You will find Elizabeth, the answer to any of your questions that I put here to give to others, if they find any interest, my opinion on what is meant by conversion in the exchange between Jesus and Peter in the Gospel of Luke.
There were so many writings, sermons, and I must add blunders on what is meant by this expression as Christ uses many times, it became extremely difficult for one who seeks to find the path of excellence expressed this idea. Because Overwhelmingly, those who spoke or who speak, blocked by thinking the erroneous equation of new birth and conversion.
But after thinking when done well, is a key that opens the way for even closer to a mystery which n'accèdent that those to whom it is given to understand things difficult. I mean those who, from the prophet John the Baptist, far from merely conventional wisdom, are violent and do violence to the traditions and dogmas, to seize the kingdom of heaven with intelligence.
Because ultimately the conversion of which Jesus spoke to Peter (Luke 22.32) has no more to do with the change of religion, with the new birth he is talking to Nicodemus, and yet less with the belief that Christ is the son of God.
First, note that it does not believe to be converted or born again because " demons also believe and tremble " says Christ.
Then when Jesus said to Peter "... when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22.32), long ago that he believes that Christ is the son of God. A long time it has gone from Judaism to Christianity, even if the disciples are not even called Christians at that time, a long time and yet he is born again for having undergone the baptism of John, like all disciples. This baptism symbolizes the death of the old body and resurrection by the power of faith in the purifying water of life, represents the sacrifice to come. But its effectiveness is not already less total by virtue of faith is the evidence of things unseen. Invisible, certainly, but absolutely true! Since John's baptism the new birth is totally and completely effective despite the malcontents who would confine God in their own thinking. Yes! Since John the Baptist the kingdom of heaven is forced and the violent take it by force, "said Jesus. And it's not for nothing that Christ was baptized by John in the Jordan. He that believeth and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16 ). That, and nothing but that, being born again! Peter thought of course: " Lord to whom shall we, you have the words eternal life, "and it was obviously named as Jesus and the disciples of that when Jesus said" When thou art converted ...". And the speaker knows what he said!
Regarding the notion of kingdom forced is another story accessible to those who are no longer milk.
A common mistake is to equate return to God through Jesus Christ translated correctly in English (Turn to God or turn to the Lord - Acts 26.20, Acts 9.35) , conversion requested to Peter Jesus even better translated by the English (Turn again).
is already felt, by visual observation of the English translation, the huge contradiction that can be generated by rapid assimilation of these two notions of reversal. For if it is good to return in both cases, the state is the subject is not the same in each, the goal is not the same, and relations of the subject returned to God and men are not the same and that changes everything. Peter is not against the direction of not yet returned, because his faith is still weak. Jesus gives him the goal when it is finally returned (turn again) without it a reproach "... strengthen your brothers."
The error of the translators in French was to associate the word conversion to the preposition "to" rather than the preposition "towards". This often repeated the mistake of writing "converted" instead of "converted worms "that is good writing.
I'll show you that this is indeed not whether Peter is converted to God or not (which makes no sense), but in what direction ( precisely) it is rotated. The answer to this question is crucial for the Christian. More important than the answer to the question of new birth for non-Christian, for the second, paradoxically, depends largely on the former.
As our loves are selfish self-centered and exclusive ! As is the merciful love of God turned to the man and universal!
The love we give, even if true, requires that we remain alive at least until the death of a loved one, then we can die. It is self-preservation which gives us a possessive love and therefore relative. The wonderful story of Romeo and Juliet shows all the vanity of that love. We do not give the death to save the one you love, but because we believe it is already dead. Nobody tries to give his death by a meaning to the life of a just, but Christ by his death will give meaning to the lives of all the wrongdoers.
"Lord," said Peter, I'm ready to go with you to prison and to death. "(Luke 22.33)
Pierre believes love Jesus to the extent of it. Turn to the subject of his worship is still alive himself unable to share Christ's compassion for others. It is an undivided love, selfish love that needs to stay alive as a living being enjoyed. And it Jesus knows well. Then he said " ... Peter ... the rooster will not crow today until you have three times denied knowing me. " (Luke 22. 34). What love is more humane?
And yet it is a violent action of raising the same kind of love that Christ called Peter.
is the same request addressed to him some time later by the risen Jesus in the Gospel of John. It must be understood to mean: "... when you're back pais my sheep! ". I note in passing that Christ's death does not alter the effectiveness of the baptism of John the Baptist. This is total before and after the death of Christ. Clearly this is not new birth question here.
"Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me ( agape) love me more than these? He replied: Yes, Lord, you know I love you ( philosophy). Jesus said to him: Feed my lambs. He said a second time, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me ( agape)? Peter replied: "Yes, Lord, you know I love you (philo ). Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep. He said for the third time, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me ( phileis )? Peter was grieved because he had told him the third time: Do you love me ( phileis )? And he answered him: Lord, thou knowest all things, you know I love you ( philosophy). Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep. " (Jn. 21.15-17).
" Feed my sheep " and" strengthen thy brethren " are one and the same application which means: Get up! (Turn again).
No matter what you believe to be the measure of your love for Christ agapao (perfect love), or phileo (affection) it makes sense that back!
Thus the first reversal of man to God made the world (turn to God). We who were all lost and lost worldwide each according to his own way. We decide to return to God is born again.
The second movement occurs when we move in the understanding of God's love, not taking into account the intensity we feel that love (or agapao phileo), but when we understand the nature and purpose. The nature and purpose is contained in this sentence: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16
S e convert it to return a second time. It means accepting that " we are already dead and that our life is hidden with Christ in God " and there is nothing left to save and our goal is God's purpose is to tell the world.
We n 'have nothing to hope for the love that we have already received by faith. This love is not vis-à-vis God. A love to which we turn and which exists only because we live. This love we live fully ( "our body is the temple of God," "the Spirit of God dwelleth in you", "I gave them your love" ) and we understand the subject became our Topic: next ! Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself!
"Feed my sheep", "strengthen thy brethren", "love thy neighbor as thyself" a single thought . Thus we see that the law and the prophets contain from the beginning what was to be fulfilled.
be converted so it acquire the certainty of the fullness of God in us, and become the messengers of God, and the world, we return to him (the world) to be available to transmit the love that he (God) expressed through his son (Christ) in us.
As we discover, finally, the clarification of this concept opens the way for conversion of a mystery that is the definition of the love of Christ, which passes itself by understanding what it is. Christ also posed the question to his disciples to emphasize its importance: "And you say you think I am?". Pierre will answer "You are the Christ the son of God!"
Thus, as I said at the outset that the understanding of this concept immediately raises a question about the identity of the person he is representing other through the reversal once operated. I am responsible for representing whom? Who is he? Peter's answer, so simple it seems, contains a huge mystery which no accesses while there is still milk, that is to say precisely at the stage of understanding the consequences of being born again !
And it is true that at this early stage there is so much to say you can always tell those who are still there they will soon have to turn around.
