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The ORDER of SALVATION

1. Election (God’s choice of people to be saved)

2. The Gospel Call (proclaiming the message of the gospel)

3. Regeneration (being born again) - EVIDENCES

4. Conversion (faith and repentance)

5. Justification (right legal standing)

6. Adoption (membership in God’s family)

7. Sanctification (right conduct of life)

8. Perseverance

9. Death (going to be with the Lord)

10. Glorification (receiving a resurrection body)Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 670.

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CONVERSIONI. REPENTANCE

II. FAITH

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What is Conversion?

Conversion is our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation.The word conversion itself means “turning—here it represents a spiritual turn, a turning from sin to Christ. The turning from sin is called repentance and the turning to Christ is called faith. Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester,

England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 709.

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I. REPENTANCECONVERSION = FAITH + REPENTANCE

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REPENTANCE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

The fundamental Old Testament word for repentance is nacham, derived from a verbal root meaning “to draw a deep breath,” and denoting an expression of deep feeling of either relief or sorrow.11 TWOT, s.v. “nacham,” by Marvin R. Wilson, pp. 570–71.

Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: The Doctrines of Salvation, the Church, and Last Things, vol. 3 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010), 61.

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REPENTANCE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The verb metamelomai means to regret or to be sorry3 and stresses a feeling of concern or regret. This is seen in one of Jesus’ parable where a second son is sent to work for his father. This son first refuses to comply (“I will not”), “yet afterward he” changes his mind (“regretted it”) and complies (“went”; Matt 21:29). Metanoeo, another verb and the most common, has the idea of changing one’s mind.4

3 BDAG, s.v. “metamelomai,” p. 639.

4 BDAG, s.v. “metanoeo,” p. 640.

Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: The Doctrines of Salvation, the Church, and Last Things, vol. 3 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010), 61.

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REPENTANCE is NOT REMORSE

Repentance is not merely reformation, doing better, turning over a new leaf or making a new resolution. All of these are self-help methods that, at best, only treat a few symptoms but never get to the real moral problem. Nor is repentance simply emotional distress, contrition, feeling sorry for one’s predicament or one’s sin.

Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: The Doctrines of Salvation, the Church, and Last Things, vol. 3 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010), 62.

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REMORSE or FALSE REPENTANCE

There are many biblical examples of contrition for and admission of sin that are not cases of true repentance. Pharaoh (Exod 9:27), Balaam (Num 22:34), Achan (Josh 7:20), King Saul (1 Sam 15:24) and Judas Iscariot (Matt 27:4) all admit to sinning (cf. also Esau in Heb 12:27). However, all fall short of the repentance that is a gift from God that has inevitable and observable “fruit,” in John the Baptist’s words (Matt 3:8).

Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: The Doctrines of Salvation, the Church, and Last Things, vol. 3 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010), 62.

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DEFINITION: Repentance

Repentance is godly sorrow for one’s sin together with a resolution to turn from it. Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology., 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House,

1998), 950.

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Is REPENTANCE a gift from God or a human responsibility?DIVINE WORK OR HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY?

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IS REPENTANCE A GIFT FROM GOD OR MY RESPONSIBILITY TO TURN? BOTH!

2 TIMOTHY 2:25

“with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,”

ACTS 26:20

“that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance”

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IS REPENTANCE A GIFT FROM GOD OR MY RESPONSIBILITY TO TURN? BOTH!

ACTS 11:18

When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

LUKE 13:3

I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

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Repentance: What is it?

Real repentance is sorrow for one’s sin because of the wrong done to God and the hurt inflicted upon him. This sorrow is accompanied by a genuine desire to abandon that sin. In the case of true repentance, there is regret over the sin even if the sinner has not suffered any unfortunate personal effects because of it.

Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology., 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1998), 950.

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FAITHCONVERSION = FAITH + REPENTANCE

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WHAT IS FAITH?

Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

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Three Components of Biblical Faith

The Protestant Reformers recognized that biblical faith has three essential aspects:

notitia, assensus, and fiducia.

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Notitia – KNOWING Content(Intellect)

Notitia. Notitia refers to the content of faith, or those things that we believe. We place our faith in something, or more appropriately, someone. In order to believe, we must know something about that someone, who is the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Assensus: CONVICTION(Emotions)

Assensus. Assensus is our conviction that the content of our faith is true. You can know about the Christian faith and yet believe that it is not true. Genuine faith says that the content — the notitiataught by Holy Scripture — is true.

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Is Intellectual Acceptance / Belief enough?

No. There is a “belief” that does not save.

“You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.” (James 2:19)

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Fiducia: TRUST(Will)

Fiducia. Fiducia refers to personal trust and reliance. Knowing and believing the content of the Christian faith is not enough, for even demons can do that (James 2:19). Faith is only effectual if, knowing about and assenting to the claims of Jesus, one personally trusts in Him alone for salvation.

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CALLING UPON THE LORDROMANS 10:11-15

11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOTBE DISAPPOINTED.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THENAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OFGOOD THINGS!”

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WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee,

preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent

and believe in the gospel.”MARK 1:14-15

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The Gospel

1. All people have sinned (Rom. 3:23).

2. The penalty for our sin is death (Rom. 6:23).

3. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died to pay the penalty for our sins (Rom. 5:8).

4. Jesus is Lord (Rom 10:9-10)

5. Jesus arose from the dead (Rom 10:9-10)

6. Repent from sin; believe in Jesus (Mk 1:14-15, Jn 3:16; Acts 20:21)

7. Call upon God (Rom 10:14)

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CONVERSION

CONVERSION

=

REPENTANCE

(Godly sorrow & turning from sin)

+

FAITH

(Knowledge, Conviction, & Trust)

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