The Fundamentals - 1917: Vol.4

The Science of Conversion S3 on the part of God to the soul from within; and second, those means applied from without through the senses by human agencies and instrumentalities. I t is a fact, however, that even the means used directly on the part of God are at least in part applied through human agencies; so that the conversion of adult souls, so far as we are able to see, is ordinarily through human instrumentalities. Hence the means by which the human soul is converted, or born into the family of God, are: (1) The Divine Spirit, which is the alone Divine Agent, and without which no soul, of infant or adult, can ever pass from spiritual death to spiritual life. This Divine Spirit operates how and where He pleases and with or without means and agencies. (2) The Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit, reaching and quickening men’s souls through the reasoning and emotional faculties. The Word is effectual only as accom­ panied by the quickening power of the Spirit, while at the same time it may be variously applied externally. (3) The benign influence of Christians, demonstrating the reality and power and blessedness of the new life in the soul of the converted man. (4) Real prayer, by which the regenerate soul brings the unregenerate to the very feet of the Divine Saviour and insistently implores the Divine grace. (5) An absolute faith on the part of the human agent. This faith is an absolute confidence in the ability of God and in His purpose to accomplish the work through the means then being used, whenever the conditions thereto are complied with. There can be no true faith when the available means are not used and the known conditions not complied with. 5. THE MEANS APPLIED Here is where the science of conversion is especially mani­ fest. Everything in nature must be done in God’s way, and

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