\/p>\n
\nFor it is with your heart<\/strong> that you believe and are justified<\/strong>, and it is with your m<\/strong>outh that you profess<\/strong> your faith and are saved<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 (Romans 10:9-10)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nHowever, only believing in one\u2019s heart is insufficient, apparently.
\nOne must declare<\/strong> this belief with one\u2019s mouth<\/strong>!
\nOne confesses, declares with one\u2019s mouth to be saved.<\/strong><\/p>\nConversion presented schematically.<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"18.](\"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/18.-Na-Golgotha.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThrough this the open line to the realm of darkness was replaced by a discontinuous thick black line in the schematic presentation – discontinuous because Satan no longer has any authority over the world since Golgotha, although natural man is still strongly under his influence.<\/p>\n![\"19.](\"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/19.-Bekeerde-mens.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nA second step is generally required in order to experience this.<\/p>\nWater baptism.<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nThis is why Jesus instituted baptism, immersion in water<\/span><\/a>, whereby the believer confirms his spiritual renewal in the visible world.<\/p>\n
\nSee also the study: The significance of the cross (1)<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n