by R. L. Morrison

No one doubts the activity of the Holy Spirit in the conversion of a sinner. However, there is much controversy regarding HOW the Spirit acts in converting men. There is only one source of reliable information on this or any other religious question: the Word of God. When we have learned what the Bible teaches, we have learned all we can know and all we need to know about it.

First, let us define the Holy Spirit. He is a person. He is one with God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the Son. These three bear record in heaven (1 John 5:7). All three have a part in the conversion and salvation of a sinner.

Secondly, what is conversion? It is a change, or a transformation, from one state to another. "Giving thanks unto the Father ... who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son" (Col. 1:12-13). Paul speaks of a people who were translated or delivered from the kingdom of Satan and sin into the kingdom of Christ and righteousness. Conversion involves everything that is necessary to bring about this change.

Our question is: What does the Holy Spirit do to bring about this change and how does He do it? Some believe the Spirit acts directly upon the heart of the sinner in some way. Others believe the Spirit will come suddenly and without warning upon the sinner, even before he hears the gospel. Others believe it is necessary to seek God or Christ through prayer and the Spirit will come upon them, then they know they have been converted or saved.

These ideas are not in harmony with the Bible. The New Testament teaches the Spirit operates on the sinner, but only through the word of God, that which was revealed by the apostles. Paul wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16). The angel who appeared to the Gentile, Cornelius, told him to send to Joppa for Simon Peter, the Apostle, "who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved" (Acts 11:13-14). God's power to save the sinner is in the gospel, the words spoken by the Apostles.

In Ephesians 6:17, Paul wrote, "Take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God". The word is the sword, the only sword the Spirit uses in conversion. Where the gospel, the word, has not gone, there are no conversions, no operation of the Spirit. The Word is God's power to save (Rom. 1:16). This word tells sinners what to do. In every example of conversion in the New Testament, sinners acted or did something to be saved. A careful examination of these examples reveals these things.

The apostles taught sinners to believe or to have faith in Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8:12). This is the result of accepting the testimony of inspired men. It is also a work God has commanded. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6:29). Faith is followed by repentance, which is a change of mind resulting in a changed manner of life. Faith is the motive for repentance. Without faith there could be no cause for repentance, which is unto life (Acts 11:18). A confession of that faith is also essential. Paul wrote, "With the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:10). Baptism completes this process of conversion from sin into righteousness or the Kingdom of God's Son, the Church (Acts 2:38; Mk. 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21). Those baptized into Christ put on Christ (Gal. 3:27).

Perhaps the study of an example of conversion in the New Testament will help to understand the work of the Holy Spirit in the conversion of a sinner. Such an example is found in Acts 2. This is the account of the first gospel sermon, preached by the command of Jesus in the commission to the apostles. The prophets foretold this event, saying from Zion the law would go forth (Isa. 2:3; Micah 4:2).

While Jesus was teaching the apostles, he promised to send the Holy Spirit to them. He promised the Spirit, when he came, would teach these men all things, and bring all things to their remembrance, whatsoever He had said unto them (John 14:26). Then, just before he ascended, he told them to await in Jerusalem, until the Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:4-8). A few days later, on Pentecost, these men were assembled in Jerusalem, and the promise of Jesus was fulfilled. The record says they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. This attracted a multitude of people, and the apostles had the opportunity to begin the great work of revealing God's plan for man's salvation. Although all of the apostles spoke (Acts 2:14), Peter's sermon was partially recorded. Peter simply preached the gospel, Christ, the Son of God, crucified, buried but resurrected the third day, and now ascended to the Father. When the people heard what was said, many believed. They asked, "What shall we do?" Peter, speaking as the Holy Spirit directed, answered the question: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit, through the apostles, revealed God's plan to save men. The same message, by the same apostles, will save sinners today, for God's power to save is the gospel which they preached (Rom. 1:16).

Conversion, then, is the complete process of turning from sin unto God (Acts 3:19). This process was revealed by the Holy Spirit through the apostles. They guided these men, selected by Jesus, for this purpose, in the revelation of all truth (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3). The power of God to save was placed in the Word, either spoken or written. We, today, can not hear the apostles speak, but we do have their words, written as directed by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:13). Whatever the Holy Spirit does today, it is accomplished through men learning, believing, and obeying the gospel of Christ.

It is true that Jesus came to save sinners. He went about for three and one-half years preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Mark 1:15). He also selected and taught the disciples, who later became the apostles. He promised them the baptism of the Holy Spirit, to bring to their remembrance the things he had taught them, as well as some things he had not taught, for they were not able to receive them at that time (John 14:26; 16:12-13). But Jesus did teach what we call the Great Commission. He gave that responsibility to the men he had chosen and taught. This commission is found in Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Luke 14:47-48. This instruction was given to them after his resurrection and just before his ascension. They began to fulfill the responsibility given unto them on the first Pentecost following (Acts 2). It was at that time the Holy Spirit began to direct them, giving them the very words they used in proclaiming the gospel (Mark 13:11; 1 Cor. 2:12-13).

The gospel writers - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - wrote the books that bear their names AFTER the Pentecost of Acts 2. As stated above, they wrote as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. They could not have declared the things contained in the gospels EXCEPT they were guided by the Spirit. In fact, the entire Bible was so directed. The apostles Peter referred to this: 2 Peter 1:21. Saying: it came not by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

The gospel (in full) began to be preached to mankind on the Pentecost of Acts 2. The Holy Spirit began revealing God's will to and for man, through the apostles. No one had obeyed the gospel BEFORE that day, for it was on that day the New Testament church came into existence.

Paul said, "But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:8). Since God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34-35), there is only one message of salvation for mankind today. It is the New Testament. He who claims more or less, will be accursed, according to the Holy Spirit through Paul.

One's attitude toward that Word will determine his eternal destiny! Is it God's power to you?