THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION

1. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION

2. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Conviction and conversion are so interrelated that an individual will never be converted until he is convicted. One is convicted when he realizes he is guilty of sin, and converted when he turns from sin to God and receives the remission of his sins. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin.

3. John 16:8-11 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

4. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION John tells us that certain ones were convicted by their conscience.

5. John 8:9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

6. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Thus, the Holy Spirit operates on the conscience in order to bring about conviction. But does He operate on the conscience directly or indirectly?

7. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Some believe and teach not only that He does but that He must operate directly on those whom he wishes to convict and that, apart from a direct operation, no alien sinner would ever be convicted, much less converted.

8. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION However, it can be shown that, in the first century, the Holy Spirit convicted people indirectly through the instrumentality of the revealed word of God. Let us consider, first, the principle of instrumentality.

9. Isaiah 10:15 "Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!"

10. Acts 1:16-17 "Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry."

11. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Just so, the Holy Spirit later spoke to the masses indirectly through the preaching of the apostles and other inspired men. Let us notice a few examples from the book of Acts.

12. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION In chapter two, the apostles "were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (verse 4). When the crowd gathered, "everyone heard them speak in his own language" (verse 6), and Peter began to preach, saying, "Men of Israel, hear these words" (verses 22-36).

13. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION He concluded his sermon by asserting, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (verse 36). "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart" (verse 37).

14. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION This shows they understood what the Holy Spirit by the mouth of Peter spoke concerning Jesus and were convicted of their sins. Thus, the Holy Spirit had operated upon their conscience indirectly through the preaching of the word of God.

15. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Having been convicted, they asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (verse 37) They knew they were guilty of sin, but they did not know how to "call on the name of the Lord."

16. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Peter, still guided by the Spirit, told them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (verse 38).

17. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Instead of communicating to each one directly what he or she had to do to be saved, the Holy Spirit communicated indirectly - through the preaching of Peter - what they were to do "for the remission of sins."

18. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION The "direct operation" doctrine begins with the premise that sinners are so depraved that they are unable to be saved without being regenerated first. But these were exhorted to "be saved" without a direct operation (verse 40).

19. Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

20. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Therefore, they were able to be saved without a direct operation of the Holy Spirit, by meeting the conditions given to them indirectly through Peter's preaching.

21. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION In chapter eight, "Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them" (verse 5). These people had previously believed that a man called Simon was "the great power of God … because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time" (verses 9-11).

22. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ," they must have been convicted of their error because "both men and women were baptized" (verse 12).

23. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Even "Simon himself also believed" (verse 13), indicating that he had been convicted of his sins. Simon was later convicted as an erring Child of God (verses 18-24). All this convicting was accomplished via the instrumentality of God's word.

24. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION In the same chapter, Philip (being instructed by an angel and by the Holy Spirit) came into contact with an Ethiopian eunuch, "and preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water; what hinders me from being baptized?" (verses 26-36)

25. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION While the Holy Spirit spoke directly to Philip He spoke indirectly to the eunuch through the writing of Isaiah and the preaching of Philip. The eunuch understood Philip, was convicted of his sins, and desired baptism, indicating repentance.

26. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION In chapter nine, Jesus told Saul of Tarsus, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" (verse 6). And Saul "was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank" after arriving in Damascus (verses 8-9). Jesus sent Ananias, telling him that Saul was praying (verses 10-12).

27. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION According to Paul's account, when Ananias arrived he said, "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Through the preaching of God's word, Saul learned that he was still in his sins (conviction) and that they would be washed away in baptism.

28. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION The direct operation theory would demand that Saul "pray through" (that is, pray until the Holy Spirit operated upon him directly), but he had been praying already and was still in his sins. It is baptism, not prayer, that is to follow repentance "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38).

29. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION In chapter ten, where we do have a direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon alien sinners, it was neither to convict them nor to convert them.

30. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Rather, it was to convince Peter and the others that uncircumcised Gentiles had a right to hear and obey the gospel.

31. Acts 10:45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

32. Acts 10:46-48 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

33. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Remember, Cornelius had been told that Peter "will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved" (Acts 11:14). And notice the effect this event had on the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, when it was told to them by Peter.

34. Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."

35. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Whenever the Holy Spirit operated on alien sinners for conviction and conversion, it was through the means of the revealed word. In every case the number of conversions was directly proportionate to the number of people reached by preaching.

36. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION Why should it be any different today? We no longer have inspired men but we do have the inspired word that convicted men and women in the first century. And it will convict, even when preached by uninspired men. The power is not in men but in the word of God.

37. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

38. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.