Conversion is more than being brought into a propositional decision; it is to hear the call of Christ and to follow as His dedicated disciple. Our plans of salvation have misunderstood the gospel and made discipleship and holiness unnecessary. Jesus calls us to be saved by losing our life. He calls us to die to live. He calls us to a cross. Following Him changes our worldview, our value system and our total manner of living. Following Jesus will make us walk in a different manner than the prevailing culture.
And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Mark 8:34-35 (NASB)
