Alan Gross
Well-Known Member
THE CHRONOLOGICAL RELATION OF QUICKENING AND CONVERSION
Because quickening logically precedes conversion
is not proof that it does so chronologically, or as to time.
We maintain that quickening does not precede conversion in matter of time,
but that they both are synchronous or simultaneous.
Let us note:
1. ARGUMENTS IN PROOF OF THIS
(1) A Chronological Difference Between Quickening and Conversion
Would Involve the Monstrosity of an Individual
With Life from Above and Yet in Unbelief.
In the Impartation of Divine Life we Partake of the Nature of God
(2 Pet. 1:4; "by which have been Given to us Exceedingly Great
and Precious Promises,
that through these you may be Partakers of the Divine Nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." ).
you may be Partakers of the Divine Nature, (only then)
And it is impossible that such a Nature should be in Unbelief.
All unbelievers are spoken of in the Bible as being dead.
Hence it cannot be that there is ever a time
when there is (Spiritual) Life without Faith.
(2) The Scripture Declares That Only He That Hath the Son Has Life.
This is declared in 1 John 5:12;
"He that hath the Son hath (Spiritual) life;
and he that hath not the Son of God hath not (Spiritual) life."
Having the Son involves believing on the Son. Hence none have life except believers. Or, to put it another way, all that have life are believers; therefore there can be no period of time between quickening and conversion
2. EXPLANATION How can there be a logical succession
without a chronological succession.
A number of illustrations could be given to show that this is possible,
even in the physical realm.
One apt illustration is as follows.
Imagine a tube extending
from the Atlantic coast of the United States to the Pacific.
Now imagine also that this tube is filled with an incompressible fluid.
If pressure is exerted on this fluid on the Atlantic coast,
it will be registered instantly on the Pacific.
Yet, logically, the exertion of the pressure must precede
the registering of it at the other end.
Then we give the following beautiful illustration
of the simultaneousness of quickening and conversion.
It is from Alvah Hovey, as given by A. H. Strong:
"At the same time that God makes the photographic plate sensitive,
He pours in the light of truth
whereby the image of Christ is formed in the soul.
Without the sensitizing of the plate,
it would never fix the rays of light so as to retain the image.
In the process of sensitizing, the plate is passive;
under the influence of light, it is active.
In both the sensitizing and the taking of the picture,
the real agent is not the plate nor the light, but the photographer.
The photographer cannot perform
both operations at the same moment.
God can.
He gives the New Affection,
and at the same instant, He Secures its Exercise in view of the Truth."
3. OBJECTION ANSWERED To the foregoing position
it may be objected that "godly sorrow worketh repentance,"
and that one dead in sin cannot have godly sorrow.
This is true.
But godly sorrow works repentance instantaneously,
and is synchronous with repentance.
It is impossible to conceive properly of a man having godly sorrow
without possessing also a changed mind or attitude towards sin.
Thus godly sorrow, the same as quickening,
logically precedes repentance,
but neither of them precede it chronologically.
Because quickening logically precedes conversion
is not proof that it does so chronologically, or as to time.
We maintain that quickening does not precede conversion in matter of time,
but that they both are synchronous or simultaneous.
Let us note:
1. ARGUMENTS IN PROOF OF THIS
(1) A Chronological Difference Between Quickening and Conversion
Would Involve the Monstrosity of an Individual
With Life from Above and Yet in Unbelief.
In the Impartation of Divine Life we Partake of the Nature of God
(2 Pet. 1:4; "by which have been Given to us Exceedingly Great
and Precious Promises,
that through these you may be Partakers of the Divine Nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." ).
you may be Partakers of the Divine Nature, (only then)
And it is impossible that such a Nature should be in Unbelief.
All unbelievers are spoken of in the Bible as being dead.
Hence it cannot be that there is ever a time
when there is (Spiritual) Life without Faith.
(2) The Scripture Declares That Only He That Hath the Son Has Life.
This is declared in 1 John 5:12;
"He that hath the Son hath (Spiritual) life;
and he that hath not the Son of God hath not (Spiritual) life."
Having the Son involves believing on the Son. Hence none have life except believers. Or, to put it another way, all that have life are believers; therefore there can be no period of time between quickening and conversion
2. EXPLANATION How can there be a logical succession
without a chronological succession.
A number of illustrations could be given to show that this is possible,
even in the physical realm.
One apt illustration is as follows.
Imagine a tube extending
from the Atlantic coast of the United States to the Pacific.
Now imagine also that this tube is filled with an incompressible fluid.
If pressure is exerted on this fluid on the Atlantic coast,
it will be registered instantly on the Pacific.
Yet, logically, the exertion of the pressure must precede
the registering of it at the other end.
Then we give the following beautiful illustration
of the simultaneousness of quickening and conversion.
It is from Alvah Hovey, as given by A. H. Strong:
"At the same time that God makes the photographic plate sensitive,
He pours in the light of truth
whereby the image of Christ is formed in the soul.
Without the sensitizing of the plate,
it would never fix the rays of light so as to retain the image.
In the process of sensitizing, the plate is passive;
under the influence of light, it is active.
In both the sensitizing and the taking of the picture,
the real agent is not the plate nor the light, but the photographer.
The photographer cannot perform
both operations at the same moment.
God can.
He gives the New Affection,
and at the same instant, He Secures its Exercise in view of the Truth."
3. OBJECTION ANSWERED To the foregoing position
it may be objected that "godly sorrow worketh repentance,"
and that one dead in sin cannot have godly sorrow.
This is true.
But godly sorrow works repentance instantaneously,
and is synchronous with repentance.
It is impossible to conceive properly of a man having godly sorrow
without possessing also a changed mind or attitude towards sin.
Thus godly sorrow, the same as quickening,
logically precedes repentance,
but neither of them precede it chronologically.
