Salvation & Conversion

The invitation to become a Christian by personally trusting and following Jesus — often the closing line of a sermon, a camp talk, or a conversation about faith.

Confidence that one truly is saved and forgiven — the settled sense that your standing with God is secure.

Drifting or falling away from faith and its practice after having committed to it — usually gradual, often temporary.

Having become a Christian — described as a spiritual new beginning, from Jesus' words in John 3 that a person must be "born again."

The uncomfortable inner sense that you're in the wrong and need to change — attributed by Christians to the Holy Spirit. Nothing to do with a courtroom.

To commit to following Jesus — turning your life over to Him — usually at a definite moment, often in response to an invitation at the end of a sermon or event.

The core Christian message — that God loves the world, Jesus lived, died, and rose to make things right, and anyone can be forgiven and made new.

God's undeserved kindness and forgiveness — receiving good you didn't earn and couldn't have.

Half-hearted about faith — going through the motions without commitment. The criticism comes from Revelation 3, where a church is told it's "neither hot nor cold."

Someone who identifies as Christian by background or culture — checks the box, celebrates the holidays — but isn't actively practicing or personally committed.

Extremely enthusiastic about faith — often newly so, and often visibly.

The idea that Christianity is knowing God personally — a living relationship with Jesus — rather than following rules, belonging to an institution, or attending services.

Someone who left the faith or the family and came back — from Jesus' story of a son who squandered his inheritance, hit bottom, and was welcomed home by his father.

Turning away from wrongdoing and toward God — a change of mind and direction, not just feeling bad about something.

Having become a Christian — trusting Jesus for forgiveness and being rescued from sin and its consequences.

A phase of life — "a hard season," "a season of waiting" — understood as temporary and, in some way, God's timing. Duration unspecified.

Someone exploring Christianity who hasn't committed to it — the person a church hopes will walk in the door on Sunday.

Anything that falls short of God's goodness — wrong actions, attitudes, or the underlying human condition of being turned away from God.

A short prayer some Christians say to mark the moment they commit to Jesus — admitting sin, asking forgiveness, and asking Him to take charge of their life. Often led line by line by a pastor or friend.

The story of how someone became a Christian, or of something God has done in their life — told out loud to encourage others.

How a person lives out their faith day to day — their ongoing relationship with God, as opposed to the moment they became a Christian.