Conversion – A Gift

For as in the Gospel account Christ says: “Rise up, girl!” and “Come forth, Lazarus!” [cf. Mark 5:41; John 11:43], and yet no one concludes from this that they could have raised themselves from natural death or cooperate with their resurrection by their own powers, but the whole work is understood as assigned to Christ and His life-giving Word, so also, when the Holy Spirit says, “Repent, be converted, rise up, and you who are sleeping!” this does not indicate what man has the power to do but what God, because He does have the power, wants to work in man through these efficacious admonitions, unless His work is stubbornly resisted. This bestowal should please us greatly, because Scripture calls unregenerated people “dead in their sins” (Eph. 2[:1]; Col 2[:13]); and in John 5[:8-9, 24], when Christ grants physical and spiritual resuscitation, He ascribes both completely to the efficacy of His Word. Therefore it must be acknowledged that we cannot do what the Holy Spirit requires of us except by His grace, Jer. 31:18[19]; “Convert me, Lord, that I may be converted. When You converted me, I repented.” 2 Tim. 2:25: “God may perhaps grant them penitence.” John 6:29: “This is the work of God, that you believe,” etc.

Gerhard, John On Sin and Free Choice; Theological Commonplaces XII-XIV 291