Repentance and faith are in fact the constituent elements of conversion, when viewed from the standpoint of man's experience. For what is conversion but "turning," and what is "to be converted" but to turn? The Greek verb is often used in the New Testament in secular, non-theological contexts to describe someone's action in turning round from one direction to another or turning from one place to another. When used in more technical, theological passages the verb has the same meaning. "You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." "You were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Thes. 1:9, 1 Pet. 2:25).
Conversion involves a twofold turn, a turn from idols and from sin on the one hand, and a turn to the living God and to the Savior of Shepherd of souls on the other. The "turn away" the New Testament calls repentance; the "turn toward" the New Testament calls faith. So repentance plus faith equals conversion, and no man dare say he is converted who has not repented as well as believed.
From a fifty-year old article, "Must Christ Be Lord and Savior?" ETERNITY, September, 1959
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