Through his servants, God calls people to turn to him. He wants to save the world which is alienated from him, and to restore those of his backslidden people who return to him and renew their commitment to the covenant.
The need for conversion
The world is alienated from God
Romans 1:21–23 See also Romans 1:28, Romans 3:11–12; Psalm 14:3
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
The world does not know God
Galatians 4:8 See also 1 Corinthians 1:21, 1 Corinthians 15:34; 1 Thessalonians 4:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
God's people have turned away from him
Malachi 3:7 See also Numbers 14:43; Deuteronomy 9:12; 1 Samuel 15:11 Saul; 1 Kings 11:9 Solomon; 2 Chronicles 25:27 Amaziah; Jeremiah 8:5; Ezekiel 6:9; Daniel 9:11; Acts 7:39
Yet from the days of your fathers, you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Hosts. “But you ask, ‘How can we return?’
God's demands for the conversion of all people
Isaiah 45:22; Acts 17:30 See also Psalm 65:5; Jonah 4:11; Zechariah 9:10
Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
God's demands for the conversion of his own people
God's desire to save his people
Ezekiel 33:11 See also Jeremiah 3:22; Joel 2:12–13; Zechariah 1:3
Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
God's faithfulness to his people
Jeremiah 3:14 See also Leviticus 26:40–42; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Hosea 3:5, Hosea 6:1–3
“Return, O faithless children,” declares the LORD, “for I am your master, and I will take you — one from a city and two from a family — and bring you to Zion.
God's promise of restoration
2 Chronicles 7:13–14 See also 1 Kings 8:48–49 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:38–39; Nehemiah 1:9
If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people, and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
The call to conversion through God's servants
The encouragement of his leaders
Joshua 24:14–15 Joshua; 2 Kings 11:17 Jehoida; 2 Kings 23:24–25; 2 Chronicles 34:31–33; 2 Chronicles 15:11–15 Asa; 2 Chronicles 19:4 Jehoshaphat; 2 Chronicles 29:6–10 Hezekiah; Psalm 51:13 David
The ministry of his prophets
Jeremiah 35:15 See also 2 Chronicles 24:19; Jeremiah 25:4; Hosea 14:1–2; Jonah 3:2
Again and again I have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn now, each of you, from your wicked ways, and correct your actions. Do not go after other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.
The preaching of believers
Acts 26:16–18 See also Acts 2:38; Romans 10:14–15; Isaiah 52:7
‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
Rejection of God's call to conversion
Isaiah 9:13 See also Jeremiah 3:10; Hosea 5:4, Hosea 7:10; Amos 4:6–11
But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.