Someone has said that a Christian  undergoes three conversions: “First to Christ, then to the church, and then back to the world.” We see examples of this in Acts, where 3,000 people declared their conversion to Christ by being baptised (2:41). Then they demonstrated their conversion to the church by devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and enjoying fellowship with other believers. “Having favour with all the people” (2:47) suggests they were also helping others. Later, when persecution scattered them, they “went everywhere preaching the word” (8:4). This was their conversion back to the world.

Conversion is first of all a commitment to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. This brings salvation. But once we know Jesus as our Saviour, it is only natural to want to join a fellowship of others who share the same faith. ‘Lone ranger’ Christians—people who don’t want to get involved—tend either to slip back into their old ways or become smug and self-righteous. Although spending time with other believers is vital, there is more to our responsibility. We need to return to the world with compassion, loving deeds and kind words. It takes only one conversion to be saved but all three to be what God wants us to be.

Author

Herbert Vander Lugt

Topics

Our Daily Bread