22. How does the Holy Spirit lead us to repentance?
He convinces the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
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This question introduces a subject of great importance for Wesleyan theology—God’s “prevenient” grace, also known (particularly in older sources) as “preventing” grace. Both words point to the same reality: God’s kindness is active and evident in our lives long before we embrace the lordship of the Son and commit to walking in the Spirit. God’s kindness has run ahead of us and our “decision for Christ,” opening our eyes to the spiritual realities of our condition and of God’s way forward, clearing the way for us to arrive at that place of commitment.
Believing in the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s work within us even to bring us to a place of repentance is a consequence of Scripture’s assessment of our state of mind apart from God. According to Paul, “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4). There are spiritual forces at work trying to keep us in the dark, as it were, about our condition and God’s salvation; these can only be countered by spiritual forces. If “the god of this age” has blinded us, we must also be made able once again to see.
Paul also speaks of the consequences of humanity’s long-term alienation from God. Our abandonment of the truth about the one God and about ourselves as creatures of God who owe God all honor and obedience had brought humanity to the point where their moral compass was lacking in all direction. Indeed, humanity had sunk to the point that we not only practice what is wicked but approve of what is wicked as if it were morally good or neutral (Rom. 1:28–32).
The Holy Spirit empowers us, even in our alienation from God, to realize the harsh realities of this situation—to understand that we are not as we ought to be and to perceive both the danger of continuing as we are apart from God and the hope of deliverance from what we are. The Spirit’s prodding will have saving consequences for those who respond to the Spirit’s convicting and convincing positively, such that they turn toward God in repentance.
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“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:7–11 ESV)
See also Mic. 3:8; CoF III
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This is an excerpt from Christian Faith and Doctrine: An Annotated Catechism for the Global Methodist Church. Seedbed is pleased to partner with The Global Methodist Church to offer this companion resource to A Catechism of Christian Faith and Doctrine for the Global Methodist Church.
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