It is the evidence that your soul has been redeemed. Salvation is not something one adds to an already established life ... you must be born anew.
Lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man who has been created in God’s image - in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth. Ephesians 4:22-24
A dramatic change took place when Saul (Paul) encountered Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road. His testimony allows us to understand 'conversion' more fully ...
He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was previously a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love found in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:13-14
Paul considered himself to be the 'chief of sinners' because he had been a 'blasphemer' who railed against the Lord and His followers, a 'persecutor' preoccupied with making them suffer, and a 'violent aggressor' inflicting physical pain upon believers in Christ.
But his is a story of 'before and after'. Between the two chapters of Paul's life, he was 'shown mercy'.
Of his conversion, we note ...
Where sin abounded grace did much more abound. (Romans. 5:20) It is the nature of Divine grace to flood all the depths and to overflow all the heights of a sinner’s need. By grace are ye saved. (Ephesians. 2:8).
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:14)
It is far above what we ask or think. Who can fathom it? My grace is sufficient for thee. (2 Corinthians 12:9).
It is through Him that we are renewed. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)
Without which salvation could not be received and enjoyed. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:7–9).
Is your faith a 'before and after' story?
Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3
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