A great deal of confusion exists about true conversion. Scripture shows that a person must repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit, keep God's commandments, work to overcome sins, and bear the fruits of God's Spirit to be considered converted. Such a person has transformed from an old life to a completely new one in Christ. A person is called converted when he repents, accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior, is baptized, and receives the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. However, conversion is not a one-time event but a lifelong process that begins with a single event. God converts us upon the receipt of the Holy Spirit, yet we have the remainder of our lives to live according to God's instructions and to imitate the holy, righteous character of Jesus Christ. Our initial conversion is merely the first touch of God's mind upon us, with much further to go. Truly, we will not be completely converted to God and His way of life until we are changed to spirit in the resurrection from the dead. Those recently baptized and having received God's Spirit are newborns in this lifelong process of transformation to reflect the righteous character of God. Conversion is described as growth from childhood to maturity, a process of spiritual development from carnal immaturity to Christ-like maturity, or in its ultimate sense, divine perfection. As Christians, we must go through this spiritual transformation of character until God considers us ready to fulfill the destiny and office He has prepared for us. Conversion as a process mirrors the natural human growth of a child, where a newly regenerated Christian must grow and mature from a state of carnality to spirituality, from flesh to Spirit.

Conversion is primarily a process, a transformation of a Christian's nature from human and carnal to godly and spiritual. Much of this transformation occurs in the mind, putting off selfish, sinful beliefs, inclinations, and approaches, and putting on their holy and righteous counterparts. However, conversion must also manifest in changed behavior, the fruit of God's Spirit accomplishing its miraculous work in us. Despite becoming Christians, some fail to continue in the process of spiritual transformation, retaining their pre-conversion natures, which expose themselves in carnal behavior. Conversion is the process of exercising mental and spiritual faculties of reason, understanding, and judgment. If we are not making judgments about events in our lives, determining whether they are right or wrong, and endeavoring to correct those that are wrong, then we are failing in our conversion and are in danger of neglecting our salvation and drifting away. We are encouraged to show diligence, earnestness, zeal, and deep commitment with eagerness, dedicating our lives to this spiritual transformation and sticking with it to the end. Christianity is not for the lazy; we must strive to add to our faith qualities such as virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. If we work to instill these godly attributes into our characters, we will produce the kind of fruit that God wants to see in us. Spiritual growth and producing fruit make our calling sure, and our maturity as Christians is based upon zealously and diligently working to move our conversion along. Real conversion is the transformation of our characters, intellects, emotions, actions, words, and very thoughts into the divine nature of God Himself. We must make becoming more like Christ a daily goal, cooperating with God in being transformed to His image.

Sin plays a central role in the necessity of conversion, as there would be no need for it without sin's destructive effects on humanity. Sin and the anti-God world it has created are what Christians must turn from to follow God's way of life. God provides a clear call to conversion in Ezekiel 18:30-31, urging repentance and the casting away of transgressions to gain a new heart and spirit. Conversion is understood as a process, not a singular event, where one turns toward righteousness and holiness over time. If a converted person sins, they do not automatically become unconverted, as reverting to an unconverted state requires time and habitual sin. The battle against sin is ongoing, and even with God's Spirit, a converted person is not perfect but is constantly striving toward perfection under God's guidance. The process of conversion involves step-by-step transformation into the image of Christ, one change at a time. It is not a solitary endeavor but a cooperative effort with God, who works through His Spirit to transform us into what He has purposed. This spiritual, creative process is God's workmanship, guiding us throughout, though perfection remains unattainable in this life due to inherent human self-centeredness.

The concept of conversion raises critical questions about who can be converted and what it truly means to be converted. According to the Scriptures, such as Romans 8:6-9, 13-16, and as Peter preaches in Acts 3:19 at Solomon's Porch, conversion involves a definitive moment of transformation. Peter urges, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." He emphasizes repentance and baptism as immediate steps, likening conversion to a sudden act, like snapping one's fingers. When we repent, accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, are baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit, we are considered converted, having forsaken our old way of life to embrace God's path. Yet, conversion is not only an instantaneous event but also an ongoing process.

The goal of the conversion process is to transform us into the spiritual image of God, as He declared in Genesis 1:26, creating mankind in His image and likeness. Though we are born in the bodily likeness of God, He calls us to be converted into His spiritual image, reflecting His mind, personality, and character. This ongoing spiritual creation continues as long as there are human beings to transform, with each Christian becoming a new creation. In this process, we are to put off the old man—our sinful nature that separates us from God—and put on the new man, a nature created according to God in righteousness and true holiness. This involves forsaking destructive behaviors, such as lying and stealing, and adopting godly behaviors, like speaking truth and working to give to others, with the help of His Spirit. Through this, God is creating His image within us. Christians are called to die to their old lives and embrace a new way of life, the life of God. If we successfully work through this process of salvation, being converted into the image of our Creator, we will be resurrected in glory at Christ's return. We are being transformed into the same image as Christ, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord. Now, as children of God, we are in the process of becoming like Him, purifying ourselves to the righteousness and holiness of Christ, with His Spirit assisting us in fulfilling this calling.