EXAMPLES OF CHRISTIAN CONVERSION
AND RELATED PASSAGES 
Contents of this Page.
I.  Introduction
II.  Table on Examples of Conversion In the Book of Acts
III.  Bible Passages On...
        Preaching
        Faith
        Repentance
        Confession
        Baptism (Immersion In Water)
        Salvation 

Introduction:
Salvation is a gift of God to man.  Man does not and could not earn it.  It is a gift--period.  However, man has a responsibility to accept that gift.  He needs it because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23, 6:23).  "But God demonstrated His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8.  Also see John 3:16).

Man is told he must come to God to accept the gift of salvation, and accepting that gift requires man's repentance and obedience.  Unfortunately, few come.  On the matter Jesus says,

How does one respond to God's grace to accept the gift of salvation?  What distinguishes the believer from the unbeliever?  Are there examples in the New Testament of what believers did to accept God's mercy of salvation?

The book called The Acts Of The Apostles (or simply known as Acts) is a record of how Christianity spread from Jerusalem into the Middle East and then westward into the Mediterranean region.  Numerous conversions were recorded and described.  Below is a chart listing each conversion and what is mentioned as had happened.
 
 

EXAMPLES OF CONVERSION 
In the Book of Acts
PREACHING BELIEVED REPENTED CONFESSED BAPTIZED SAVED
The Crowd at Pentecost 
Acts 2:14-41 
 
Pierced to the heart and they asked, "What shall we do?" verse 37 Told to repent
verses 37-38
  Told to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. verse 2:38.  3,000 baptized that day.  2:41. Then they shall receive gift of Holy Spirit. 
verse 38
City of Samaria 
Acts 8:5-13 
 
They believed Philip's preaching of the good news. 
verse 12
    They were being baptized, men and women alike. 
verse 12
 
Ethiopian Eunuch, Court Official of Queen Candace 
Acts 8:26-39 
 
Believed when asked, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" 
verses 36-37
  Confessed "I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 
verse 37
They both went down into the water together. Philip baptized him. 
verse 38
Went on his way rejoicing. 
verse 39
Saul of Tarsus (who later became Paul the Apostle) 
Acts 9:1-19 
(Retold in  Acts 22:3-16 and 
Acts 26:12-18) 
 
Believed when asked, "What shall I do, Lord?"  verse 22:10   Immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." verse 9:20. 
Calling on His name. 
verse 22:16
Arose and was baptized. 
verse 9:18. 
"Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name." verse 22:16
So that he "be filled with Holy Spirit." verse 9:17. 
Sins washed away. 
verse 22:16.
Cornelius, the Roman Centurion (1st Gentile Convert) 
Acts 10:1-48 
(Retold in Acts 11:1-18. cf Acts 15:7-11) 
Devout. 10:2. 
Already knew the Gospel in advance. verse 10:37.  "[Peter] shall speak words to you by which you will be saved." 11:14.
    Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 
verse 48
"Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." 
verse 43
The Jailer at Philippi and His Household 
Acts 16:23-34 
 
"Believed in God with his whole household." 
verse 31, 34
    "Immediately he was baptized, he and all his household." 
verse 33
Rejoiced greatly. 
verse 34
Lydia, Seller of Purple Fabrics 
Acts 16:13-15 
 
Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 
verse 14
    She and her household were baptized
verse 15
 
PREACHING BELIEVED REPENTED CONFESSED BAPTIZED SAVED
Note:  Though not every conversion is described in complete detail (e.g. repentance or confession is not always discussed), it is interesting to note baptism (immersion is water) is mentioned each and every time.

III.  Bible Passages On... Preaching, Faith, Repentance, Confession   Baptism (Immersion In Water), Salvation.
Below are some verses that mention man's involvement with and acceptance of God's gift of salvation.
 

PREACHING
Acts 8:35 "And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him."
Romans 10:14 "How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?"
1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness,
2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.
Galatians 1:6-9 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.
Philippians 1:15- 
18
Some to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.  What then?  Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.
2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
 
 
FAITH
Luke 7:50 And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Romans 1:5 "through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name's sake"
Romans 5:1-2 Therefor having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 16:26- 
27
but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever.  Amen.
Galatians 5:5 "For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness."
Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith is is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
James 2:16-17 And one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead being by itself.
James 2:24-26 You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?  For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
 
 
REPENTANCE
Mark 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark 6:12 And they went out and preached that men should repent.
Luke 13:3  I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 24:47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
 
 
CONFESSION
Matthew 10:32-33 Everyone therefore who shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
John 12:42-43 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
Romans 10:9-10 "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
2 Corinthians 9: 
13 
Because of the proof given by this ministry they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, 
1 Timothy 6:13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
 
BAPTISM (Immersion In Water)
Matthew 3:5-6 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea, and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.
Mark 1:4-5 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;
Luke 3:21-22 Now it came about when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also was baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased." 
Luke 7:29-30 And when all the people and the tax-gatherers heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John.  But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.
John 1:25-28 And they asked him, and said to him, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"  John answered them saying, "I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.  It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."  These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John 4:1-3 When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.
Matthew 28:18- 
20
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in  heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"  And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:3-7 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.
Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
1 Peter 3:21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
 [See the discussion page on baptism.]
 
SALVATION
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
I Thessalonians  
5:9-10
For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation though our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
2 Timothy 2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 9:27-28 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without sin to those who eagerly await Him.
1 Peter 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
 

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