I saw a photo of my boys when they were young. They looked so handsome in their little suits. Hair out of place, and shirt collars poking out in the wrong directions. It must’ve been Easter, I didn’t notice the date. In the background, I saw the furniture in our old living room in the home that our kids grew up in. So many memories flooded my mind as I reminisced about that magic moment captured forever in that photograph. There are some things that you are afraid you will forget so you take a picture of the moment and treasure it. I like to think of salvation as one of those moments, and certainly the most important of our lives. If only we could have a snapshot of the moment—one that we look back on and reminisce so that we never forget the glorious instant when our lives were changed by Jesus. Surely our testimony should be just such a picture.
In one sense, our salvation is like a sculpture that was years in the making—all kinds of activity leading up to the unveiling of a final work, but when we speak of being born again or regenerated in Christ, our salvation is like a photo— it is a decisive and instantaneous event in which a person moves from spiritual death to life through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. I’m not referring to the grand picture of God’s providence at work—turning our life around from start to finish which is certainly a gradual process, but i’m pointing to a supernatural act of God's grace, where—in a decisive moment an individual is regenerated, justified, transformed, and converted, and this, by definition, happens in an instant. This moment marks a clear transition from being under God’s wrath to being in Christ, where everything changes spiritually. “He who has the Son has life.” (1 John 5:13) We neither have part of the Son, nor part of life; it either is or it isn’t. No idea in the Bible lends itself to this conversion point as an undefined or extended journey—only a specific, identifiable, miraculous moment of transformation. This is more than remembering a date on the calendar—it is a moment to be treasured.
Teaching the Pattern in the Epistles
Paul consistently teaches that conversion happens in an instant once people hear the Gospel and respond in faith. He explains that faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17), at some point after individuals hear this message they are faced with the crisis of belief. It is a decision point, not a delayed process. Paul emphasizes that salvation occurs at the moment a person responds in repentance and faith (1 Corinthians 1:21) having heard and understood the preaching of the Gospel. Additionally, those who believe are at that moment instantly sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). Not partially sealed but sealed in a complete sense. For Paul, he is not speaking of the big picture, or the process of getting to that point of decision, but what he demonstrates is that the actual conversion is not gradual—it is a decisive, immediate moment of response to understanding and receiving the preached Word, resulting in salvation and the reception of the Holy Spirit.
The vast majority of evangelical and orthodox Christian teachers hold that being born again is an instantaneous event rather than a process. I struggle to find any serious teacher of the Bible outside of Catholicism, or Anglicanism that believes anything other than an instantaneous regeneration, justification, or conversion: John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, Wayne Grudem, J.I. Packer, Jonathan Edwards, John Piper, Charles Spurgeon, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, B.B. Warfield, A.W. Pink, Louis Berkhof, Francis Schaeffer, D. A. Carson, Alistair Begg, Michael Horton, James Montgomery Boice, Paul Washer, Albert Mohler, John Owen, A.W. Tozer, Thomas Watson, Augustine of Hippo, Charles Hodge, George Whitefield, A.A. Hodge, Thomas Boston, J.C. Ryle, Matthew Henry, and Richard Baxter to name a few—even though some of them will acknowledge the difficulty for people in articulating experientially when that moment takes place. For them,
Regeneration is understood as a sovereign act of God, where He imparts new spiritual life to a person. This event is instantaneous, occurring at the moment of salvation (John 3:3-7, Titus 3:5). “In a technical sense the act of regeneration takes place at the moment of conversion as the individual is spiritually awakened.”
Scott Drumm, “Regeneration,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1371–1372. A person may gradually get up to that point of decision, but you are either alive or dead according to the scripture. Regeneration is an event.
Conversion, which encompasses both repentance and faith, is also seen as an immediate response to the Gospel by the individual, leading to salvation (Acts 16:31). It involves a person turning from sin (repentance) and trusting in Christ for salvation (faith)—two sides of the same coin. It is a distinguishable summary of the same moment. “We are united with Christ the moment we trust him for salvation, and we enjoy all the present benefits of salvation in him.” Kenneth Keathley, “The Work of God: Salvation,” in A Theology for the Church (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2014), 546. The declaration of scripture is that you must be converted, and this is always identified as a decisive moment.
Justification is a legal act of God where He declares the sinner righteous based on the finished work of Christ. It is also instantaneous, happening the moment a person places their faith in Christ (Romans 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:21). This is distinct from sanctification in that justification refers to the believer's standing before God, where they are counted righteous because of Christ's imputed righteousness. You are either “justified” or not, and it is declared in a moment of time. While sanctification (the process of being made holy) is indeed a process that follows justification, salvation (regeneration, conversion, and justification) is seen as a once-for-all events that occurs at the moment someone places their faith in Christ. We are drawn through a process—Saved in a second—and matured over a lifetime.
Evangelism is a process, but conversion is not.
Bob Harrington in a popular book on evangelism describes conversion in more loose terms. He says, “Faith development—for most people—is a process. It was true in the Bible, and it is true today. Instantaneous or sudden conversions, like that of the apostle Paul, are rare.”1 Bruce Larson also echoes this saying,
“Conversion has been defined by William James in his Varieties of Religious Experience: ‘To be converted is a process, gradual or sudden‘… This conversion need not be sudden. It can be a long time coming. The physical birth process in its final stages takes just minutes or even seconds, but that baby has been coming for nine months. Sometimes conversion looks sudden, but the struggle may have been going on for a long time.”2
In the broader sense, I can agree with this—If we are talking about the birdseye view of the entire redemption story as God’s providence unfolds, but otherwise, if we are talking about justification, rebirth, and conversion I must DISAGREE—because it’s not true. The fact of the matter is that the ONLY examples of conversion in the Bible follow the teaching pattern we saw from Paul. Namely, there is an indisputable, instantaneous nature of conversion that looks like this:
1. Hearing the Gospel:
Paul begins by emphasizing that conversion starts with hearing the message of Christ. In Romans 10:17, he states, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” The gospel message is the catalyst for salvation, and it must be proclaimed in some way for people to have the opportunity to respond.
2. Immediate Response in Faith:
At some point after the gospel is heard, the hearer must make a decision to repent and believe, or reject Christ. In Acts 13:48-49, the Gentiles hear the Word and, as many as were appointed to eternal life “believed”. This shows that the response happens in a moment of time; and note that hearing the Word leads directly to belief, as seen in multiple instances of Paul’s preaching (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:1-2).
3. Salvation at the Moment of Faith:
Paul emphasizes that the moment one believes in response to hearing the Gospel is the moment of salvation. In 1 Corinthians 1:21, he says that God saves those—who believe through the preaching of the gospel. Salvation is described as happening immediately upon belief.
4. Receiving the Holy Spirit:
Once a person hears the Gospel and responds in faith, they are immediately sealed with the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 1:13, Paul explains that when his hearers “believed the Word of truth, the Gospel of their salvation, they were sealed with the Holy Spirit” at that moment. This step is instantaneous and confirms the believer’s new, transformed status in Christ.
Examples of Conversion In Scripture are Unanimous
In the Gospels, and in the book of Acts, the only personal accounts that describe people following Christ, or clearly believing the Gospel show a specific response in time to the reality of the Gospel they have heard. The pattern taught is clearly seen in the ONLY examples given.
As for all the group conversions detailed in the Bible, they ALL follow the precise pattern as well:
There are simply NO other examples to argue from that document the conversion of people to Christ. Personal objections from experience simply must not pressure us to concede this concrete clarity. Our theology must emerge from God’s revelation to us.
Objections
It's important not to confuse God's providential work leading up to conversion or the sanctification that follows salvation with this moment of regeneration we see. Certainly, God guides us through various experiences, and evangelism itself can often be a process. James Engel developed a scale to illustrate what he believed was the progression of a person through various phases of their spiritual journey. Seminaries and ministries bring this process up regularly to try to help move people incrementally toward the gospel. According to this model, conversion is often preceded by "mini-decisions" or "small steps" that gradually lead to the ultimate decision to surrender to Christ. This study might show the big picture, or evangelism as a process, however, even in that scale, the moment of being "born again" happens at a specific point, not over time.
In many examples, some will argue that Timothy serves as a poster child for “conversion is a process”, or to justify there being ambiguity in the testimony of one who grew up in a Christian home. After all, they say, “Timothy was acquainted with the Scriptures from childhood” (2 Timothy 3:15). Yet, no one would argue that Timothy’s mere acquaintance with the Scriptures saved him. If that were the case, evangelism would be a much easier task—we would only need to help people become familiar with the Scriptures, and then the work of God is finished: familiarity=salvation. However, exposure to the Word is never equated with salvation in the Bible. The rich young ruler tried that argument with Jesus, “I have kept the scriptures from my youth.” Jesus was unimpressed (Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, and Luke 18:18-2).
This may be why Paul said to Timothy, that the Scriptures are "able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). The teaching of the Word clearly was the instrument of God toward salvation for him, and will be for his hearers. The goal was faith. While Timothy was clearly taught the Scriptures from a young age, it is assumed that at some point he repented, believed, and was saved. However, Paul does not address the moment of Timothy's salvation directly in this passage. Instead, he emphasizes the role of the Scriptures in leading him to the wisdom necessary for faith in Christ. This would be an essential for Timothy’s pastoral ministry. It doesn’t tell us when or how he was converted, only that he was influenced by the Word to that end.
Importance of Recognizing the Moment of Your Salvation
Recognizing our conversion moment is so encouraging for three key reasons:
1. Personal Assurance of Salvation
Recognizing the moment of salvation gives you assurance that your salvation has truly occurred. Scripture assures us that when we believe in Jesus, we pass from death to life and receive eternal security (John 5:24). By identifying the moment of conversion, you can confidently say, "I have been saved," which strengthens your faith and guards against doubt. The apostle Paul emphasized this assurance, saying, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). Knowing this decisive moment brings peace and confidence in God’s promises.
2. Aligning Your Life with the Biblical Pattern
All arguments from personal experience against the testimony of scripture are to be rejected. Recognizing your salvation moment helps you align your life with the biblical pattern of conversion. Scripture consistently presents salvation as a moment of radical transformation, not an ongoing process. When the Philippian jailer asked how to be saved, Paul responded, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). This was an immediate call to faith, and the jailer was saved that night. Understanding that salvation is a single, transformative moment enables you to view your Christian life through a biblical lens. It encourages you to live in the reality of being a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), walking in the light and forsaking the darkness you once lived in.
3. Articulating the Gospel to Others
Finally, recognizing your salvation moment equips you to clearly articulate this experience when sharing the gospel with others. When explaining salvation, it is important to communicate that although there may be much that leads us to the point of decision, the conversion itself is not a long, drawn-out process but a decisive act of faith and repentance. As you proclaim the gospel, you can confidently testify to the moment you were saved, helping others understand that they too can experience the same immediate transformation that God may be leading them to. Peter’s sermon at Pentecost highlights this clarity when he told the crowd, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38). His message conveyed the urgency and the expectation of an immediate response.
Know that I am not saying that your current obedience and pattern of life are not also part of the equation—as if it is only a looking back to the act of “walking down the aisle,” or reciting some prayer. I’m not saying that—even though those things may have been part of the experience. I realize sometimes this can be difficult to pinpoint because some decisions were made when young, and we are unsure if we truly understood. Sometimes, there are sinful seasons that obscure our view of those events…where we experience repentance and renewal in such overwhelming ways and wonder if that was the moment of conversion. There are still other times when we recognize moments of significant growth—as we look back, we are not sure which event was the actual moment. If you are born again, I want to challenge you in this: there WAS a moment, and to walk through your own story and find the one photo that really captures the magic of that moment will be nothing but a refreshing exercise of your soul.
Maybe the crisis will drive you to great assurance to treasure this work of Christ and remember it forever, or maybe you can’t remember… because it never happened. That is a real and concerning possibility. You may come to the conclusion like the rich young ruler that you have had an affection for God, you have been disciplined in truth, are morally upright, have seen God’s hand at work all around you leading you through life and yet, like that young ruler—you have not been born again. If you can’t find that moment, then throw your pride to the wind, surrender and settle the issue. Turn your life over to Christ as Lord and be born again! Do this, and cherish this moment forever.
Study Questions
Understanding Salvation as a Moment:
The article compares salvation to a snapshot as compared to a statue. How does this perspective align with your understanding of biblical salvation?
Read John 3:3-7 and Titus 3:5. How do these verses emphasize the instantaneous nature of regeneration?
Scriptural Pattern of Conversion:
According to the article, Paul teaches that conversion happens immediately after hearing the Gospel. Read Romans 10:17 and 1 Corinthians 1:21. How do these passages support the idea of instantaneous conversion?
Why do you think it’s important for Paul to emphasize that salvation occurs at a specific moment in time?
The Role of the Holy Spirit in Salvation:
Read Ephesians 1:13. What does it mean to be "sealed with the Holy Spirit"? How does this reinforce the idea that salvation and conversion are immediate?
Why is it significant that the sealing of the Holy Spirit is described as a completed action?
Evangelism as a Process vs. Conversion as a Moment:
The article draws a distinction between evangelism as a process and conversion as a moment. How can we understand the work of God leading up to conversion (the process) and the moment of conversion itself?
How does recognizing the instantaneous nature of conversion impact the way we share the Gospel with others?
Personal Assurance and Reflection:
Why is it important to be able to look back and identify the moment of your salvation, as the text suggests?
What would you say to someone who struggles to pinpoint the exact moment of their conversion? How can they find assurance of their salvation?
Examples of Instantaneous Conversion in the Bible:
The article refers to several examples of immediate responses to the Gospel in the New Testament. Read Acts 16:31 (the Philippian jailer) and Acts 13:48-49. How do these examples illustrate the decisive nature of salvation?
What are the key components of these conversions (hearing the Gospel, responding in faith, and receiving salvation)? How can this pattern inform our understanding of evangelism today?
Application to Life:
In what ways can you "capture" and commemorate your salvation moment as a spiritual landmark in your life?
How can you use your testimony of an instantaneous salvation moment to encourage others who may not yet have experienced this?
(Bob Harrington, “Outreach Evangelism and Church Planting,” in Church Planting from the Ground Up, ed. Tom Jones (Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing Company, 2004), 243.)