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By Hank Walker | Pastor at Peach City Fellowship

As we continue our journey through the Ordo Salutis (Order of Salvation), we now turn our attention to CONVERSION. Often confused with regeneration, conversion is fundamentally different. Whereas, regeneration is WHOLLY the work of the Spirit in giving a new life and a new heart (Ezek. 36:26-27; Jer. 31:31-34). Conversion explains how the regenerated sinner RESPONDS to the Gospel THROUGH repentance and faith. The former is ALL GOD; the latter is US RESPONDING with our newly “born again” hearts and minds. But make no mistake: We CANNOT respond to the Gospel as we ought without God regenerating us first!

Even so, is it not comforting to know that in conversion, God even GRANTS the repentance and faith necessary for us to be justified (declared righteous) unto salvation? Consider these words: “…Well then, God has GRANTED to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18b); or, “He [a Christian] must gently reprove those who [non-Christians] oppose him, in the hope that God may GRANT them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:25). Moreover, faith is also GRANTED by grace: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and THIS IS NOT OF YOUR OWN DOING; it [FAITH] is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).

Therefore, when one speaks of conversion, one is speaking of the multi-faceted way whereby God, by regeneration [the new birth], GRANTS salvation through repentance and faith in the Gospel. In this way we EXPERIENCE and PARTICIPATE in salvation, but do not CAUSE it. God must do it all, or it is not grace. Sure, if you have been converted, you remember a time of hearing the Gospel—really hearing it—for the first time. You also remember the “change of mind” [repentance] that took place in your heart, along with the new trust, reliance, dependence, and commitment that new faith represented.

What the Bible testifies to us, however, is that we did not convert ourselves. It was the loving work of God that wrought these changes in us. This is why we should praise God every day for His gracious work in and through us, “being confident of this very thing, that He who BEGAN a good work in you WILL PERFECT IT until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).

Grace and peace, y’all. Soli Deo Gloria