Is your conversion to Christ imaginary or real?

"If conversion makes no improvement in the person in relation to his actions, then I think this 'conversion' is largely imaginary." (C.S. Lewis).

We must be diligent about being born again and our future in eternity. What would an imaginary conversion to Christ look like? It’s a conversion that might possess all the characteristics of a true one. Still, it lacks the main element of being born again. John 3:3 says, Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” A person can behave, speak, dress like a converted person, attend church regularly, and still not go to heaven.

The other day, I heard the testimony of a pastor who went to a hospital to visit an excellent Bible school teacher from his church who had been teaching for ten years. The teacher was terminally ill. In a candid conversation with the pastor, he said he would like to accept Jesus as his only Lord and Savior because he knew he had not yet been born again. There are thousands or millions of people in this same condition.

Raising a hand in response to an appeal, going to the altar, and having the title of a Christian is not enough. Something deeper needs to happen within us. There is a multitude of people going through life thinking they are converted. Ultimately, they will hear: “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:23). We must examine ourselves honestly in the light of God’s word.

An imaginary conversion can happen for various reasons. For instance, a crisis might lead someone to attend a church and feel comfortable there. But they never truly experience a spiritual rebirth. Others might have grown up in a Christian household, but without being born again, their salvation remains imaginary. Some adopt a church’s moral standards to enhance their family or social status. Some enjoy the social aspects of church life without experiencing genuine spiritual rebirth.

To gain mercy from Christ’s death and be saved, we must meet the requirements outlined in the New Testament. These include believing in Him, accepting Him, turning away from sin, obeying Him, humbling ourselves like children, and loving Him more than our families, possessions, and lives. These are the characteristics of a Christ-following life.

When we genuinely convert, a spiritual change occurs. For instance, we develop a need to feed on the Word and obey God. 1 John 2:5 says, “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:” It’s an inside-out change, and we won’t seek to satisfy our flesh by engaging in sinful behaviors anymore. 1 John 3:9 states, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” Our life and testimony center on Jesus Christ and the cross where He died for us.

We don’t become perfect when we are born again; we continue to sin. However, there’s a difference between occasional sinning and engaging in habitual sin. 1 John 3:6 says, “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.”

The experience of being born again is a work of the Holy Spirit and is experienced by God’s grace. It’s a supernatural experience. If you’re unsure whether you’ve been born again, that uncertainty likely means you haven’t experienced it yet. Just as witnessing a baby’s birth leaves no doubt, being born again is a real and unforgettable experience. It happens at a specific time and place. Just as we enter this world through physical birth, we enter God’s kingdom through this spiritual rebirth orchestrated by God through His Spirit.

Institutions can sometimes function like a laboratory, attempting to manufacture Christians. But that’s an impossibility. We cannot be born again by our efforts. It’s the work of God through the Holy Spirit. He calls us, touches our lives, prompts us to repent our sins, and invites us to be part of His family, His Church. When we respond positively to His touch, through His Spirit, we are born of God, born into His kingdom, and made into a new creation. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Many transformations occur when we are born again, let us list some of them:

• We become spiritually alive, whereas we were previously dead in sin. Ephesians 2:1 says, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.” 

• We become a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 

• Our spiritual eyes are opened. John 3:3 says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

• The Holy Spirit comes to live within us. Galatians 4:6 says, “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

• We become children of God. (Galatians 4:6).

• We receive a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Acts 8:1-25 brings us the account of the conversion of the sorcerer and magician Simon. He was even baptized. However, when he saw the power of God manifested through the lives of Peter and John, he offered them money to obtain that same power. Then Peter rebuked him, saying he still needed to repent because he was bound by sin.

Real conversion is an entirely personal experience. None of us can assert whether someone is converted or not. However, we recognize the fruits.

If, at the end of this text, you conclude that you haven’t been born again, don’t waste another minute and pray to God expressing your desire and need to be born again truly.

Thank you for being part of the Café com Deus blog. If you enjoyed it, please share and leave your comments. Thank you. Helia.

Sources: www.gotquestions.org and www.desiringod.com