Conversion as Renewal
In the Old Testament, conversion means a profound calling for the Israelites to turn away from evil or other false gods and return wholeheartedly to God. Community or individual repentance is necessary for this turn. Moreover, Israelites have the responsibility to fulfill their role in spreading God’s blessing to all the families of the earth (Gen 12:3) and being the light of the world (Isa 42:6; 49:6).[i] Therefore, the meaning of the conversion begins with the transformation within the individual and the community. But its essence does not stop at this point. Additionally, Israelites must embrace the service for transformation, which is not only for themselves but also for the whole world. God wanted the “Double Conversion” of the Israelite, which involves transforming the repentant heart and soul and the commitment to transform the world as the people of God.
The statement, Jesus is Lord, is the most significant theme of early Christianity. We will be saved if we believe and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9), but but we cannot proclaim this confession on our own without the transformative power of the Holy Spirit working within us (1 Corinthians 12:3). For us, as believers, we can confess easily that Jesus is Lord. However, we will see that it was not easy for early Christians when we study the conversion of the apostle Paul.
The first conversion of the apostle Paul was to confess the crucified carpenter Jesus as the Messiah, Christ (Acts 9). Apostle Paul also confessed that God selected him to bring the mission to the Gentiles because God’s kingdom was open to the Gentiles (Acts 22 and 26). Therefore, the double conversion of the apostle Paul was to confess Jesus as Lord and the mission to the Gentiles.[ii] These two turning points were difficult confessions and conversions for the former Pharisee. However, Paul sacrificed his life to God, turning away from rubbish (Philippians 3:8), and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to transform the world.
In conclusion, the early Christians confessed Jesus as Lord so that they turned to God from idols and vain things, to serve the living God (1 Thess 1:9; Acts 14:15). Nowadays, many Christians believe that the whole church is called to the mission. Conversely, many Christians still require the second conversion: to confess the gospel of Jesus Christ to a fallen world. They are content with merely confessing Jesus as Lord, which is the simplest service in the church ministry. For the sake of God’s mission, the church needs the believers who confess Jesus as Lord, as well as the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, because God desires all people to be saved (1 Tim 2:4).
[i] Richard Thomas France, “Conversion in the Bible,” The Evangelical Quarterly 65 (December 31, 1993): 293–94.
[ii] Paul Pierson, The Dynamics Of Christian Mission: History Through A Missiological Perspective, (William Carey International University Press, 2009), 24–25.
The statement, Jesus is Lord, is the most significant theme of early Christianity. We will be saved if we believe and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9), but but we cannot proclaim this confession on our own without the transformative power of the Holy Spirit working within us (1 Corinthians 12:3). For us, as believers, we can confess easily that Jesus is Lord. However, we will see that it was not easy for early Christians when we study the conversion of the apostle Paul.
The first conversion of the apostle Paul was to confess the crucified carpenter Jesus as the Messiah, Christ (Acts 9). Apostle Paul also confessed that God selected him to bring the mission to the Gentiles because God’s kingdom was open to the Gentiles (Acts 22 and 26). Therefore, the double conversion of the apostle Paul was to confess Jesus as Lord and the mission to the Gentiles.[ii] These two turning points were difficult confessions and conversions for the former Pharisee. However, Paul sacrificed his life to God, turning away from rubbish (Philippians 3:8), and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to transform the world.
In conclusion, the early Christians confessed Jesus as Lord so that they turned to God from idols and vain things, to serve the living God (1 Thess 1:9; Acts 14:15). Nowadays, many Christians believe that the whole church is called to the mission. Conversely, many Christians still require the second conversion: to confess the gospel of Jesus Christ to a fallen world. They are content with merely confessing Jesus as Lord, which is the simplest service in the church ministry. For the sake of God’s mission, the church needs the believers who confess Jesus as Lord, as well as the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, because God desires all people to be saved (1 Tim 2:4).
[i] Richard Thomas France, “Conversion in the Bible,” The Evangelical Quarterly 65 (December 31, 1993): 293–94.
[ii] Paul Pierson, The Dynamics Of Christian Mission: History Through A Missiological Perspective, (William Carey International University Press, 2009), 24–25.
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