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The Beginnings: Word and Spirit in Conversion
An unconverted Christian is an impossibility. This is the clear testimony of the Bible. Consequently it is of paramount importance for us to understand the beginnings of spiritual life, to know what God has said concerning conversion, what it is and what it is not. This book seeks to examine in some detail the essential awareness of sin, faith in Jesus Christ and repentance. Other areas covered by Paul Helm include 'legalism', the relation of faith to assurance and the present need for accurate language in the church to maintain preaching and Christian experience within a thoroughly biblical framework.
- GenresTheology
141 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1986
About the author
Paul Helm
76 books15 followersPaul Helm teached philosophy at the University of Liverpool before becoming Professor of the History and Philosophy of Religion at King s College, London (1993-2000).
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 8, 2022
Conversion is a decisive change in a person. It is the result of God's Spirit working in harmony with the knowledge of God's word in the heart of an individual. Without it, a person simply remains in a state of spiritual death.
But how should we understand it? What precisely does it involve? Are there stages to it? Are there essential or non-essential aspects of the event?
Within the Christian church, especially if you have been within it for some years, you would have encountered different views. You probably would have listened to testimonies or personal accounts of salvation. You may have even heard people dismiss the need for any conversion experience. Hence the need to carefully think through what Scripture presents about it. And this book is a really helpful guide.
The author maintains the emphasis that in conversion, as well as in other areas, Scripture must interpret our experience, and not the other way around. We must consider what role conviction of sin plays in conversion. We must ask what God has told us about Repentance. We must examine the role of Faith as taught by the inspired writers. Only so can we arrive at a truly Biblical conception of Conversion.
But how should we understand it? What precisely does it involve? Are there stages to it? Are there essential or non-essential aspects of the event?
Within the Christian church, especially if you have been within it for some years, you would have encountered different views. You probably would have listened to testimonies or personal accounts of salvation. You may have even heard people dismiss the need for any conversion experience. Hence the need to carefully think through what Scripture presents about it. And this book is a really helpful guide.
The author maintains the emphasis that in conversion, as well as in other areas, Scripture must interpret our experience, and not the other way around. We must consider what role conviction of sin plays in conversion. We must ask what God has told us about Repentance. We must examine the role of Faith as taught by the inspired writers. Only so can we arrive at a truly Biblical conception of Conversion.
May 29, 2020
A thorough treatise on the Christian Conversion.
A doctrine that is simple, yet not simplistic and Paul Helm does a great job in highlighting all the implications, philosophies, caveats, issues and proper understanding of the Word and the Spirit's work in a sinner's conversion.
This book tackle genuine conversion. Putting emphasis where emphasis ought to be made. Differentiating between order and elements of conversion.
Differentiating between essence and strands of conversion.
It help in understanding one's experience of conversion
It help also pinpoint to false experience of conversion
It does not, just as Scripture does not, force a unique experience of salvation unto believers. Like some conversion molds which legalists have long weighted unto believers.
It does not, water down Scriptural definition of conversion, and debukes the antinomians wrong use of emotions and subjectivity as justification of conversion.
Paul Helm's being also a philosopher is well evident and beautifully enhanced by him before foremost, a british theologician. Simple doctrine, not simplistic. Needed clarity, that's your book.
A doctrine that is simple, yet not simplistic and Paul Helm does a great job in highlighting all the implications, philosophies, caveats, issues and proper understanding of the Word and the Spirit's work in a sinner's conversion.
This book tackle genuine conversion. Putting emphasis where emphasis ought to be made. Differentiating between order and elements of conversion.
Differentiating between essence and strands of conversion.
It help in understanding one's experience of conversion
It help also pinpoint to false experience of conversion
It does not, just as Scripture does not, force a unique experience of salvation unto believers. Like some conversion molds which legalists have long weighted unto believers.
It does not, water down Scriptural definition of conversion, and debukes the antinomians wrong use of emotions and subjectivity as justification of conversion.
Paul Helm's being also a philosopher is well evident and beautifully enhanced by him before foremost, a british theologician. Simple doctrine, not simplistic. Needed clarity, that's your book.
November 4, 2009
My review is only for chapter 3 "Faith and Repentence" (pp. 66-82):
This chapter is a scholarly discussion about what it means to convert to Christianity. Clarity is provided around the terms faith and repentence and the point is made that in Christian conversion they are inseparable acts yet distinguishable concepts (and why the distinction matters).
I appreciated the scriptural examples given of true repentance (Luke 18:9-14 and 2 Cor. 7 among others) as well as the point that "the Christian life is a life of continuing penitence" (p. 73).
The chapter concludes with an admission to the fact that individuals' felt experiences of conversion vary widely so the construction of a doctrine of conversion must be based on Scripture over personal accounts.
I'd like to give this chapter another read when I have a chance to devote more focus.
This chapter is a scholarly discussion about what it means to convert to Christianity. Clarity is provided around the terms faith and repentence and the point is made that in Christian conversion they are inseparable acts yet distinguishable concepts (and why the distinction matters).
I appreciated the scriptural examples given of true repentance (Luke 18:9-14 and 2 Cor. 7 among others) as well as the point that "the Christian life is a life of continuing penitence" (p. 73).
The chapter concludes with an admission to the fact that individuals' felt experiences of conversion vary widely so the construction of a doctrine of conversion must be based on Scripture over personal accounts.
I'd like to give this chapter another read when I have a chance to devote more focus.
October 8, 2014
Laser-precise thinking concerning the strands, not steps, in conversion.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews