The Christian life is a life of growth.
The gospel message is simple but not simplistic. Learning the gospel and its implications is a lifelong process, but modern evangelicals are often too focused on the moment of conversion while ignoring the ongoing work of sanctification. For John Wesley and George Whitefield, justification and sanctification were inseparable.
In Born Again, Sean McGever maps Wesley’s and Whitefield’s theologies of conversion, reclaiming the connection between justification and sanctification. This study helps evangelicals reassess their thin understanding of conversion, leading to a rich and full picture of the ongoing work new Christians face.
296 pages
Evangelical religion is still shaped by a view of conversion that reached its classic form in the eighteenth century. McGever's patient analysis of the two leading preachers of conversion, Wesley and Whitefield, is especially helpful at showing the broad common ground they shared regarding what conversion is for, and how it is fulfilled. In doing so, it also clarifies their points of disagreement, especially regarding how conversion begins.
–Fred Sanders, Professor of Theology, Torrey Honors Institute, Biola University
Contents
- Introduction
- John Wesley’s Conversion Theology Motifs
- John Wesley’s Conversion Theology Attendant Themes
- George Whitefield’s Conversion Theology Motifs
- George Whitefield’s Conversion Theology Attendant Themes
- John Wesley and George Whitefield’s Theologies of Conversion Compared: Continuity and Discontinuity
- Conclusion: Conversion as Inaugurated Teleology for Wesley and Whitefield
Born Again: The Evangelical Theology of Conversion in John Wesley and George Whitefield is in the following collections:
