When was Simon Peter actually converted to Christianity?

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   Perspycaciousposted 8 years ago

   When was Simon Peter actually converted to Christianity?
   
   Once you have answered this question, take a look at Luke 22:31 & 32.  Some distinguish belief from testimony and testimony from conversion.  Simon Peter's path to conversion seems to have been a long and tortured one.  Think of his path to conversion, and then examine your own.  Where are you along your path?  Some have taught that "a testimony is as ephemeral as a moonbeam," and that conversion is a daily effort and goal.  What do you think?

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   Ericdierkerposted 8 years ago

   An excellent question. Why do new "reborn" Christians go all proselytizing? They have not gotten it yet, Simon Peter was hot and cold. So am I. When it is good it is  real good. When it is  bad I dump on the Master. I'll reckon that Peter got converted when he was like me, staring up at stars and loving life. Most get converted when in tragedy. Well Peter, Paul and I never hit tragedy. We hit revelations. Don't expect us to cry at a funeral. I do not care about your perceived horribleness. God takes us when we are taken and not before.

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      Perspycaciousposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I am not sure what caused you to write " I do not care about your perceived horribleness."  Perhaps you might clarify that for me.

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      Ericdierkerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Oh it is perceived that Peter was horrible in denying Christ 3 times. We often criticize ourselves horribly and think we are not worthy, in fact we are not really. But in spite of that we can have our own conversion.

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      Norine Williamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Eric: "But in spite of that we can have our own conversion."
      
      Explain how "We can have our own conversion?"

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      Zelkiiroposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I don't know why people dump on Peter's character for the triple denial--dude was scared to death the Romans would go after him, so he tried to cover his ass. Yeah, it's the low moment of his character arc, but he moves past that point.

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      Norine Williamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Zel: NOPE! Jesus (aka Holy Spirit) had left him as He leaves us today when we don't exercise our FAITH to the MAX!  Why we "struggle" when not exercising our FAITH to MAX allowing "flesh" (sin) dominion!

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   KingdomComeposted 8 years ago

   Peter never used the term christian or christianity. He was a Disciple and later an apostle. As a matter of fact none of the disciples of Christ thought of themselves as "christians. So to answer your question, they where NEVER converted. A disciple and christian are two different things. A disciple of Christ is a true follower. A Christian is a fake.

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      Perspycaciousposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I refer you to 1 Peter Chapter 4 and Peter's own instruction: "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."
      And Acts Chapter 11:26 reads "And the disciples were called Christians first......

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      Norine Williamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Demas:  Do U know that the word "Christian" was FIRST used as a "derogatory" term to identify "followers of Christ?"  Acts 11:26; 26:28; I Pet 4 all derogatory!
      
      JESUS NEVER referred to His followers as "Christians!"  Should we?

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   Norine Williamsposted 8 years ago

   "Simon Peter's path to conversion seems to have been a long and tortured one" as is ours!   II Corinthians 3:18 says "But we all,...are changed into the same image from "glory to glory," even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 
   
   I must agree with Kingdom Come who stated, "As a matter of fact none of the disciples of Christ thought of themselves as "christians."  Jesus NEVER referred to His followers as "christians," why should we?  Unbelievers used the term "christians" in a derogatory sense to identify followers of Christ but Jesus referred to His followers as disciples (learning) as they walked with Him on earth and apostles (one chosen by Jesus as Paul; Acts 9:15) to deliver His Message after the Holy Spirit came to "lead and guide them" (Jn 14:26;16:13) in Acts 2:2!  Did you notice in Ephesians 4:11-16 there is no mention of disciples?  Why?  Because "after" the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:2), He (Jesus) now chooses according to Ephesians 4:11-16 and "writes His laws in our hearts and minds" (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16) and we are "taught" via the Holy Spirit's revelation!
   
   Didn't mean to get "off topic," but to answer your question, Simon Peter was never converted to "Christianity" but was chosen by Jesus in Matthew 4:18-20 to be a follower of Christ or a Disciple (Learner).  As a Learner (Disciple), he fell short many times (as we) but in Luke 22:31 & 32, Jesus "prayed" (Intercessor walking with him; Rm 8:26, 34) that "...his FAITH fail not.  And when thou art "converted," strengthen thy brethren."  Like Simon Peter, the Holy Spirit (Jesus; John 14:26 "...in MY Name...") is our Intercessor now  Who "...leads & guides us into ALL truth.." (John 14:26; 16:13) continuously "converting" us or "changing us from "glory to glory" (II Corinthians 3:18)!
   
   Did you notice even "after" the Holy Spirit came in Acts 2:2, because Peter had walked with Jesus while He was on earth (Galatians 4:4), he had some "law" instilled (which Jesus fulfilled), and he continued to hold onto rituals under the "law" (Galatians 2:7-10; 3:21) which indicates continuous conversion?  However, Paul (A chosen Vessel; Acts 9:15) withstood him persuading him (Gal 2:16) "...a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the FAITH of Jesus Christ..." 
   
   Where am I? Changing from "glory to glory!"  "Conversion is a daily effort and goal" "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, & of the knowledge of the Son of God" Eph 4:13!

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      Perspycaciousposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Good  and detailed commentary.

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   Zelkiiroposted 8 years ago

   Considering that, according to the story, Simon Peter was actually alive during the time of Jesus, he "converted" the minute he decided to follow Jesus. Y'know, kinda like everyone else who followed Jesus and believed he was the son of God. You don't need to make this complicated--the New Testament story is about as dirt-simple as it gets.

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      Norine Williamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Zel:  If "dirt-simple," tell me where those who believe should be today according to the "New Testament story?"

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      Zelkiiroposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Eh? You mean people who believe now, or people who believed back then? Specificity is a virtue.

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      Perspycaciousposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      It seems posible to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and even testify to that belief, while not being converted to seek to keep God's commandments and seek to live even as Christ lived/  To my mind that is what it means to be "converted".

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      Norine Williamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      ZeL: "Specificity is a virtue?"  Not in BELIEVING His Word for ALL is TRUE & "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today & forever" (Heb 13:8)!  Please answer the Q.
      DW:  Being "converted" is being OPEN to NEW "REVELATION" of His Word (II Cor

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   wba108@yahoo.composted 8 years ago

   Peter was converted when he and the other Apostles were commissioned after the Resurrection and before the Ascension when Jesus breathed on them and said "receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22).
   
   Before the commissioning, the Apostles were still under the old covenant and subject to the law, which was only a shadow of things to come. The Holy Spirit would only come on believers at times and was not indwelling as it is for believers today.
   
   I see conversion as being born again and sanctification as being the process that God shapes us to become more like Jesus.

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      wba108@yahoo.composted 8 years agoin reply to this

      And being Born Again, being born of the Holy Spirit after we receive the Spirit.

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   Rich kelleyposted 8 years ago

   The term converted as it is used today in the institutional churches and the word Christianity as used today by all that even mention the name of Jesus form a hard question.
   
   The word convert, is used twice in the New Testament Scripture. 1Ti 3:6  He must not be a recent "convert"(Neophutos G3504), or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. and Rom 16:5  Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first "convert"(Aparche G536) to Christ in Asia. Converted is not used at all.
   
   The scripture says that we are to make disciples not converts, yet conversion is often what goes on in the various institutional churches. A Catholic becomes a Baptist, a Baptist becomes a Pentecostal, A Baptist becomes a Catholic and so on. We are to make Disciples/followers of Christ not religious denominational converts.
   
   With that in mind I believe Peters started here. Mat 4:19-20  Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fishermen. You will bring in people, not fish."  Simon and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him. (ESV)
   
   A journey of 1000 miles starts with the first step. The way you eat an elephant is one bite at a time. We can look at Peter's life as written in the scriptures and come up with all kinds of what we think are the "Moment" when "it" happened. Knowing it is not a moment or a light switch event, it starts when we begin to follow Christ. Some have wonderful stories yet the bottom line is the first step, and are they still stepping on the narrow path.

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      Ericdierkerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Marvelous. The concept of conversion vs. discipleship is very helpful. Makes me reflect on my wife's "lightening bolt" experience and my "from birth" experience. Someone said "we are not to convert but to adopt, going both ways".

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      Norine Williamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Rich: Why always"hung up" on "the letter?" Def of "conversion"="to change" or "transformation!"  I agree "We are to make disciples" but those who BELIEVE & have FAITH are "changed/transformed" or converted (same thg)!
      1ST STEP="WAIT!"(Act 1:4)

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