The Holy Spirit In Conversion by Mack Lyon
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION
By MACK LYON
OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION: The need for restating Bible doctrine of this subject.
I. WHAT IS CONVERSION?
1. It is a change.
2. Change of heart by faith.
3. Change of behavior by repentance.
4. Change of relationship with God by baptism.
II. WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION?
1. Conviction--John 16:7-14 a. Of son because they believe not on Christ. b. Of righteousness because He ascended to the Father. c. Of judgment because the prince of the world is judged.
III. HOW DOES HE ACCOMPLISH IT?
1. Not by force--not by miracles apart from the word.
2. Not by providence, though it must not be discounted.
3. But by the Word of truth.
IV. THE NEW BIRTH.
1. Two essentials, but one birth. a. Begettal--work of Holy Spirit. b. The origin of source of Life is in Holy Spirit and conveyed to spirit of man by the word.
CONCLUSION:
1. Direct operation of Holy Spirit is a dangerous doctrine.
2. No conversion without the word, Christians ought to be stirred out of lethargy to preach the word to the whole creation.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION For centuries the subject before us has been shrouded in superstition and veiled in controversy. In view of the fact that the masses associate great mystery with the Holy Spirit and likewise with conversion, it is no small wonder that this subject comes in for a double portion of fanaticism and misunderstanding. While multitudes hold strongly to their "experiences," sentimental impressions, and rapturous delusions, others, not being so firmly set on such workings as the operation of the Holy Spirit in conversion, are earnestly seeking further enlightenment. So that in every generation there is a great need for reemphasizing the teaching of the word of God on this subject. No study of the Holy Spirit of the magnitude approached by this lectureship committee would be complete without an investigation into His work in man's conversion. May we approach it with open hearts and a de-sire that is sincere to know what God has said of this matter in His revelation. The study can be greatly simplified if we first examine the question,
WHAT IS CONVERSION?
Preachers speak often about "conversion," "redemption," "regeneration," and similar terms, the meaning of which though quite clear to us may be somewhat hazy to others, if they are understood at all. It is also apparent that these terms do not always mean the same thing to all preachers.
Funk & Wagnall's Desk Dictionary defines "conversion" as "The act of converting or being converted in any sense." "Convert" is defined thusly, "To change into another state, form or substance; transform." Now there is nothing really difficult about what is there? We convert or change cotton into wearing apparel. We change or convert wheat into bread. The complete change may involve many minor changes; but the process by which these raw materials are changed into the manufactured or consumable state is called "con-version." When this principle is applied to man it is the same, with the exception that man having been created with a free will is not passive in the process. He is a responsible creature, therefore, he must be active. Conversion, when it is applied to man is merely the process by which he is changed.
Just as there are several minor changes in the process of converting cotton into wearing apparel, or wheat into bread, there are several minor changes in converting man. Christ seeks to control the person from the inside outwardly, there-fore, the beginning place for his conversion is in the heart. There must be a change of heart, which is wrought by faith. However, one is not wholly converted at the point of faith without any other works of obedience, any more than cotton is completely converted into a shirt when it passes the ginning process. There must also be a change of behavior in con-version. This is accomplished in repentance. Likewise there must be a change of relationship with God. This change is brought about in baptism. One is not wholly converted until he has undergone all of these changes. It is conceivable that a person could believe but never change his behavior. It is possible for one to change his behavior in repentance but never come into Christ by baptism. The question before us now is,
WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION?
There has never been any controversy over the fact that the Holy Spirit does exercise an influence in bringing about these changes. There has never been a conversion to Christ since the events of Pentecost ushered in the Christian era in which the Holy Spirit was not active. Men are in almost universal agreement on these truths. The conflict has been upon what His word is and how he accomplishes it. What say theScriptures? This ought to settle all controversy.
No single passage so nearly perfectly sets forth the mission of the Holy Spirit as John 16:7-14, wherein our Saviour says, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send Him unto you. And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak; and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you." From this reading it may be concluded that the Spirit's work is to be fourfold: (1) to abide with and comfort the disciples, (2) to reveal the truth, (3) to glorify the Son, and (4) to convict the world. It must be observed from this reading also, that the promise of the Spirit was to the disciples, and any influence upon the world (the unconverted) would be indirect, as through the disciples. They will be the instruments through which He will work. Jesus had previously said that the world (the unconverted) could not receive the Spirit (John 14:17).
Lest we should venture into areas to be discussed by others in this series and thereby be the cause of unnecessary and in-excusable repetition; and that we might utilize all of our time in a discussion of the influence of the Spirit in con-version of the sinner, we shall forbear any comment upon the first three and concentrate upon the fourth His work ofconvicting the world. This is His work in conversion! So faras the Scriptures teach, He has no other. Listen!
He will "convict the world in respect of sin . . . because they believe not on me." The idea is not that unbelief is sin. It is, of course, but this is not the idea of this passage. Man is convicted as a sinner because of his rejection of Christ. He is holy and just and pure and to reject Him is to oppose righteousness. Furthermore, every institution, civil, religious, or others, is founded upon some fundamental fact held as truth. Christianity, the church, is founded upon the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. "When Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son, of man is? And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jere-miah, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:13-18). Centuries before Isaiah had writ-ten, "Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste" (Isaiah 28:16). Both Paul in Romans 9:33 and Peter in 1 Peter 2:5-8 reach back over the centuries, lift this passage from Isaiah's prophecy and apply it to Christ Jesus. They declare Jesus to be the "tried stone, the sure foundation." He was tried in His death and resurrection. Had He died and revived not "the gates of hades" would have surely prevailed; and Jesus would have been tried and found wanting. But now is he "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4). As Isaiah's foundation stone, He stood the test. But the world has rejected Him. In rejecting Him, it has rejected God. In the process of conversion, the Spirit operates upon the heart of the individual convicting him of sin in the rejection of the Savior.
He will "convict the world in respect . . . of righteousness because I go to the Father." As the Son of God, Jesus Christ existed in the beginning with God; "by him were all things made and without him was not anything made" (John 1:1). While our Lord did not consider equality with God a prize to be grasped (Php 2:5-10), He repeatedly affirmed His deity. To Thomas He declared, "If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also . . . He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father" (John 14:7; John 14:9). Another time He taught, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). Because of His persistent claims to deity, the Jews demanded His crucifixion on the charge of blasphemy, in that He made himself equal with God. But upon His ascension to the right hand of the majesty in the Heavens, His claims were vindicated. His righteousness established forever and He reigns as King of kings, because He was received of the Father. In the process of conversion the Holy Spirit works in the heart of the man convicting him of the righteousness of Christ because He sits at the Father's own right hand.
He will "convict the world in respect . . . of judgment because the prince of this world hath been judged." When Jesus had completed His earthly ministry He was betrayed into the hands of sinful men. He was condemned and crucified. His friends removed His body from the cross and with tender hands and aching hearts placed it in the tomb hewn out of a rock in a nearby garden. Disappointment and sorrow filled their hearts as they wearily turned and walked away. Their fondest hopes faded amid tears and gloom when the Savior dropped His head and said, "It is finished." The deed was done. The world had rejected its Savior. Wicked men rejoiced believing that "the gates of hades" had pre-vailed. Satan had had his field day. But early in the morning upon the first day of the week, an angel descended from heaven and rolled away the huge stone before the door of the sepulchre. The earth trembled. The soldiers became as dead men. Death yielded up her prey. "The gates of hades" were overcome. And Satan was vanquished conquered on his own battlefield. At the cross he had marshalled all his forces. There he suffered his eternal defeat. His doom was settled and his sentence was pronounced. In conversion the Holy Spirit will yield influence upon the heart of man as to convict him of judgment because the price of this world has been judged.
Thus His work in conversion is defined. "And He, when He is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." The next question is,
HOW DOES HE ACCOMPLISH IT?
Again we are entering upon an area of great controversy. The question is not one of power but of fact. It is not a mater of what He can do; but what He actually does. The question is not one of determining the power of the Holy Spirit, for only Heaven itself is able to fully know it, but what is the power by which He influences man in his conversion. To be sure, we have no purpose in limiting the work of the Spirit; neither do we propose to ascribe to Him operations upon the heart of man which He does not exercise.
So far as we are able to determine there are only two possible avenues through which He may operate upon man in order to convict him of sin, righteousness and judgment.
First, He may employ argumentation and persuasion. He may convict the world by the presentation of evidence. In which case He would employ the word of Truth to convict the world.
Or, He might employ physical power or force. In this case He would employ miracles, separate and apart from the word of Truth. But miracles cannot convert. They can only obtain a favorable hearing of the word of Truth! They were never used except for this purpose even in New Testament times. Listen! "And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. And multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did" (Acts 8:5-6). The miraculous appearance of our Lord to Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road prepared him for a hearing of the gospel, then he was commanded to "rise and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do" (Acts 9:6). The appearance of the angel to Cornelius did not convert him but it prepared him for a receptive hear-ing of the gospel, so that after rehearsing the incident to Peter he declared, "Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord" (Acts 10:33). Then Peter opened his mouth and began to preach the gospel to him and his relatives and friends. The miracle of the earthquake that mid-night in Philippi set the stage for a receptive heart in the jailor, so that he heard the word of God as preached by Paul (Acts 16:16-40). The idea of a miraculous, direct operation of the Holy Spirit in conversion cannot be sustained by the Scriptures. It is significant that of all the con-versions recorded for us in the word of God, none was achieved without the instrument of the word. No one since that time has ever been known to be converted to Christ without hearing and learning of Him.
One thing more needs to be said before we proceed fur-ther. There is always present in conversion, as in the Chris-tian life, the providence of God, which must never be discounted. The Lord provides the circumstances in which the gospel is preached, which in many cases, make it less difficult for one to become a child of God. We may never know just how long or to what extent He has worked in the events of our lives to bring us to the proper place, time, and disposition for hearing the gospel, as in the instance of Lydia and her household (Acts 16:1-16). Being conscious of the workings of Providence one will surely be more attentive to the gospel. But here again we must emphasize that providence apart from the gospel is not a converting power. Such events, whether miraculous or providential, can only incline our hearts to seriously consider the teachings of the Spirit.
All of this leads us to the conclusion that the Holy Spirit operates upon the hearts of men in order to bring about their conversion through the gospel, the word of God. He convicts the sinner by argumentation, and persuasion, by the presentation of evidence and appeal to motive. I know of nothing which more clearly demonstrates this than events of Pentecost day when about three thousand were converted to Christ. God, in His providence, set the stage. He chose a time and place wherein there would be gathered devout men from every nation under heaven: He further prepared them for reception of the truth by the miraculous manifestations of the Holy Spirit, who also guided Peter in his preach-ing. After telling of Christ's death, burial, and triumphant resurrection, Peter charged his audience, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:36-37). Here we see miracles, providence, and the word of God preached by Peter. The people were convinced of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. But this is the Holy Spirit at work in converting souls. What was the in-strument used in conviction? Of course, it was the word of God. The providence of God and the miracles inclined the ears of the great audience so that they heard the word and received it, but they were not the power of salvation.
Hear the word of the Lord! "No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Everyone that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me" (John 6:44-45). In this passage the Lord shows the impossibility of being converted separate and apart from the gospel message. Those who come to Christ must be taught; they must learn of Him, and when they do the Spirit employs the gospel to draw them.
Furthermore the apostle Paul declared, "I am not ashamed of the gospel; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew and also to the Greek. For therein is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17). This passage emphatically declares the power employed by the Lord in bringing men to salvation is in the gospel. The gospel is adapted to man and it is suit-able to saving him. It is sufficient in itself, without the aid of any other power super-imposed upon it, for the heart is purified by faith (Acts 15:7); and faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).
In Psalms 19:9 we read, "The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul." This verse is too plain to be misunderstood. But what is here said of the law, the word of the Lord, is also said of the Spirit. It is evident, therefore, that the Spirit accomplishes the work through the instrumentality of the word. Remember now that we established the work of the Spirit in conversion as that of convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. The word of God is sufficiently able to do this. As a matter of fact, Paul said, "I had not known sin except through the law" (Romans 7:7). And James wrote, "Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21).
No sir! The spirit does not operate upon the heart of the unconverted independent of the Word of God. This is further sustained by Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus concerning
THE NEW BIRTH.
The process of conversion is pictured to us by Christ as a birth. In His conversation with Nicodemus Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5). In this spiritual birth, as in the natural, there are two essentials but one birth. It is not that Jesus said one must be born again and again, as of water and of the spirit; but one must be born again of water and Spirit.
The first essential to the birth is the begettal, and under this figure, this essential is the work of the Spirit in con-version. Notice the words of James on this subject, "Of his own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures" (James 1:18). Thus we are "begotten," or "brought forth" by theword of truth. To this Peter adds these words, "Seeing yehave purified your souls in obedience to the truth unto un-feigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently; having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth" (1 Peter 1:22-23). In the use of the preposition "by" James attributes to the word of truth the origin of the source of life; while Peter employs the word "through" to ascribe to another (the Holy Spirit, John 6:63) the origin of the source of life, and denotes the word of God as the medium through which it is imparted to the spirit of man. In either case it must be apparent to all of us by now that it is foolish to talk about being born again converted, separate from the word God.
In the light of these passages, we have no difficulty with Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:15 : "In Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel." The Corinthian Christians are examples of how men are born of the spirit it is through the gospel.
Finally in 1 John 5:1 we read the following: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God." But we have already seen that "belief cometh by hearing, and hear-ing by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). The word of God is the incorruptible seed when planted in the heart will produce faith, and herein. one is "born of the Spirit."
CONCLUSION The doctrine of the miraculous, mysterious operation of the Spirit in conversion, separate and apart from the word of God is a dangerous one. It declares the word of God a dead letter. It makes God a respecter of persons by dispensing such power to some and withholding it from others. It places the responsibility of the lost upon the Holy Spirit. It deprives man of the freedom of his will. It encourages man to await, pray for, and anticipate a power to his salvation which God has not promised; and in this delusion and disappointment he may turn from God in disgust and anger. The work of the Spirit in conversion of man is one of convicting him of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and He does it through the word of God.
Therefore my brethren, since there is no conversion apart from the gospel, how really important it becomes for us to accelerate and intensify our efforts to preach it to the whole creation. Literally millions of the earth's inhabitants this very day have never once heard the name of Jesus, and millions of those who have heard of Him have never heard the truth about him. Unless they are converted to Christ by the gospel, eternity holds little for them. But what of us who hold the truth in folded hands? In view of these facts, the command of King Jesus, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation" must surely stir us from our lethargy. God may well be saying to us what He said to the prophet in the long ago, "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul" (Ezekiel 3:18-19).
QUESTIONS FOR CLASS DISCUSSION 1. Discuss the need for conversion.
2. What are two main, areas of controversy on this subject?
3. Is it important to you to know what His work is in your conversion and how He performs it?
4. In a word, what is the work of the Spirit in conversion of man?
5. Why does lie convict the world of sin? Of righteousness? Of judgment?
6. What of the use of miracles in inspired accounts of conversion?
7. Do you think "providence" is to be considered in conversion?
8. Name two essentials to a birth. To the new birth..
9. In the figure of a birth, what is the work of the Spirit in conversion.
10. Why is the doctrine of the direct operation of the Spirit a dangerous one?
11. Since no one can be converted apart from the word, what of the responsibility of every Christian?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Boles, H. Leo, The Holy Spirit, His Personality, Nature, Works, Nashville, Tennessee, Gospel Advocate Co., 1942.
Campbell, Alexander, Millennial Harbinger, Vols. 2, 8, 9, Nashville Tennessee, Harbinger Book Club.
Cotham, Perry B., The Holy Spirit in Conversion.
Lard, Moses E.,Lard's Quarterly, Vol. I.
Milligan, Robert, The Scheme of Redemption,, St. Louis, Mo., Bethany Press.
Pendelton, W. K., The Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Great Pioneer Papers, Old Paths Book Club.
Scott, Walter, The Gospel Restored, Cincinnati, Ohio, Ormsby H.Donogh, 1836, Reproduced and issued, Kansas City, Mo., Old Paths Book Club, 1949.