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Is a conversion experience necessary for Christians?

First, we must seek the definition of the term conversion. To accomplish this first source to be quoted is the, "Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Random House, Inc. 2006.

This site states conversion as, "spiritual change from sinfulness to righteousness."

The next source is "The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved." The definition given in this source is, "Middle English conversion, religious conversion, from Old French conversion, from Latin conversi, conversin-, a turning around, from conversus, past participle of convertere, to turn around; see convert.]

Taking the definitions of the term conversion the answer must be a definite yes. To be transformed, from a lost sinner to a forgiven, born again believer, something must happen. This "something" is a calling, a voice inside the heart of the person, that something is missing, or wrong. The coming to the cross of Jesus and admitting that you are a sinner in need of salvation is the conversion experience. Is this a biblical view? Let the Bible speak.

The Bible is the yardstick to measure biblical doctrine or teaching. Look at the Bible we find verses such as 1Peter 1:2, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Or 1Peter 1:18-19, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." When you look at just these two verses, you can see that being a Christian includes more than just saying a few words and then calling yourself a Christian.

To understand the blood the study of the Old Testament is a necessity. The first place to see how God views the blood is the book of Leviticus 17: 11 for the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. This is a strong view and since God put this value on the blood may we take the time to have the same view and not change things for our convenience. When you take the time to look at the Jews in Egypt and the angle of Death coming, it was the blood on the doorpost that God would look for and pass by. That reflects what would happen when Jesus died on the cross, and took His own blood into the Holy of Holies and gave it as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Today there are many Christians and even ministers saying there are many paths to God, but with the verses above there seems to be some disagreement. Either man is correct and God is a liar, or God can be trusted and man is a liar. The Bible says that God cannot lie; therefore, I will take God at His word and trust in the blood of Jesus to wash away my sins and see me into His arms when this life is over.

Learn more about this author, Anthony Bertrand.
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