{"id":20,"date":"2013-04-22T02:20:51","date_gmt":"2013-04-22T02:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sharecatholic.com\/blog\/?p=20"},"modified":"2026-07-05T14:53:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T18:53:17","slug":"conversion-is-a-lifelong-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sharecatholic.com\/blog\/conversion-is-a-lifelong-process","title":{"rendered":"Conversion is a Lifelong Process"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Salvation is a lifelong process<\/span><\/b><b>.<\/b> It might be recorded as starting on a definite date, but, for Catholics, it has started way back, has either faltered, or has advanced very slowly, at a healthy pace or moved into fruition rapidly (CCC 1229). For Catholics who have faltered or have advanced very slowly, and for Protestants, it may appear to have come as a decision later in life, and therefore, may be given a date.<\/p>\n<p>Protestants consider conversion as a one time process which, for a period, moves forward at whatever pace it does, reaching a plateau in whatever time it takes. It is a cruise, thereafter, for most people. This is, of course, a wrong assumption. Additionally, the Protestant belief in the slogan: \u2018once saved, always saved\u2019 is also erroneous. The Catholic Church, \u201cthe pillar and foundation of truth\u201d (1 Timothy 3:15), teaches that salvation may be lost, and that conversion is a constant effort lasting a lifetime.\u00a0 Let us prove it, using the Bible; the underlined (above and in the paragraph below) being the headings to be dealt with:<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Salvation can be lost because God has given us free will<\/span><\/b>, and consequently, we can turn our backs on the Lord (God forbid) anytime we wish.\u00a0 If we ignore the prompts of the Holy Spirit in us (CCC 851) and listen consistently to the prompts of our flesh, or those of the devil, we will fall.\u00a0 We need knowledge of God and knowledge of His will if we are to have strong faith to discern and then resist the bad prompts; strong faith that we may <b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">persevere under hardship and during tribulation<\/span><\/b> which the devil is sure to provide us with, as promised by the Word of God.\u00a0 The key word here is \u2018persevere\u2019.\u00a0 The moment we lose hope, all is lost.\u00a0 <i>Never, never, never lose hope!<\/i>\u00a0 The Lord is always near, and in plenty more than one way: Romans 10:8; Ephesians 2:13; Philippians 4:5.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Salvation can be lost because God has given us free will<\/span><\/b><b>.<\/b>\u00a0 Best of all is a quote by Moses, and a few from the Book of Sirach, from the Old Testament, and lastly, from the teaching of the Church; from the <i>Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/i>:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Deuteronomy 30<\/span><\/b><b>: 19<\/b> I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live,<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Sirach 15<\/span><\/b><b>: 14<\/b> When God, in the beginning, created man,\u00a0he made him subject to his own free choice.\u00a0<b>17<\/b> Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him\u2026<b>20<\/b> No man does he command to sin,\u00a0to none does he give strength for lies.<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1 Timothy 5<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> <b>15<\/b> For some have already turned away to follow Satan.<\/p>\n<p><b>The necessity of faith<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">CCC 161<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation.<sup>42<\/sup> \u201cSince \u201cwithout faith it is impossible to please [God]\u201d and to attain to the fellowship of his sons, therefore without faith no one has ever attained justification, nor will anyone obtain eternal life \u2018But he who endures to the end.\u2019\u201d<sup>43<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><b>\u00a0<\/b><b>Perseverance in faith<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">CCC 162<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man. We can lose this priceless gift, as St. Paul indicated to St. Timothy: \u201cWage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith.\u201d<sup>44<\/sup> To live, grow and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our faith;<sup>45<\/sup> it must be \u201cworking through charity,\u201d abounding in hope, and rooted in the faith of the Church.<sup>46<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Footnotes<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>42 Cf. <i>Mark<\/i> 16:16; <i>John<\/i> 3:36; 6:40 <i>et al<\/i>.<br \/>\n43 <i>Dei Filius<\/i> 3:Denzinger-Schonmetzer 3012; cf. <i>Matthew<\/i> 10:22; 24:13 and <i>Hebrews<\/i> 11:6; Council of Trent: Denzinger-Schonmetzer 1532.<br \/>\n44 <i>1 Timothy<\/i> 1:18-19.<br \/>\n45 Cf. <i>Mark<\/i> 9:24; <i>Luke<\/i> 17:5; 22:32.<br \/>\n46 <i>Galatians<\/i> 5:6; <i>Romans<\/i> 15:13; cf. <i>James<\/i> 2:14-26.<\/p>\n<p>God has given us free will so that our love for Him might take us to Him without coercion.\u00a0 Try to recall the words of Jesus, our Lord, and see how He is always advising us, showing us the way and never ordering us to do anything.\u00a0 Of course, there are commandments and precepts and all, but, they come into play after we make our decision to follow Him and become His disciples.<\/p>\n<p>So, in our free will, we are subject to three prompts: that of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5; and CCC 851), that of the flesh (Matthew 26:41) and Satan\u2019s (John 13:2). Learning to distinguish between these prompts is the key to walking in the footsteps of Christ. This key is based on acquiring knowledge of the will of God. The prompts of the Holy Spirit and those of the flesh are discussed together, first. Paul:<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Romans 8<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> <b>5<\/b> For those who live according to the flesh are concerned with the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit with the things of the spirit. <b>6<\/b> The concern of the flesh is death, but the concern of the spirit is life and peace. <b>7<\/b> For the concern of the flesh is hostility toward God; it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it; <b>8<\/b> and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. <b>9<\/b> But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. <b>10<\/b> But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. <b>11 <\/b>If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. <b>12<\/b> Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. <b>13<\/b> For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.<\/p>\n<p>And, the following are scriptural evidence of the three prompts that are in us:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"display: inline !important;\"><b>1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Prompt of the Holy Spirit<\/span><\/b>:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Romans 5<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> <b>3<\/b> Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, <b>4 <\/b>and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, <b>5<\/b> and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">CCC <\/span><\/b><b><a>851<\/a><\/b> <i>Missionary motivation<\/i>. It is from God\u2019s love for all men that the Church in every age receives both the obligation and the vigor of her missionary dynamism, \u201cfor the love of Christ urges us on.\u201d Indeed, God \u201cdesires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth\u201d; that is, God wills the salvation of everyone through the knowledge of the truth. Salvation is found in the truth. Those who obey <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">the prompting of the Spirit of truth<\/span> are already on the way of salvation. But the Church, to whom this truth has been entrusted, must go out to meet their desire, so as to bring them the truth. Because she believes in God&#8217;s universal plan of salvation, the Church must be missionary.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"display: inline !important;\"><b>2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Prompts of the Flesh<\/span><\/b>:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Matthew 26<\/span><\/b><b>: 41<\/b> Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"display: inline !important;\"><b>3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Prompts of the Devil<\/span><\/b>:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">John 13<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> <b>2<\/b> The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper\u2026<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">James 4<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> <b>7 <\/b>So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1 Peter 5<\/span><\/b>: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/1S.HTM\"><b>8<\/b><\/a> Be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/4\/RV.HTM\">sober<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/5\/CJ.HTM\">vigilant<\/a>. Your <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/3\/RO.HTM\">opponent<\/a> the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/1\/7Z.HTM\">devil<\/a> is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/8\/YK.HTM\">prowling<\/a> around like a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/2\/JL.HTM\">roaring<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/ST.HTM\">lion<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/ZO.HTM\">looking<\/a> for (someone) to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/1\/6X.HTM\">devour<\/a>. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/1R.HTM\"><b>9<\/b><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/2\/HK.HTM\">Resist<\/a> him, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/2\/DA.HTM\">steadfast<\/a> in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/6K.HTM\">faith<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/1\/IJ.HTM\">knowing<\/a> that your <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/UA.HTM\">fellow<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/1\/GJ.HTM\">believers<\/a> throughout the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/6Y.HTM\">world<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/4\/HT.HTM\">undergo<\/a> the same <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/archive\/ENG0839\/1\/F2.HTM\">sufferings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><b>B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">We have been promised hardships and persecution<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Mark 10<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> <b>29<\/b> Jesus said, \u201cAmen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel <b>30<\/b> who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">with persecutions<\/span>, and eternal life in the age to come.<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Luke 9<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> <b>23<\/b> Then he said to all, \u201cIf anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">take up his cross daily<\/span> and follow me.<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">2 Timothy 3<\/span><\/b><b>: 12<\/b> In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The conversion process is a lifelong experience<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Philippians 1<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> <b>6<\/b> I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1 Thessalonians 5<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> <b>24<\/b> The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">2 Corinthians 4<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> <b>16<\/b> Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">day by day<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Pope John Paul II\u2019s <\/span><\/b><b><i><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Redemptoris Missio<\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"> 47<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b><b> <\/b><em>Certainly, every convert is a gift to the Church and represents a serious responsibility for her \u2026 especially in the case of adults, such converts bring with them a kind of new energy, an enthusiasm for the faith, and a desire to see the Gospel lived out in the Church. They would be greatly disappointed if, having entered the ecclesial community, they were to find a life lacking fervor and without signs of renewal! We cannot preach conversion unless we ourselves are converted anew every day.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>These are the teachings of the Church on Conversion, through the <i>Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/i>:<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">CCC 1435<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Conversion is accomplished in daily life<\/span> by gestures of reconciliation, concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right, by the admission of faults to one\u2019s brethren, fraternal correction, revision of life, examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering, endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness. Taking up one\u2019s cross each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance.<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">CCC 1436<\/span><\/b><b>:<\/b> The Eucharist and Penance. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Daily conversion<\/span> and penance find their source and nourishment in the Eucharist, for in it is made present the sacrifice of Christ which has reconciled us with God. Through the Eucharist those who live from the life of Christ are fed and strengthened. \u201cIt is a remedy to free us from our daily faults and to preserve us from mortal sins.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">CCC 1439<\/span><\/b><b>: <\/b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The process of conversion<\/span> and repentance was described by Jesus in the parable of the prodigal son, the center of which is the merciful father: the fascination of illusory freedom, the abandonment of the father&#8217;s house; the extreme misery in which the son finds himself after squandering his fortune; his deep humiliation at finding himself obliged to feed swine, and still worse, at wanting to feed on the husks the pigs ate; his reflection on all he has lost; his repentance and decision to declare himself guilty before his father; the journey back; the father\u2019s generous welcome; the father\u2019s joy &#8211; all these are characteristic of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">the process of conversion<\/span>. The beautiful robe, the ring, and the festive banquet are symbols of that new life \u2013 pure, worthy, and joyful &#8211; of anyone who returns to God and to the bosom of his family, which is the Church. Only the heart Of Christ Who knows the depths of his Father\u2019s love could reveal to us the abyss of his mercy in so simple and beautiful a way.<\/p>\n<p><em><b>CCC 1490:<\/b><\/em><em> The movement of return to God, called conversion and repentance, entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, and the firm purpose of sinning no more in the future. Conversion touches the past and the future and is nourished by hope in God\u2019s mercy.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/em><em><b>CCC 1888:<\/b><\/em><em> It is necessary, then, to appeal to the spiritual and moral capacities of the human person and to the permanent need for his inner conversion, so as to obtain social changes that will really serve him. The acknowledged priority of the conversion of heart in no way eliminates but on the contrary imposes the obligation of bringing the appropriate remedies to institutions and living conditions when they are an inducement to sin, so that they conform to the norms of justice and advance the good rather than hinder it.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><b>CCC 2784:<\/b><\/em><em> The free gift of adoption requires on our part continual conversion and new life.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Salvation is a lifelong process. It might be recorded as starting on a definite date, but, for Catholics, it has started way back, has either faltered, or has advanced very slowly, at a healthy pace or moved into fruition rapidly (CCC 1229). For Catholics who have faltered or have advanced very slowly, and for Protestants, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1717,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-answers"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Conversion: A Lifelong Catholic Process<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover why Catholic conversion is a gradual, lifelong journey rather than a single moment, rooted in CCC 1229 and steady, faithful growth over time.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sharecatholic.com\/blog\/conversion-is-a-lifelong-process\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Conversion: A Lifelong Catholic Process\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover why Catholic conversion is a gradual, lifelong journey rather than a single moment, rooted in CCC 1229 and steady, faithful growth over time.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sharecatholic.com\/blog\/conversion-is-a-lifelong-process\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Share Catholic - 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