Scripture References: Acts 3:19-20
The word converted means to make a 190 degree turn from one direction to another. It's like walking south and turn completely around to walk north. When it comes to the things of God to be converted means to be turned from a natural life of sin to a spiritual life of righteousness, which is totally opposite one from the other. To be converted is not just a decision made in the mind to change your life and then start going to church to hear what the Bible says, and to sing the songs of praises, and to praise God, and to pay tithes, etc.
That's like asking God to save you and take for granted that he did,not realizing it takes Gods word to save you. The natural man has theability to change their mind about a lot of things, but he cannotchange his way of life by changing his mind and then try to live adifferent life like millions are doing today.
A person can change theirmind, but they cannot change their heart; only God can do that.Conversion takes place the moment that Christ truly comes into theheart making a change in the heart. There are millions of people thathas changed their mind about the life they are living and they desireto become a Christian, but that change has only caused them to try anddo the things that God requires of them as being a Christian, but theyfail miserably and find that they cannot do what they should. When theyfind themselves in this predicament, they are told by the ministry oftheir church that God has forgiven them of their sins and they cannever be able to cease from sin. And so they are told just to ask Godcontinually to forgive them of the sins they continue to commit and Godwill continue to forgive them of their sins as long as they live. Theyare told that the blood of Christ covers their sins and God no longercan see their sins, but can only see Christ in them, as long as theyask God to forgive them. This is total deception, but they cannot seethe truth of the matter and will end up suffering the consequences ofthe second death in the lake of fire.
True conversion takes place the very moment that Christ comes into theheart, but for Christ to come into the heart is not done by merelyasking him into your heart or just to invite him into your heart likemillions are believing today. This is why there is no change at all inthe millions of confessing Christians today as they continue to sin andeven call themselves sinners. They have not been converted simplybecause they only made a decision in their minds to change their life,but a change in the mind does not make a change in the heart. Only Godcan make a change in the heart and he does so when the Spirit takes uphis abode in the heart. Making a decision to change your life in yourmind cannot change your heart nor can it change your life. The only waythat your heart and life can be changed is for Christ to truly comeinto your heart, which can only be done by believing what Gods word hasto say about it. Yes, you must have a change of mind about your sinfullife, but you must then believe and do what Revelation 3:20 revealsthat says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear myvoice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,and he with me." Just to change your mind and to ask Christ into yourheart and life is not how or why Christ will come into your heart, butrather you must change your mind and then do exactly what Jesus said todo as stated in Revelation 3:20. If you have changed your mind and youdesire to become a true disciple of Christ, which is a follower ofChrist, then you must hear his word and open your hearts door to thatword and then Christ will come into your heart and make a spiritualchange in your heart. The word you must hear, which is his voice, iswhat Peter said in Acts 2:38 that simply says, "Then Peter said untothem, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of JesusChrist for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of theHoly Ghost" Doing this will impart the Spirit of Christ into your heartand his Spirit will purify your heart making that change in your heartby cleansing all the sin and evil that it contained. This is the workthat God begins and will complete it as the Spirit will begin to leadyou into all truth that will conform you to the image and likeness ofChrist. He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit issaying to the churches...amen