LESSON 4 CONVERSION

Student Guide

OPENING PRAYER

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT REVIEW

Last time we considered two steps involved in conversion:

By the law God works the knowledge of sin and sorrow over sin in the human heart.
The Holy Spirit calls people to faith by the Gospel.

Today let’s consider a third step involved in conversion:
By working faith in the heart the Holy Spirit also gives certain spiritual gifts.

When the Gospel is effective it works faith in the heart.

1 Thess 2:13

2 Tim 1:9

1 Pet 2:9

2 Cor 4:6

Phil 1:29

Rom 10:17

We need to distinguish between intellectual and spiritual knowledge.

Rom 10:14

Ps 119:37

Spiritual knowledge is faith.

1 Cor 1:23-24

Eph 2:5-6

1 Pet 2:25

John 6:37

Conversion brings about an instantaneous change.

Lk 11:23

A person remains converted as long as he has faith.

1 Jn 5:1

Lk 8:13

Lk 22:32

2 Cor 13:5

Heb 11:6

The Holy Spirit causes intellectual knowledge to work spiritual knowledge.

Mk 4:27

Acts 22:6-11

2 Cor 13:5

1 Jn 3:14

Lesson 4 Student Assignment (GSLTW pp. 322-328; Chinese 2 pp. 290-296)

How does God bring about a realization of our need for a Savior?
What is the message of the law?
What is the conscience? Ro 2:14,15
Why is the conscience a fallible guide? 1 Ti 4:2, Ro 1:21-25, Ro 1:24, 26, 28
Why is the written law of God alone able to give us a clear picture of the sinner’s wretched condition? Ps 5:5; Cf. SA III II:4,5
What is the Holy Spirit’s “strange” work? Jn 16:8
Why do we call this work the Holy Spirit’s “strange” work? Jn 14:26, 15:26, 16:7, 13,14

FC SD V:11
What is contrition? AC XII:4
Distinguish between:

a. active contrition–Mt 27:3,5

b. passive contrition–2 Co 7:10
Is sorrow over sin a meritorious deed? Explain. Eph 2:8,9
Explain the Roman Catholic church’s view on sorrow out of fear and sorrow out of love.
Relate the response of the Confessions on this matter. Ap XII: 8, 10, 29
What alone can move us to love God? Cf. Ap XII:34
Through what means does God work conversion?

a. Ro 10:17

b. Ro 1:16

c. Jas 1:18; Cf. LC Third Commandment:101

d. Ti 3:5

e. Ac 2:38; Cf. LC Fourth Part: 24,25
Why must we insist God works through the means of grace alone? Cf. SA III VIII:10
How many causes of conversion are there? 1 Co 12:3, Php 1:29, Ro 1:16, 10:17
What did Melanchthon teach concerning the number of causes for conversion? Cf. FC SD II:86,87.
What effect does the law have on the human heart? Ro 3:20, Ac 16:29
What effect does the gospel have on the human heart? Ac 16:31-34
Demonstrate that conversion is instantaneous. Jn 3:18, 36, Mk 16:16, Lk 11:23

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