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4:29,39; the eunuch, Acts 8:30 ff.; Cornelius, Acts 10:44 ff.; Paul, Acts 9:5 ff.; Lydia, Acts 16:14.
and others.
4. REPEATED CONVERSION.
The Bible also speaks of a repeated conversion, in which a
converted person, after a temporary lapse into the ways of sin, turns back to God. Strong
prefers not to use the word “conversion” for this change, but to employ such words and
phrases as “breaking off, forsaking, returning from, neglects or transgressions,” and “coming
back to Christ, trusting Him anew.” But Scripture itself uses the word “conversion” for such
cases, Luke 22:32; Rev. 2:5,16,21,22; 3:3,19. It should be understood, however, that conversion
in the strictly soteriological sense of the word is never repeated. They who have experienced a
true conversion may temporarily fall under the spell of evil and fall into sin; they may at times
even wander far from home; but the new life is bound to re-assert itself and will eventually
cause them to return to God with penitent hearts.
C. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CONVERSION.
Conversion is simply one part of the saving process. But because it is a part of an organic
process, it is naturally closely connected with every other part. Sometimes a tendency becomes
apparent, especially in our country, to identify it with some of the other parts of the process or
to glorify it as if it were by far the most important part of the process. It is a well known fact
that some, in speaking of their redemption, never get beyond the story of their conversion and
forget to tell about their spiritual growth in later years. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that
in their experience conversion stands out as a sharply marked crisis, and a crisis which called for
action on their part. In view of the present day tendency to lose sight of the lines of
demarcation in the saving process, it is well to remind ourselves of the truth of the old Latin
adage, “Qui bene distinguet, bene docet.” We should note the following characteristics of
conversion:
1. Conversion belongs to the re-creative rather than to the judicial acts of God. It does not alter
the state but the condition of man. At the same time it is closely connected with the divine
operations in the judicial sphere. In conversion man becomes conscious of the fact that he is
worthy of condemnation and is also brought to a recognition of that fact. While this already
presupposes faith, it also leads to a greater manifestation of faith in Jesus Christ, a confident
trusting in Him for salvation. And this faith, in turn, by appropriating the righteousness of Jesus
Christ, is instrumental in the sinner’s justification. In conversion man awakens to the joyous
assurance that all his sins are pardoned on the basis of the merits of Jesus Christ.
2. As the word metanoia clearly indicates, conversion takes place, not in the subconscious, but
in the conscious life of the sinner. This does not mean that it is not rooted in the subconscious