INTRODUCTION
Commonly there is a work preparatory to regeneration that takes place in the sinner’s heart. Because salvation is a moral as well as a legal work this is to be expected. Those who are to eternally enjoy the benefits of faith in Christ are first made to see their need of Him. The self-righteous spirit of man must be broken up that the Saviour may receive all the glory in salvation.
Before beginning this topic let us be cautioned to remember that the Holy Spirit is a sovereign agent in salvation. He works as He pleases, and one person's experience must not be made a pattern for others. Some spend months under conviction, while others are soon brought to full assurance (Acts 8:26-39; 16:25-34). Some, like Paul, find the Lord who were not seeking Him (Romans 10:20). Some seem to be allowed to view the depths of their depravity before they find peace; while others are led more fully into a knowledge of their sinfulness after salvation. Let us rejoice that as God alone knows our heart, so He alone knows how best to deal with each of His people.
Being careful 10 keep the aforementioned facts ill mind, let us study some of the preparatory works of the Spirit in salvation. I. AWAKENING.
No one can overestimate the danger that unsaved men are in (John 3:1.8, Hebrews 10:31), yet the Bible portrays them as asleep, blind, dead and unconscious. Death, sin, judgment and eternity are not realities to the unregenerate (Isaiah 28: 15). Men slumber on the brink of Hell.
In awakening the sinner, God's Spirit impresses upon the mind the reality of eternity and judgment. The sinner becomes aware that he is in danger of God's wrath. Spiritual matters become important. Not everyone who is awakened is then saved. Some are lulled back to sleep by an empty profession of religion or the pull of the world. (Acts 24:25).II. ILLUMINATION.
While only the regenerate are "renewed in knowledge" (Colossians 3:10) yet the unsaved can receive a degree of enlightenment. When a sinner is under conviction he may be ignorant of the nature of faith, but he sees clearly the danger of sin and the seriousness of eternity. For the first time his soul becomes important. Does not all this require a degree of illumination?
Even the natural man can be made to fear Hell and be concerned for his eternal welfare. This is of course different from the light of regeneration that enables a man to love God. This illumination then is simply a stirring up of man's natural mind to see the danger of sin and judgment.III. CONVICTION.
While "awakening" deals primarily with danger, yet "conviction" is the work of God whereby the cause of our danger is revealed. In conviction a man is convinced and reproved concerning his sinful condition. This alone can give the sinner a desire to know Christ. "A form of words, though e'er so sound, Can never save a soul; The Holy Ghost must give the wound, And make the wounded whole."A. The areas of conviction - In John 16:8-11, we find three areas wherein men are convicted.
1. Of sin - God convicts men of great sins they have committed (Acts 2:36-37), of original sin, of failure in duties and of the sin of unbelief.
2. Of righteousness - Men are convicted of the righteousness of Christ, and of their need of His righteousness (Matthew 5:6).
8. Of judgment to come - Judgment often has reference to rule. Men are convinced that just as Satan will be vanquished, so Christ is the coming king, and that resistance is folly. The powers of evil have no chance for victory, but all will ultimately stand before God.B. The need of conviction.
1. Without conviction men would not be ready to admit their total defilement, nor to come to Christ as helpless beggars. "Christ is all" (Colossians 3:11) in salvation, and God would have the redeemed to understand this. Conviction therefore prepares the soul for faith in Christ.
2. Conviction is preparatory to repentance. Godly sorrow (II Corinthians 7:10) precedes repentance which is a permanent change of heart and mind about sin. C. The means of conviction. While conviction is a work of God's Spirit, yet He is pleased to use certain truths in this work. Just as He often uses the truth of God’s wrath to awaken sinners so in conviction He uses:
1. The law (Romans 3:19-20; 7:7-13). Men commonly judge themselves by their neighbors' actions, but in conviction they see that it is God’s glory they fall short of (Romans 3:23).
2. The goodness of God (Romans 2:4). Many have testified that it was a view of God's goodness that convinced them of their sin. D. The earmarks of true conviction.
1. Real conviction causes a man to accept his guilt (Psalms 51:4, Luke 18:9-14).
2. Real conviction destroys self-righteousness (Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 64:6).
3. Real conviction sees sin as being against God (Psalms 51:4, Luke l5:18.
4. Real conviction leads one to Christ, rather than to worldly despair (II Corinthians 7:10).
Conviction may not be pleasant work, but it is a necessary one. To see ourselves as we are is a prerequisite to seeing Christ. In the first four beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-6) our Lord explains that only those who have experienced such conviction are truly blessed. IV. A DESIRE FOR THE MEANS OF GRACE.
Before a soul is saved the Holy Spirit will often produce within him or her a desire to pray and to hear God's Word. CONCLUSION
We hope that each student of God's Word can now clearly see that the purpose of the Spirit's preparatory work in salvation is to prepare the sinner to appreciate the Lord Jesus Christ. Every work of the Spirit leads the sinner closer to the realization that faith in Christ alone can save the soul.
"Whatever prompts the soul to pride, Or gives us room to boast, Except in Jesus crucified, Is not the Holy Ghost. That blessed Spirit omits to speak Of what Himself has done, And bids the enlightened sinner seek Salvation in the Son. He never moves a man to say, "Thank God, I'm made so good. But turns his eye another way, To Jesus and His blood. Great are the graces He confers, But all in Jesus' name; He gladly dictates, gladly hears, "Salvation to the Lamb." Joseph Hart================= Go to Chapter Eleven of Holy Spirit Study
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