Alarm to the Unconverted by Joseph Alleine: Chapter 1 - Mistakes About Conversion

In Mistakes About Conversion, the opening chapter of Alarm to the Unconverted, Joseph Alleine tackles the dangerous misconceptions surrounding true spiritual transformation. With profound urgency, he exposes the devil’s cunning counterfeits of conversion, warning against false assurances that lead many astray.

This chapter systematically dismantles the mistaken beliefs that conversion is simply adopting a Christian profession, undergoing baptism, or practicing outward morality and religious conformity. Alleine argues that true conversion involves a radical, inward change—one that cannot be reduced to superficial acts or mere appearances of piety.

He challenges readers to examine their hearts deeply, emphasizing that genuine conversion is marked by the power of godliness and a life transformed by grace. This chapter is both a warning to those who falsely believe they are converted and an encouragement to those who sincerely seek the truth, urging them to embrace the necessity of being born again.