TOPIC 14 OF 47
Conversion
The Spirit turns our hearts through the promise of the Gospel.
THE MAIN TRUTH
The Gospel of Jesus Christ invites us to turn from sin and put our trust in Christ.
The teaching
From the book · pages 41–43
The Gospel of Jesus Christ invites us to turn from sin and put our trust in Christ. All of us need to be converted to a repentant faith in Jesus. But no one has the freedom of the will or the ability to convert themselves, because our will is spiritually dead and in bondage to sin. We cannot choose or make a decision by our own sinful will to receive Christ.
God’s grace alone converts our will through the Gospel. When the Good News invites us to turn and believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit turns our heart by giving us the faith needed to receive Christ. The Spirit calls us through the Gospel and enlightens our darkened hearts with the saving knowledge of Jesus as he frees our will so that we willingly trust in Jesus as Lord.
As sinners, however, we have the dreadful ability to resist and reject this converting work of the Holy Spirit—even to fall away from faith in Christ. If someone is lost in unbelief, it is solely their own fault. But if someone is converted and saved, it is solely the work of God’s grace through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
Read the calls to turn and believe alongside the passages describing God’s work in creating faith. Scripture gives God the credit for conversion while warning against resisting his grace.
16 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
Acts 3:19 ↗
“Therefore repent and return to have your sins wiped out. . .”
Book page 42
SCRIPTURE 02
Mark 1:15 ↗
“‘The time is fulfilled,’ [Jesus] said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near! Repent, and believe in the gospel.’”
Book page 42
SCRIPTURE 03
1 Corinthians 2:14 ↗
“However, an unspiritual person does not accept the truths taught by God’s Spirit, because they are foolishness to him. . .”
Book page 42
SCRIPTURE 04
2 Timothy 2:25-26 ↗
“God may grant them repentance, leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the Devil’s trap, after they were captured by him to do his will.”
Book page 42
SCRIPTURE 05
Romans 8:7-8 ↗
“For the mind-set of the sinful flesh is hostile to God, since it does not submit to God’s law, and in fact, it cannot. Those who are in the sinful flesh cannot please God.”
Book page 42
SCRIPTURE 06
Ephesians 2:1-2 ↗
“You were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked . . . You were following the ruler of the domain of the air. . .”
Book page 42
SCRIPTURE 07
1 Corinthians 12:3 ↗
“. . . no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”
Book page 42
SCRIPTURE 08
John 6:44; 15:16 ↗
[Jesus:] “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” “You did not choose me but I chose you. . .”
Book page 42
SCRIPTURE 09
Romans 1:16 ↗
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. . .”
Book page 43
SCRIPTURE 10
Jeremiah 31:18; Acts 18:27 ↗
“Cause me to turn, and I will turn, because you are the Lord my God.” “. . . those who had become believers by grace. . .”
Book page 43
SCRIPTURE 11
John 6:29; Acts 3:16 ↗
“Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God: that you believe in the one he sent.’” “This faith that comes through Jesus. . .”
Book page 43
SCRIPTURE 12
2 Corinthians 4:4,6 ↗
“. . . the light of the gospel . . . For the God who said, ‘Light will shine out of darkness,’ is the same one who made light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ.”
Book page 43
SCRIPTURE 13
Philippians 2:13 ↗
“In fact, it is God who is working in you, both to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure.”
Book page 43
SCRIPTURE 14
Acts 7:51 ↗
“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit!”
Book page 43
SCRIPTURE 15
Ephesians 2:8-9 ↗
“Indeed, it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Book page 43
SCRIPTURE 16
Acts 15:11 ↗
“We believe that we are saved…through the grace of our Lord Jesus.”
Book page 43
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
Why can we not produce saving faith by our own natural powers?
How does the Gospel’s invitation also become the means through which the Spirit gives faith?
How does this teaching shape prayer and witness for someone who does not yet believe?
A prayer
Father, thank you for calling us through the Gospel. Preserve us from resisting your Word and bring those we love to trust in Jesus through your Spirit. Amen.