A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

ance over sin. When the answer of forgiveness came to them through the Scriptures there was great rejoicing.*1 Regeneration of a heart of sin took place through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. A person receiving assurance of forgiven sins was now ready, in thankfulness and love, to offer soul and body as a living sacrifice to God.22 The ongoing life of the church reflected the central con- cern for a genuine conversion. Mennonite Brethren publica- tions like Friedensstimme in Russia and Zionsbote in North America carried many articles on the subject of conversion.23 The articles generally focused on the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word, bringing conviction of sin, repentance, and leading seekers to claim the mercies of God who in turn per- forms the miracle of regeneration in which the repentant sin- ner becomes a "new creature. * 33 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH The need for conversion and spiritual renewal also re- ceived strong emphasis in Mennonite Brethren preaching. One third of the collection of 330 sermons of David Gerhard Duerksen (1850-1910), a prominent preacher in the second generation of the Mennonite Brethren Church, dealt with re- vival and conversion.* They stressed that regeneration was followed by a life of sanctification which served as the verifi- cation of the genuineness of the new creature. These sermons spoke of overcoming the reign of sin in the life of a regenerated person through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. The new nature expressed itself, as the confessional statement said, in "all diligence to add to his faith virtue and love, to make his calling and election sure and to offer soul and body as a living sacrifice to God in thankful- ness and love, mindful of the words: We love him because he first loved us"2* The Mennonite Brethren described the essence of sanctifi- cation as implicit love toward God and a sincere love toward fellow believers and neighbors. The purpose of sanctification was the glorification of God,26 Sanctification was a lifelong process: "Even in a holy walk the believers need at all times the forgiving, chastening and cleansing grace of God through the blood of Christ"*7 The means of grace through which the Holy Spirit accom- plished his work in the redeemed community was the Word of God, obedience in baptism, the fellowship of communion, and prayer. The dependence on these means of grace ac- counted for their prominent role in the believer's relationship and practice.28 Scripture passages that appeared prominently in Menno- nite Brethren writings with reference to salv