"True conversion." This conversion is the foundational, life-altering event where a person turns from a life of sin to a life of following Jesus Christ. It is marked by repentance, faith, and a submission to God's will.

"take up your cross and follow me" is found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus says, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me, Sin is treason to God

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​True conversion is where an individual's life is fundamentally changed by the Holy Spirit.

John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

James 1:2 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

 Christ came to free us from the curse of sin and death.

Christ came to teach us how to live.

Christ came to teach us how to love God and our fellow man

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A false conversion, conversely, is a profession of faith that lacks this authentic inner change, resulting in a life that doesn't align with Scripture says 

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True Conversion

 

A true conversion is seen as a supernatural work of God in a person's heart, leading to a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Key characteristics include:

• Genuine Repentance: This involves a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a confession of it to God, and a decisive turning away from sinful practices and desires. It's a change of mind and direction, not just regret over consequences.

• Saving Faith: True conversion is marked by placing complete trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, recognizing His death and resurrection as the full payment for sins.

• Indwelling of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit takes residence in the believer, empowering them to live a new life, understand scripture, and grow spiritually.

• Love for God and Others: A genuine convert develops a growing love for God and a desire to obey His commandments, particularly the command to love one's neighbor.

• Desire for Holiness and Righteousness: While not perfect, a true Christian will have a new appetite for righteousness and a diminishing desire for worldly things. There's a clear trajectory of growth away from sin.

• Bearing Fruit: The transformed life produces "fruit of the Spirit" such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This fruit is evidence of the inner change.

• Perseverance: True faith endures through trials, persecutions, and temptations. While struggles occur, the commitment to Christ remains.

 

False Conversion

 

A false conversion is a superficial or incomplete adoption of Christian beliefs or practices without the vital spiritual rebirth. It can be deceptive, both to the individual and to others. Signs of a false conversion often include:

• Lack of Deep Repentance: The individual may express regret for negative consequences or societal disapproval, but not for the sin itself as an offense against God. There's no fundamental turning away from a sinful lifestyle.

• Self-Serving Motivation: The "conversion" may be motivated by external factors like seeking social acceptance, avoiding perceived punishment (like hell, often called "fire insurance"), gaining personal benefits (e.g., financial help, a spouse), or simply wanting an easier life, rather than a genuine desire for God.

• No Lasting Change in Behavior or Desire: Despite verbal profession, the person's character, habits, and fundamental desires remain largely unchanged, reflecting an ongoing love for the world and its ways (1 John 2:15-16).

• Lack of Spiritual Hunger: There's little to no genuine desire for God's Word, prayer, fellowship with other believers, or spiritual growth. Religious activities become burdensome or merely performative.

• Falling Away Under Pressure: When faced with persecution, difficulty, or the allure of worldly temptations, a false convert often "falls away" because their faith has no deep roots (Matthew 13:20-21, the parable of the rocky soil).

• Absence of Godly Fruit: There is little to no evidence of the Holy Spirit's transforming work in their life. Any "good works" may stem from self-righteousness or a desire for human praise rather than genuine love for God and others.

• Spiritual Pride or Legalism: A false convert may exhibit an inflated sense of their own righteousness, judge others harshly, or focus on outward rule-keeping without an internal change of heart.

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The Bible warns that not everyone who professes faith will enter heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). The ultimate test of a genuine conversion is the long-term fruit produced in one's life, demonstrating an ongoing transformation by the Holy Spirit.