Conversion is
the decisive turning of a person from sin
to God through repentance
and faith in Jesus Christ.
It is the visible,
human response that accompanies
the new birth and marks
the beginning of the Christian life.
In conversion,
a person turns away from self-rule and sin
and turns toward Christ as Savior and Lord.
The word “conversion” comes from a Latin term meaning “to turn around.” In the New Testament, the idea is expressed through words that mean to turn or return to God.
Conversion involves two essential elements that occur together:
True conversion is not merely an emotional experience or a decision to try harder. It is a Spirit-empowered change of direction in a person’s life, resulting from the new birth.
The call to conversion is central to the biblical message:
Conversion is both a single decisive turning at the beginning of the Christian life and the beginning of a lifelong pattern of turning from sin to God.
Conversion is a radical change of direction — a turning from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, and from self to Christ. While it involves human response, it is ultimately the result of God’s gracious work in the heart. True conversion produces lasting fruit and is the doorway into a life of following Jesus.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.