Do Religious People Need Converting?

Many think that because one is religious and honest, he is acceptable to the Lord. But many people whose conversions are recorded in the book of Acts were sincere, religious people. This shows that at least in some instances religious people do need converting.

These are some Bible examples which show that religious people sometime do need converting.

1) The people on Pentecost were religious. "Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven" were those from whom the first converts to the Christian faith were made (Acts 2:5). They had assembled at Jerusalem to observe the religious worship which was celebrated at that time. Although they were religious, they needed conversion.

2) Another example of a religious person who needed salvation was the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-39). That he was very religious is evidenced by his coming to Jerusalem to worship. On his journey home we find him reading the sacred writings of his religion. Philip came to him, and the eunuch was willing to have Philip guide him in understanding his reading. This man was religious and also religiously honest, which is very commendable. Ask yourself this question: If I were to learn that the religion which I have been professing were not in harmony with the will of God, would I give it up, as this officer did?

3) Saul of Tarsus was a very religious man, and his conversion is only one more New Testament example of a religious person who needed to change (Acts 9:12). Although he was conscientious, he was wrong (Acts 23:1; Acts 24:16; 1 Timothy 1:12-16). No man is right merely because he thinks he is right.

4) No better moral nor religious man can be found than was Cornelius. Yet he needed to obey the gospel of Christ. no one is saved merely because he is good. Today there are many good, moral people outside of Christ who need scriptural conversion.

All religious persons who have not obeyed the commands, as recorded in the Bible, have not been truly converted to Christ, and they still need to follow the steps outlined, in this study, in order to receive pardon.

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