Genuinely Converted

Excerpts from the Preface, Introduction and Conclusion of Genuinely Converted. Genuine Christian Conversion is at the heart of the all-important question that multiple millions of people on earth are asking, such as: “Why in the world am I here?” Or “What is the purpose of my life?” These fundamental questions are in many people’s minds because the universe is created and ordered by God for a purpose. A huge number of people do not realize that one of the chief reasons we are here on earth is not just to have fun and please ourselves, but it is to please God. This is according to the Bible, and Christian catechism. We are here also to be like Christ, and after here to reign with Christ forever. Another main reason why we are here on earth is to be part of Gods family, and to serve God together with other children of God. Once we experience conversion, Christ becomes the center of our universe. He becomes the source, the purpose, the goal, and the motivation of all that we are, and do. Life takes on a new meaning, and we can effectively live out the reasons why we are here. Those major life questions of why we are here, what we are here for, etc., are in people’s minds because God wants us to seek Him and find Him so that we can discover His purpose for our lives. God, in His love for us, humans, wants us to enter into a Christ-centered relationship with Him. This relationship with God is like a journey. For some, the journey could be long, for others it could be short. But whether it is long, like the journey of a thousand miles, or a brief journey, as the Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu said, the journey “must begin with a single step". Similarly, the Christian life is a journey, and the first step of the Christian journey is called conversion. For anyone who is serious about their salvation and their successful earthly journey as a true Christian, there is not a better starting point, and not any other option, biblically speaking, than to start with conversion. Genuine conversion is part of the Order and Kingdom agenda that God has put in place. If someone remains unconverted, they are operating outside of this Order that God has set up. In other words, the unconverted are at cross purposes with God’s plan for their lives. The truth of the Word of God is that anyone who ignores this most important matter does so at their own great peril. The Bible makes it clear that to be converted is an absolute necessity for one to enter the Kingdom of God. Conversion is God’s plan to bring everyone into a right relationship with Himself. It is the reason why the Savior, Jesus Christ, came. It is the reason for which Jesus died the sacrificial, substitutionary death on the cross. Paul clearly elucidates it this way: “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). When we allow this reconciliation between God and man to happen, that is conversion (1Timothy 2:5). Many of the people who think or claim that they are Christians may not really be, and they may not even know it. This book is written to spell out the concrete, recognizable signs that authentic, Christian conversion has occurred. Gaining clear insight into what conversion really is, and genuinely experiencing conversion, is the only way for anyone to hope for heaven, live out God’s purpose for their life, and be who they are here on earth to be. Book Outline: The book begins in chapter 1 with a look at what Conversion is not, then it quickly looks at what true Christian Conversion is, and the Signs of genuine Christian Conversion. Then the book examines seven of the chief signs of genuine conversion, especially as seen from Acts 2:22-47. Those concrete signs include recognition of God’s love, repentance from sin, rejoicing in the fellowship with other believers, being rooted in God’s Word and prayer, recruiting others through evangelism, soul winning and discipleship, reaping the fruit of the Spirit, such as: love, joy, peace, repeatedly praising the Lord, and being favored. After discussing the signs of true Christian conversion using real life illustrations, the book points out that the Christian Gospel has been reduced to Conversion only. The next chapter of the book discusses six of the false gospels being preached today that do not enhance genuine conversion. In contrast to these false gospels, the book gives the description and the message of the true Gospel which is Gods power for Salvation for every believer. It also discusses reasons, (including the Rapture, and the Great Tribulation) for responding decisively and urgently to the Gospel message. The last chapter of the book is primarily directed to Shepherds (priests and spiritual leaders). The key question to the Shepherds is why should they care if their members are genuinely converted or not? The chapter highlights Gods warning for unfaithful or deceitful shepherds and points out that God is going to test the quality of each person's work with fire. The book ends with the Conclusion that Christian Conversion whether it is spontaneous and dramatic or gradual and drawn-out, must be based on the true gospel, and this conversion experience, though a most important first step, is only the beginning or the starting line of the Christian race and not the finish line or the end of the race. Discipleship is the continuation of the lifelong race of the Christian life. While conversion can be an instantaneous experience, like the conversion of the thief on the cross, next to the cross of Jesus (Luke 23:39-43 [NIV]), or a process that begins at a point in time and progresses or gets completed over a period of time, like the conversion of the Jewish Rabbi Nicodemus (John 3:1-21 [NIV]), discipleship, which is getting formed into the image of Christ, on the other hand, is a much longer growth process.