Conversion & Calling, Student Workbook, SW01

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C O N V E R S I O N A N D C A L L I N G

The Word that Converts

Welcome in the strong name of Jesus Christ! When you have completed your work in this module, we trust that you will be able to understand, articulate, and defend the truth that: • The Word that converts is synonymous with the good news of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Word that converts. • This potent Word effectively leads us to metanoia , that is, repentance from sin and a turning towards God in Jesus Christ. • This Word which works so effectively repentance ( metanoia ) to salvation, works with the same power to produce faith ( pistis ) in the believer. This faith saves, delivers, and rescues the believer from the penalty, power, and presence of sin. • The Word of God, once activated by repentance and faith, produces confirming signs of God’s forgiveness and the Holy Spirit’s power in the life of the believer. • Inwardly, the believer displays signs of new life in Jesus Christ including a knowledge of God as heavenly Father, a new experience of prayer, an openness to the Word of God, and a willingness to follow the inner leading of Jesus’ voice. • Outwardly, and in a corresponding way, the Word that converts produces outward signs including such things as an identification with the people of God, the display of a new Christlike character and lifestyle, a love for other believers, and a desire to see the lost won to Christ.

Lesson Objectives

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You Simply Must Be Born Again

Devotion

Read John 3.1-21 . Of all the great marvels of Jesus’ kingdom teaching we learn of and enjoy, perhaps none are as moving as his teaching about the need to be born from above, being born again. The experience of childbirth provides us with a window into the supernatural. For a tiny life to be born into the world, with friends and family joyfully welcoming this new life into the world, into their world, is a