124 CONVERSION, Tom Hagler Conversion is a process in which the regenerate child of God (already saved eternally) turns from sinning against Christ to attempting to follow Christ. This conversion has to do with the child of God becoming a disciple of Christ by being obedient to the gospel message. Conversion also involves the form of worship he must follow. The child of God has much work and many actions to perform. He must repent of his sins:
Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
The child of God must confess Christ. The reader should be aware that to confess Christ is not the same thing as to accept Christ. Notice the following verse:
Rom. 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
The child of God, as a believer, must submit to baptism, as below:
Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Notice that our belief of the gospel unto baptism by following Christ as a disciple into his church yields salvation as stated in the above verses. This salvation is not eternal, because the child of God already possesses eternal life, but rather is an aspect of salvation that can be enjoyed in this life, so it is called conditional time salvation. This aspect of salvation is from this untoward (stubborn or unruly) generation, and is one that a person can achieve for himself, as Peter preached in Acts:
Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 2:40 “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”
The number of Bible verses already quoted obviously demonstrate that we cannot save ourselves eternally. Also, considering all the righteous works a person must perform in the conversion process, as given above, the verses show that conversion is not the same thing as regeneration or the spiritual birth. We remember the following Bible verses already quoted above:
Tit. 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to this mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
2 Tim. 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
Clearly, the value of religious conversion and the method of worship have to do with benefits or suffering in this life of God’s born again children. For this reason, it is called conditional time salvation. We learn from scripture that as children of God, we have set before us the opportunity of obeying God’s commandments and enjoying a life with blessings from God. On the other hand, if we rebel against God and do not obey his commandments, we will suffer in this life. This suffering will not be eternal in hell, but temporal in this life, possibly resulting in death. Notice the warning given below:
Heb. 10:26-31 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
The above warning for God’s children in the New Testament was nothing new, because God’s people in the Old Testament (the children of Israel), were given a similar warning. This warning was given to Moses before the children of Israel crossed over the river Jordan to possess the Promised Land. To see this fact stated clearly by God, notice the following:
Deut. 30:15-19 “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” (Verse 31: says, “And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.”)
God is not telling His people they will suffer eternal damnation. God’s people already have spiritual life or eternal life. Eternal means it is non-ending. God makes it clear He is referring to things in this life by saying “ye shall not prolong your days upon the land,” as opposed to eternal damnation. This refers to time by living a longer life. When God begins a work in the heart of one of his elect children, He will finish it to the end, as stated below:
Phil. 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Tom Hagler: Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth: ppg 144-148).
Tom Hagler The aspect of salvation for a born again person called conversion requires a considerable amount of works. Conversion is conditional, based on if the child of God ever hears the gospel. After hearing, if they believe . . . . and if the child of God will repent of his sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Rom. 10:9) and submit to baptism (Mark 16:16), only then is the conversion complete. As follows: (Many, many works! How could anyone suggest these acts for conversion could yield eternal salvation? Conversion and regeneration are obviously not the same thing.)
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:19-20, and 23). Notice the action or works required by the sinner.
“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20)
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:11-13)
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom. 10:9)
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16) If this salvation is eternal, then baptism is necessary for eternal salvation. We know this is not true, as proven by 1 Pet. 3:20-21.
The last scripture reference above, Mark 16:16, states that a child of God who rejects God in unbelief, and does not submit to baptism will suffer damnation in this life. This was also implied in Acts 3:23, by stating “destroyed from among the people.” Even so, we know these rebellious people will finally be in heaven. Some of God’s converted children will later conduct themselves in such a bad way that they lose this time salvation, gained by conversion. As in Rev. 3:14-22, converted members of the Laodicean church, could lose this time salvation of being in fellowship with Jesus Christ, as follows:
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even I also overcome, and am set down with my Father in His throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Rev. 3:14-22) This passage was addressed to the Laodicean church, not to dead alien and unregenerate sinners. Continued fellowship with Christ in this life for church members is the subject under consideration, not eternal salvation. If there is no repentance, then chastisement and loss of the aspect of salvation called conversion is possible.
God’s children cannot lose eternal salvation, but they can lose the salvation gained during their life by conversion. The loss of time salvation means suffering what the Bible calls chastisement or damnation.
Damnation in this life.
The above mentions God’s children suffer damnation (Mark 16:16) and being destroyed (Acts 3:23). This cannot be eternal damnation or eternal destruction. However, this is a threat, which is one very good reason why God’s people should obey God’s laws. The reason God’s children should obey God’s laws is to avoid God’s chastisement and damnation during their life. Consider the following additional verses:
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:26-31) This is a warning for God’s born again children.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Rev. 3:19)
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:13, 14) If this verse refers to eternal life or eternal destruction, then our “walk of life,” or works, have eternal consequences. This is not the case as in Titus 3:5 and many other verses.
Born again, but not converted
We should now consider three good examples of God’s people who believe (they are born again), but who are not converted so as to be a disciple of Christ. These people run the risk of God’s chastisement. Consider the following:
“King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:27, 28) Since Paul said he knew Agrippa believed, Agrippa was born again. (1 John 5:1, Acts 13:48, and John 5:24) Even so, Agrippa chose not to become a disciple of Christ through baptism. He was born again, but not converted. He was born again, but did not choose to become a Christian, as in Acts 11:26, “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32) We know Simon Peter was already born again as proven in Matt. 16:17. None of the disciples were entirely converted to a knowledge of the truth until after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus prophesied this in John 14:26 stating that the Holy Spirit would, “…bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:42-43) The chief rulers believed (they were born again), but they would not “confess Christ,” To receive time salvation (conversion), as offered in Romans 10:9.
Eternal security
While the above eternally saved King Agrippa and the chief rulers will be in heaven (believers are born again), they were not converted because they would not confess Christ as in Romans 10:9, and submit to baptism as in Mark 16:16, and become disciples of Christ in His church. They ran the risk of being chastened by God. It may mean physical suffering, or loss of physical life, but it could never cost them their eternal life.
Verses that confirm eternal security for God’s rebellious, unbelieving children are as follows:
“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Rom. 3:3-4)
Jesus said, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) That is eternal security.
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38, 39) That is truly eternal security!
The above seems very clear. It is only God given salvation (Rom. 8:28-39) that matters regarding eternal salvation and eternal security. This fact is clearly prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34, which was declared as fulfilled in Hebrews as follows:
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.” (Heb. 8:11-11)
If God is to put his laws directly into the minds and hearts of His people, and it need not be said, “…we must know the Lord…,” then this clearly rules out the gospel, gospel preaching, and “our acceptance” for one to be born again. God the father chose (Eph. 1:4 – 6); Jesus the Son redeemed (Rom. 4:25 & 5:9 and Eph. 1:7); Jesus through the Holy Spirit calls to spiritual life (John 6:63); therefore, God’s elect children are eternally secure (Rom. 8:28 – 39). Also, how God deals with His people in this life who do not have God’s law, (the gospel or Bible) is given in Romans, as follows:
“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Rom. 2:12- 16)
The gospel is for conversion
Hopefully, it has been shown how God uses the gospel for conversion of His obedient children to give them time salvation (during this life). Also, we know many of God’s children will reject the gospel when they hear it presented, as above in Rom. 3:3 – 4. Some of God’s elect will live a full life and die without ever having heard the gospel…or even the name of Jesus. During their life, these will be dealt with by God as given above in Rom. 2:12-16. Even so, these will be in heaven along with those aborted before birth and the mentally afflicted. It is only the faith of God in honoring Eph. 1:4-6 and Rom. 8:28-39 that matters regarding heaven. This should settle this issue. (Tom Hagler: Resolving Bible Dilemmas: ppg 38-46)