The Conversion of David Brainerd

THE CONVERSION OF DAVID BRAINERD

A must-read for all professing Christians.

How could it be that one of the most famous missionaries in American history was deceived for years concerning his salvation? You will learn all about it in this short account of “The Conversion of David Brainerd”. David was a man who gave his life to minister to the early American Indians in the service of the Lord Jesus. Through danger, distress, sickness, and even death, David Brainerd gave his all to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The biography of David Brainerd’s life is considered a Christian classic. But, before his amazing missionary journeys took place, God had to break David Brainerd. Fasten your seatbelt! Here is his story…

The Early Years

David Brainerd was born on April 20, 1718 in Haddam, Connecticut. He was born to a Christian family that was very religious. Timely church attendance and spiritual instruction in the home were a way of life. When David was about 7-8 years old, he was deeply convicted of his own sin for the first time. He became terrified at the thought of dying. David responded to this conviction by becoming more active in his religious activities. His Bible reading and prayers increased, and he began to listen more attentively at church. This period of spiritual concern, however, was short-lived. These periods of spiritual concern came and went throughout his childhood. Through the course of these experiences, David developed and became devoted to many religious observances.

Entering The Ministry

When David turned nineteen, he received his portion of the family inheritance – a small farm outside of town. He tried to work the farm, but didn’t like it. David wanted to go to college. His next oldest brother, Nehemiah, had finished college and had been a pastor for several years. David decided that he also wanted to go into the ministry. So, David left the farm and returned to Haddam to begin training under Reverend Phineas Fiske. Later that year Rev. Fiske died, so David began to train under his brother Nehemiah.

Outstanding Religious Devotion

David spent many hours each day in Bible reading and prayer. In less than a year, he read through the Bible twice. David listened closely to the messages at church. After the sermon, he would rehearse them in his head – trying to remember as much as he could. David even began a Bible study for young people on Sunday evenings. David would have seemed to us as one of the most outstanding young “Christians” in any modern day church. However, David was not a Christian at all. David had deceived himself into believing he had a right standing with God because of his many religious observances. He later said, “Thus I proceeded a considerable length on a self-righteous foundation, and should have been entirely lost and undone, had not the mercy of God prevented it.”

Conviction of Sin

God continued to work on David. While taking a walk one day, David became deeply convicted of his own filth and sin. He felt that the wrath of God was about to come on him at any moment. To obtain relief, David increased the performance of his religious duties. This helped for a while, but these times of relief were always replaced with periods of deeper conviction. One night David said that he was so convicted of his sin against God that he thought the ground beneath his feet would open up at any moment and he would fall directly into hell.

Battling Against God

During this period of turmoil and uncertainty in his life, David began to find fault with God and His ways. He thought it was unfair that Adam’s sin would result in all men being born as sinners by natural birth. David thought God’s law was too strict. It restricted the activities of his life and also highlighted the sins of his heart – which he could never fully overcome on his own.

David became frustrated with portions of the Bible such as Ephesians Chapter 2 which made it clear that salvation came only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; and that Jesus alone was able to satisfy the requirements of God’s justice through His death on the cross. He thought it was unreasonable that man be expected to trust their eternal destiny solely upon the Lord Jesus Christ – through faith in Him. David wanted to look to something and be able to say, “I did such-and-such, so I am saved.” He was irritated that his prayers, his devotions, his ministering to others, and all of the religious observances that he had compiled would be tossed aside and they would contribute nothing to his standing before God.

The Conversion of David Brainerd

David’s turmoil and distress continued for months until in July 1739, while walking through a grove, he was once again deeply convicted of his own sin. Though he had tried (with frequent success) to convince himself that he was saved, during this walk, God impressed upon David the fact that he was undoubtedly undone and spiritually lost. He resisted this fact until two evenings later when he was walking through the same grove. He said that he seemed to get a glimpse of God’s glory and God’s amazing wisdom concerning the Way of salvation. David did not claim to see a vision, or any such thing. He said; however, that he was struck with the awareness that God’s means of salvation – through faith in Jesus Christ alone – was the most wise, and acceptable, and beautiful gift ever given to mankind. In his own words, David Brainerd later wrote:

“At this time, the way of salvation opened to me with such infinite wisdom, suitableness, and excellency, that I wondered I should even think of any other way of salvation; was amazed that I had not dropped my own contrivances, and complied with this lovely, blessed, and excellent way before. I wondered that all the world did not see and comply with this way of salvation, entirely by the righteousness of Christ.”

What about you? What are you resting in as your hope for eternal salvation? I must tell you lovingly, and honestly, that if you are consoling yourself by anything "you have done” as opposed to trusting solely in the Lord Jesus Christ – you are on the road to eternal damnation. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

Download printable tract version of this article.

For a better Biblical understanding on evidence of genuine conversion, please see our Evangelism Study Guide: True and False Converts.