Conversion: Not by My Own Choosing (People's Bible Teachings) by Brenner John M

Author:Brenner, John M. [Brenner, John M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Northwestern Publishing House
Published: 2013-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

8

Repeated Conversion— Falling from Faith and Restoration

Conversion is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit. But what about after a person is converted? Does a Christian have any spiritual responsibility or power after he is brought to faith? Can a Christian fall from faith? Can someone who has fallen from faith be restored? How can I be sure that I will remain a believer? Is there ever a time in this life when a person cannot be converted?

In this chapter we will seek the scriptural answers to these important questions.

Our life of repentance

When Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg in 1517, he set off one of the most important religious movements in history. The Lutheran Reformation restored to the church the truth that we are saved by grace alone through faith apart from our own works and merit. The very first of his Ninety-five Theses stressed the importance of repentance in the life of the Christian. Luther wrote, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ [Matt. 4:17], he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” 11 In his explanation of the meaning of Baptism for our daily life, Luther writes in the Small Catechism, “The old Adam in us should be drowned by daily contrition and repentance.”

What does Luther mean? What is a life of repentance? If conversion and repentance are synonyms and conversion is instantaneous, how are we to understand daily repentance? Is there such a thing as continuous conversion?

Theologians sometimes use the expression continuous conversion. This expression might seem to be a contradiction in terms. After all, conversion is instantaneous. It is not a process. A person is either a believer or an unbeliever. There is no middle ground. When theologians use the term continuous conversion, however, they simply mean that a person is in a converted state. That person is a believer and remains so through the power of the Holy Spirit, who sustains faith through God’s Word and sacraments.

In the same way, we can speak of the Christian’s life of repentance because it is a life of faith. In other words, to be a believer means to be repentant. Christians recognize that they fall into sin every day. Every day they confess their sins to God, trusting that in Christ all of their sins are forgiven. That is daily repentance. We live in a constant state of sorrow over our sins and trust in God’s mercy and forgiveness .

Christians can fall from faith

Can a Christian fall from faith?

The Bible warns us, “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12). In his explanation of the parable of the sower, Jesus says, “Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away” (Luke 8:13). According to Jesus, a person can believe for a while and then fall away.

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