The Conversion Process

When I was a child, I learned and memorized the steps toward salvation-- hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. These steps, working together, comprise the conversion process which is found in every conversion recorded in the New Testament. Each man responds to the gospel call of salvation differently than another. Some may hear the gospel and are convicted in their hearts, but delay the opportunity to be baptized (Acts 26:28), while others seek to be baptized at that very moment (Acts 8:36). Then, there are those who, for example, hear and believe the word, but remain unrepentant of their sins for a certain period of time.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus taught his disciples this principle. He then explained what it meant. "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience," (Luke 8:11-15).

Hear

Before a person can believe, he must hear the word of God in order to gain a perfect understanding and knowledge of the truth. Paul, in Romans 10:14, said, "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"

We know this to be true, for Jesus commanded his disciples saying, "Go ye into all the word and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost," (Matthew 28:19).

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Believe

The Bible says, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," (Rom. 10:17). The word "faith" in this passage means to believe. You see, "without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him," (Hebrews 11:6).

God desires that you will believe that His word is truth and that it will set you free from sin (John 8:32), in "His only begotten Son," (John 3:15-16), and in "the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek," (Romans 1:18).

Repent

God has always commanded all men to repent of their sins and serve him. Peter says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance," (2 Peter 3:9).

Repentance means a change of heart. When one repents, he is acknowledging the fact that he is a sinner (Romans 3:23) and is willing to do what is right.

Confess

Paul says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation," (Rom. 10:10-11).

When a person confesses, he is acknowledging that Christ is Lord. In Philippians 2:11, Paul says, "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Be Baptized

Baptism puts one into Christ. The Bible says, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life," (Romans 6:3-4).

Salvation occurs after baptism. Jesus says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved," (Mark 16:16).

Conclusion

If you became a Christian other than hearing and believing the word of God, repenting of your sins, confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and being baptized, then you are still not saved. We encourage you not only to read and study God's word, but also attend a church of Christ in your area, for it is God "who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth," (1 Timothy 2:4).

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