TEACHING ON CONVERSION – July 5, 2001

When you hear this word - either CONVERSION or CONVERTED -
what does it mean to you? - maybe "He or she's been 'converted'" or they've "had a 'conversion' experience."

SCRIPTURE:

Ephesians 4:22-24 – "...you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth."

Ephesians 5:8-9 – "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of Light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth."

Colossians 1:13 – "He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son..."

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 – "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit."

DEFINITION: -a change in character, form, or function. -a physical, structural, or design change or transformation from one state or condition to another, esp. to effect a change in function. -to change something into a different form or properties.

Catholics and Protestants historically differ on their view of this word and it's meaning, and generally neither camp knows the other's view. Hopefully, since we are all one body, we can change that a little.

Catholics view the word CONVERSION as a process - a life-long thing we go through - being transformed into the image of Christ. When monks take a vow of conversion or "the converted life" - that's what they mean - they are vowing to cultivate whatever is possible on their part to produce a life that is changed or transformed continually.

Protestants on the other hand, generally (I say that because of the wide array of "protestant" beliefs), view the word CONVERSION in an instantaneous way - "getting saved" - boom, you're converted - you've had a conversion "experience."

Well, who's right? I think in a sense they're both right - I know, you knew I was going to say that. I do think there is an instant change of life-forms when we come to faith in Jesus. I believe there is a time when the Holy Spirit comes to inhabit us and at that time our spiritual essence is changed forever. Now, is that all? Not hardly. Now for the rest of your life - which really is probably more accurately called the conversion process.

As for the instant part (and I'm not sure it's all that instant always either - gestation, labour, birth), we are born from above, as Jesus said, but I don't believe we are CONVERTED. That, is a process. It's a constant process of transformation - we are always going through it. Not always well - not always at the pace we ought to be - but always.