Conversion?

[percho]

Looking for a theological definition in Webster is problematic. Why not look to the Bible? The are two places where the ESV translates the Greek using the word "regeneration"--Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5. The Matthew passage is fairly irrelevant to this discussion, but the Titus passage is not. Titus says:

[5] he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, [6] whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5–7 ESV, emphasis mine)
​

This word "regeneration" is παλιγγενεσία, which is a compound word meaning--literally--born again. In this passage, the main verb is "He saved us." If you go back to your gradeschool days and do a bit of diagramming, you'll see that the subject here is "God" and "He" is doing the saving. Why is He doing the saving? He's merciful. How is He doing the saving? "By the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."

So, it is clearly the work of God to both regenerate and renew us. This is perfectly in-step with Jesus' words to Nicodemus in John 3 where Jesus tells him, "You must be born again." Being born again is not something we can do for ourselves; it must be done to us.



In point of fact, the "you" in verse 31 (of Luke 22) is indeed plural... so the sifting is of more than Peter. However, the "you"s in verse 32 are singular and are referring to Peter alone.



The sentiment here is just fine, but it is based on bad exegesis of the passage...

The Archangel

Question relative to ἐπιστρέψας

I notice W&H translates that word as - having - beturned - upon

Does not that translation imply and or state, God is the One who is doing the turning? Maybe by the abundantly shedding of the Holy Spirit?
http://lexiconcordance.com/greek/1994.html

 

[percho]

wherefore, I give you to understand that no one, in the Spirit of God speaking, saith Jesus is anathema, and no one is able to say Jesus is Lord, except in the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 12:3 YLT

Does that verse say to be a believer one has to have the Holy Spirit? Consider also; Rom 8:5 YLT And ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God doth dwell in you; and if any one hath not the Spirit of Christ -- this one is not His;

Does the indwelling of the Holy Spirit make one, a believing one?

 

[percho]

Was Paul going to Damascus, in unbelief, an unbeliever when God/Jesus called him to be put into the ministry?

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 2 Tim 1:12,13

but ye do not believe, for ye are not of my sheep, according as I said to you: My sheep my voice do hear, and I know them, and they follow me, John 10:26,27

And the men who are journeying with him stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice but seeing no one, Acts 9:7
and they who are with me the light did see, and became afraid, and the voice they heard not of him who is speaking to me -- Acts 22:9

Was God calling all of that group unto belief of truth or was God just calling Paul unto belief of truth?

 

[Silverhair]

wherefore, I give you to understand that no one, in the Spirit of God speaking, saith Jesus is anathema, and no one is able to say Jesus is Lord, except in the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 12:3 YLT

Does that verse say to be a believer one has to have the Holy Spirit? Consider also; Rom 8:5 YLT And ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God doth dwell in you; and if any one hath not the Spirit of Christ -- this one is not His;

Does the indwelling of the Holy Spirit make one, a believing one?

No. You are indwelt by the Holy Spirit after you believe.

Eph 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

 

[Brightfame52]

I believe regeneration and conversion are related but different. Regeneration is the impartation of Spiritual life unto a redeemed sinner, and the person is passive, however in conversion the regenerated person is active as they are motivated, led and empowered by the Grace of God and the Spirit. And a regenerate person can and may experience subsequent conversions throughout their life as a believer, but they never need to be regenerated again, that life is indestructible.

 

[tyndale1946]

I believe regeneration and conversion are related but different. Regeneration is the impartation of Spiritual life unto a redeemed sinner, and the person is passive, however in conversion the regenerated person is active as they are motivated, led and empowered by the Grace of God and the Spirit. And a regenerate person can and may experience subsequent conversions throughout their life as a believer, but they never need to be regenerated again, that life is indestructible.

Thank you for bring that up... I have two friends on here one was once an Arminian, turned Calvinist, embraced Sovereign Grace and is now a Sovereign Grace Primitive Baptist... The other was RCC for 35 years and also embraced the Sovereign Grace of the Primitive Baptist... Both saved at regeneration by the Holy Spirit alone before they were converted... Jesus Christ is a Savior!.. Not a denominational one... Brother Glen

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

 

[gb93433]

I just go by what the Bible says in John 16:7-11 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

 

[Brightfame52]

I just go by what the Bible says in John 16:7-11 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Those for whom Christ died, He sends the Spirit to give them Spiritual life and conversion

 

[37818]

Those for whom Christ died, He sends the Spirit to give them Spiritual life and conversion

But not universally. 1 John 2:2.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Those for whom Christ died, He sends the Spirit to give them Spiritual life and conversion

So regeneration is the 1st action by the Holy Ghost and then Conversion is a gradual process that leads the child of God into greater understanding into Gods plan for us.

 

[Brightfame52]

But not universally. 1 John 2:2.

For everyone He died for universally

 

[Brightfame52]

So regeneration is the 1st action by the Holy Ghost and then Conversion is a gradual process that leads the child of God into greater understanding into Gods plan for us.

Conversion is the fruit of regeneration which is the fruit of Christs death Jn 12:32. Those for whom Christ died, He gives them spiritual life from the dead

 

[37818]

Conversion is the fruit of regeneration which is the fruit of Christs death Jn 12:32. Those for whom Christ died, He gives them spiritual life from the dead

But not everyone receives this spiriual life, John 3:18.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Conversion is the fruit of regeneration which is the fruit of Christs death Jn 12:32. Those for whom Christ died, He gives them spiritual life from the dead

Conversion is a spiritual or moral change attending a change of belief. It means to turn from one belief or course to another. Regeneration is a change in one's nature by a spiritual birth, which gives one an inner spiritual nature. Jesus spoke of this to Nicodemus when He said, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). Conversion played a great part in the history of the early church as converts were made through the Gospel; that is, people were influenced or persuaded by the Gospel to turn to Christianity as a way of life. It is basically the same today.

 

[tyndale1946]

Conversion is a spiritual or moral change attending a change of belief. It means to turn from one belief or course to another. Regeneration is a change in one's nature by a spiritual birth, which gives one an inner spiritual nature. Jesus spoke of this to Nicodemus when He said, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). Conversion played a great part in the history of the early church as converts were made through the Gospel; that is, people were influenced or persuaded by the Gospel to turn to Christianity as a way of life. It is basically the same today.

It is not that people stay out of church because of Christ... The sad fact is people stay out of church because of Christians... I observed this when I was a young man, I saw 22 churches split right down the middle... Those on one side could not fellowship with those on the other side... The children of both sides left in droves and because of that the new generation that was suppose to carry on church doctrine and tradition died... And many churches couldn't survive and closed their door forever... When I joined, at the age of 22, I had already lost many friends but had faith that those young people would return, they never did... It took 30 years to heal the breech and by then it was too late... A whole generation was destroyed, so those in church remember, your children are watching... When I was 57, after being in the church for 35 years, our church closed it doors... I was the youngest one in the church... Conversion?... Convert yourself to walk like Christ!... Brother Glen

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

 

[Brightfame52]

But not everyone receives this spiriual life, John 3:18.

False everyone He was lifted up for does, the drawing is eternal spiritual life

 

[Brightfame52]

Conversion is a spiritual or moral change attending a change of belief. It means to turn from one belief or course to another. Regeneration is a change in one's nature by a spiritual birth, which gives one an inner spiritual nature. Jesus spoke of this to Nicodemus when He said, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). Conversion played a great part in the history of the early church as converts were made through the Gospel; that is, people were influenced or persuaded by the Gospel to turn to Christianity as a way of life. It is basically the same today.

Christ death gives conversion to them He died for.

 

[Silverhair]

Christ death gives conversion to them He died for.

But He died for the whole world so you are saying that the whole world is converted, but that is universalism which we know is not biblical so your idea has too be false.

 

[Brightfame52]

But He died for the whole world so you are saying that the whole world is converted, but that is universalism which we know is not biblical so your idea has too be false.

He died for the church

 

[Silverhair]

He died for the church

Well yes He did die for His church, but He was raised again so that those who freely trust in the risen Christ could be saved and thus become one of the elect.

But you limit whom He died for. He did not go to the cross for only those that would believe but for all so that all were able to be saved through Him.

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

1Jn 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

1Ti 2:5 ... the Man Christ Jesus,
1Ti 2:6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, ...

1Ti 4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

And if you are curious as to why Christ would do this for us sinners:

Joh 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
1Ti 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

You have such a limited view of the love of God for His creation. It seems you have a limited view of God Himself.