Have You Really Been Converted?

    Peter stood on “Solomon’s Porch” on the outside of the temple.  Crowds began to gather around him showing great interest because he and John had just healed a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb.  Peter, now surrounded by the large crowd that continued to grow, lifted up his voice and preached a sermon aimed at hitting the hearts of the people standing there.  As he preached he spoke convicting them of putting to death the “Prince of Life” and said that it was through His name that the lame man was made whole.  He then uttered these words, “Repent therefore and be converted, that you sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:19).  It has been suggested that since the verse says, “..and be converted…” that this process is a passive act.  However, the word “converted” here is an active word that means to turn to something, thus Peter is entreating them to turn away from sin and turn to the Lord. Peter is calling these listeners to action!  By calling these people to repent and be converted, Peter is imploring them to change their heart, their life, and relationship to God.        

A Change of Heart

While the Lord strikes at our hearts through the gospel, it is our choice to change it.  Romans 6:17 says, “...God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.”  Are you truly converted to the Lord?  While asking a question such as this to a Christian may seem paradoxical, that is not necessarily the case.  There are some who are have been baptized, who attend worship services faithfully, and yet their hearts have not been changed.  The goals in one’s life, focus, and desire should shift from the things of this world to things eternal (I John 2:15-17).  Paul wrote, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2). Sometimes Christians struggle because they are not fully committed to the Lord in their hearts.  I Peter 3:15 says, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…” 

A Change of Life

      The person who repents and is converted will experience a change in his life.  Paul, writing to the Romans, sensed they might look and see the great mountain of God’s grace and think that it did not matter how they lived.  Showing this was not the case he wrote, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (Rom. 6:1-2).  There may be times when his faith weakens and he falls to sin; however, he does not serve sin but righteousness (Rom 6:17-19).  While all are accountable to the laws of the Lord, one who is converted lives in respect to them.  He lives by Ecc. 12:13 which says, “Fear God and keep His commandments for this is man’s all.”  His life also changes in respect to other individuals.  Whereas one might once have looked out for his own interests first, he now looks out for the interests of others.  Phil. 2:4 says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”  His life also changes in that he now lives with respect to his brethren.  He understands his need for his brethren and his brethren’s need for him, therefore he sets aside time and energy to spend with them (Heb 10:24-25).  

Change of Relationship

            There is also a change that occurs in one’s relationship when he repents and is converted.  His relationship to sin changes in that he has died to sin and it no longer reigns in him (Rom. 6:12).   Since he has died to sin, he is made alive to God in Christ Jesus, therefore his relationship to God changes.  Speaking of this very thing Gal. 3:26-27 says, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Now that one is a son of God his relationship to the world changes.  Peter writes to Christians and calls them “strangers and pilgrims” (I Pet. 2:11).  He lives his life understanding that this world is not his home, that he has an eternal home awaiting him in Heaven.  There is also a change in relationship with others that occurs.  “Turning to the Lord” brings together people as brothers and sisters in Christ that would not normally be brought together.  Together these laugh, cry, share joys, and share  trials.  A family in God is created (Eph 3:15). 

 ~ Aaron Beard