Speaking In Tongues Does Not Equal Salvation.

[BroGary]

Originally Posted by Barb

So, what then is conversion?

Peter said, Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19).

The Strong's Dictionary reads that repent means to be sorry, while converted means to turn around or reverse.

IMO, one can be genuinely contrite for a lot of reasons...

A song convicts them and they are moved to repentance. A message is so moving as to bring them to an altar.

They are sincerely sorry and regret the sin, thus they confess their sin to the Lord and repent.

But without a true conversion of the heart and mind...a total turn around and desire to never return to the place they were before, they will return to it.

"repent" does infer more than "just" being sorry but also infers action in making a change in the direction of one's life.

from the merriam-webster.com dictionary:

"1 : to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life"

Someone we know who spent time in England while in the military noticed that when the Brittish soldiers were marching in formation and the drill instructer wanted them to go in the opposition direction they would give the command "REPENT !", which they understood meant to do an 180 degree turn and go in the opposite direction.

the word "converted" from merriam-webster.com includes:

"1 a : to bring over from one belief, view, or party to another"

So it would seem to repent and be converted would mean to be sorry enough for your sins that you take action in making a change in your life's direction from a life of sin, and also change (convert) your belief from how you used to believe to the gospel truth, and of course if you really believe the truth you will also obey the truth and be baptized in Jesus name and seek to receive the Holy Ghost.