Conversion can be defined as turning away from sin and turning to God. Perhaps the classic verse that captures this definition is 1 Thessalonians 1. 9: “For they themselves, as far as we are concerned, proclaim the impact our entry had between you, and how, by leaving idols, you have converted to God to serve God. Alive and true? Here we clearly see the two elements of conversion, turn to God and turn to idols.
The story of God’s triumph over the snake promised in the Old Testament (Genesis 3:15) becomes a reality in the New Testament. The Old Testament promises a new covenant, a new creation, a new exodus, and new hearts for God’s people. in it, the fulfillment of all these promises is inaugurated with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, proclaimed in the New Testament.
- In the synoptic Gospels (Matthew.
- Mark.
- And Luke).
- God’s promised saving work in the Old Testament is encompassed by the term “kingdom of God”.
- The kingdom of God plays a central role in the synoptics.
- But it is also necessary to understand that The Kingdom of God calls men to conversion.
- Both elements of conversion can be described in terms of repentance and faith.
- As we read in Mark 1:14-15: Jesus went to Galilee.
- Preaching the gospel of God.
- Saying.
- Time is up.
- And the kingdom of God is near; Do you repent and believe in the gospel?(cf.
- Matthew 4:17).
- The good news of the return of exile announced by Isaiah.
- The good news of fulfilling God’s promises of salvation will be appreciated only by those who repent of their sins and believe in the gospel.
The gospel in the synoptics focuses on the death of Jesus’ Resurrection, because Jesus’ passion and resurrection dominate history in the three books. This is the highlight of the story! There is no kingdom without a cross, Jesus came to save His people from their sins?(Matthew 1:21) and this salvation is fulfilled only with his death on their behalf, in which he gave his life in ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; cfr. Mark 10:45). Some who speak of the kingdom say little about conversion, but even a quick look at the synoptic gospels indicates that conversion is the key: no one will be able to enter the kingdom without it (see Mark 10:17-31).
The centrality of conversion is also evident in the Gospel of John (John 20:31). John uses the verb?Do you believe?98 times in the gospel, emphasizing the importance of this topic in your gospel. Believing is not a passive act in John. John uses a variety of terms to communicate the depth and activity of faith: believing is like eating, drinking, seeing, hearing, living, coming, entering, receiving, and obeying. The radical nature of conversion is expressed through several verbs that John uses to describe what it means to believe that Jesus is Christ. Life (life in the next century) belongs only to those who believe in Jesus as “the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). In other words, only those who convert enjoy eternal life.
It seems clear from the previous discussion that conversion plays a central role in the Gospels and we can draw the same conclusion from the Book of Acts in Acts we find a variety of sermons in which the gospel is exposed to listeners (for example, Acts 2. 14-41; 3. 11-26; 13. 16-41) Those who heard were generally called to repentance (Acts 2. 38; 3. 19; 8. 22; 17. 30; 26. 20) , which is also defined as?For God (Acts 3. 19; 9. 35, 40; 11. 21; 14. 15; 15. 19; 26. 18, 20; 28. 27) The Gospel message implies an urgent call to turn against sin and this old life; At the same time, those who had heard the good news were called to believe and exercise faith (Acts 16:31; 26:18) Indeed, the word?It is used about 30 times in Acts to describe Christians, indicating that faith characterizes those who belong to Christ.
It is not surprising that conversion plays an important role in Acts, as the book records the expansion of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome (Acts 1. 8; cf. 1. 6; 14. 22). However, it should also be noted that the kingdom of God is a major theme in Acts. He frames the book at the beginning (Acts 1. 3) and at the end (Acts 28. 31). Paul preached the gospel in Rome (Acts 20. 35; 28:23, 31) and Philip, who evangelized them over the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ?(Acts 8. 12), demonstrating that the kingdom is centered on the gospel; the proclaimed gospel called listeners, as we have seen above, to repentance and faith. Therefore, we have one more proof that conversion is the center of any proclamation of the kingdom. Restoring the world to God’s rule is the glorious hope of believers, but only those who have repented and believed will appreciate the new world to come. Those who refuse to believe, as Acts often points out, will be judged.
Paul does not often use the term kingdom of God, but his eschatological vision of the world is well known and he agrees with the eschatological character of the kingdom. Like the Gospels, it proclaims eschatology – not yet / not yet. that faith and repentance are crucial themes in pauline epistles Paul generally teaches that justification and salvation are obtained only through faith (see Romans 3. 21-4. 25; 9. 30-10. 17; 1 Corinthians 15. 1-4; Galatians 2. 16-4. 7; Ephesians 2. 8- 9; Philippians 3. 2-11). He does not use the word repentance so often, but he is not completely absent (for example, Romans 2. 4; 2 Corinthians 3. 16, 1 Thessaloniki 1. 9; 2 Timothy 2. 25). Paul uses many terms to describe the work of God’s salvation in Christ, including salvation, justification, redemption, reconciliation, adoption, propitiation, etc. It is indisputable that the work of God’s salvation in Christ plays an important role in Pauline theology, but such salvation is guaranteed only for those who believe, for those who convert.
According to Paul, believers anxiously await the return of Jesus Christ and the restoration of creation (Romans 8. 18-25; 1 Thessaloniki 1. 10); and yet only those who become will belong to the new creation to come. Therefore, Paul works hard to spread the gospel among the Gentiles (Colossus 1:24-2. 5), struggling to bring the gospel to those who have never heard it (Romans 15:22-29), so that they may be in the group of those who are saved.
The remaining Letters of the New Testament are occasional writings addressed to specific situations; however, the importance of conversion is established or implied; for example, we find in Hebrews that only those who believe and obey will enter the rest of the times of the end. (Hebrews 3: 18-19; 4. 3; 11: 1-40) James has often been misunderstood, but when interpreted correctly, he teaches that a contrite faith is necessary for justification (James 2:14-26). he teaches that salvation is done by faith (1 Peter 1. 5; 2 Peter 1. 1) and 1 John was written to assure believers that they have eternal life (1 John 5. 13).
The book of Revelation completes history, assuring believers that the kingdom of God, which has already come in Jesus Christ, will be consummated. Those who do evil and commit themselves to the Beast will be judged forever, but those who endure to the end will enter the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem. Revelation emphasizes that only those who repent (Revelation 2. 5, 16, 21, 22; 3. 3, 19; 9. 20-21; 16. 9, 11) will find life.
In short, conversion is certainly not the central theme of the scriptures; believers were made to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, and we will do so both in this world and in the world to come.
But conversion is fundamental and fundamental to history, because only converts will benefit from the new creation; human beings must turn away from sin and turn to God to be saved; they must repent of their sins and believe in the crucified and risen gospel of Jesus. Christ, it will be of little comfort on the last day if someone has contributed modestly or even significantly to the improvement of this world (however useful), if it is not converted.
By: Thomas R. Schreiner. © 2012 9Marks. Original: Conversion into the New Testament.
Translation: Matheus Fernandes Freitas de Castro. Critica: Vinicius Musselman. © 2016 Faithful Ministérium. All rights reserved. Website: MinistryFiel. com. br. Original: Conversion is about moving from sin to God.
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