Holy Spirit – And His Role in Salvation

The Holy Spirit – And His Role in Salvation – Romans 1:1-32

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In our last study, we looked at the sins against the Holy Spirit. From another perspective, the Spirit works in our conversion. In this study we will look at His role in our conversion. You have probably observed the different religious perspectives which can cause confusion with what God’s word teaches. Here are some general examples; some would say there is no true conversion without physical evidence, such as speaking in tongues. Others may say the Spirit doesn't function directly in conversion, only in the Word, which moves people to obey the Gospel.

Opening Question — Get Us Thinking:

When we read the Scriptures and want to carry out God’s mission, does God need our participation? Who did God use so you would come to Him? What do we learn about God? What do we learn about ourselves?

The Scriptures teach that Jesus said the Holy Spirit would come and convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). From this statement, it should be evident that the Holy Spirit is involved in the conversion process of people turning to God. Thus, the real issue here is not whether He is involved, but in what way or how does He accomplish His part? Some advocate that the Holy Spirit comes down “direct operation” on the human heart and gives him an "experience of grace"—which means he has been saved! This resulted in the “mourner’s bench” kind of response to preaching. The greatest problem with this, it is not taught in the Scriptures and there is much more confusion about the Holy Spirit. Such beliefs are mere conjecture or subjective thinking. In fact, it is in plain contradiction to the teachings of Scripture. Also, frequently the core of the gospel mission as Jesus gave it will be rejected. The real question that needs to be answered is—Does the Holy Spirit convert the sinner directly or does He accomplish His Work through the preached Word of God and the sinner's obedience to the Gospel? Why preach?

Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Word & Will.

Did the Holy Spirit come upon the apostles to save them? There are no Scriptures that I am aware of that states such! The Holy Spirit came upon them to empower them for the work of teaching, confirming God's message, and to pass on these Gifts to Christians to help build up the church. When Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, He stated that when He comes He will:

• Teach them all things (John 14:26)
• Bear witness of Jesus (John 15:26)
• Guide them into all truth (John 16:13)
• Glorify Jesus (John 16:14)
• Equip them to be witnesses into all the world (Acts 1:8).
• Confirm their message as being from God (Hebrews 2:3-4).

Out of the passages that talk about the activities of the Holy Spirit, none state that He would directly come upon anyone to save them.

The Spirit works in regeneration. How? One way the Spirit is directly involved in the conversion process. Jesus told the elderly religious leader, Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God…Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God’ (Jn 3:3,5).

Notice here that two elements are involved in the New Birth—water (of baptism) and the Spirit. Man’s part of the physical element of water is joined to the spiritual element of the Spirit’s empowerment. The water itself or alone does not save. It is symbolic of our death to our old life, our burial, and our resurrection to a new life, through the blood of Christ. Going through a ritual by itself means nothing. That is one reason why infant baptism is invalid. There must also be a conviction of sin and need for salvation, followed by faith and true repentance, if the “miracle” of baptism is valid. This was the thought of Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:13, that by one Spirit we are baptized into one body.

But, again, it is obvious that the Holy Spirit is involved in bringing about the salvation of mankind.

• We are born of the Spirit (John 3:3-8).
• The Spirit gives life (John 6:63; Romans 8:2, 10; 2 Corinthians 3:6).
• We are washed, sanctified, and justified by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11).
• It is by one Spirit that we are all baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13).
• We are renewed by the Spirit (Titus 3:5).

But the question again is—Does He do these things directly and reject the written word? How does the Spirit work through God’s instrument to teach that leads to man's salvation? (He uses the church, Christian example, the Bible, etc.)

In earlier studies we have looked at the Holy Spirit’s connection to the Bible. What is the connection? We pointed out what the Spirit is said to do, and the Word of God is also said to do—not in the absolute, but in most instances. When we look to see what the Word of God does in conversion, it coincides perfectly with what is said of the Spirit.

• The Word convicts the heart of the sinner (Titus 1:9).
• The Word pricks the heart (Acts 2:37)
• The Word begets us unto God (1 Corinthians 4:15; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23).
• The Word saves us (James 1:21; Romans 1:16).
• The Word purifies us (1 Peter 1:22).
• The Word sanctifies (John 17:17).
• The Word cleanses us (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26)

If both do the same thing, it is logical that the Word of God is the means that is used by the Holy Spirit to bring about our salvation (Ephesians 6:17). Romans 10:11-18 makes it very clear that our salvation depends upon our hearing, believing and obeying the Word preached to us.

Jesus used parables to teach and one of His key parables is the parable of the soils (Luke 8:4-15). It demonstrates the different kinds of hearers of the Word. The field is mankind. The seed is the Word. It is a natural process like the plant world.

In the same way, the New Birth is a miracle, yet follows an understandable path. Since the Holy Spirit inspired the Word, the two cannot be separated. The Spirit works through the Word in bringing to life a new creature. This is the beginning point of the process: “...for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding Word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).

What are some examples of conversion and the Holy Spirit’s work before we had the New Testament completed? Here is an overview of Acts:

• 3000—"When they Heard this." (2:37-38).
• 5000—"Many heard the word and believed." (4:4)
• Samaritans—"They believed Philip preaching." (8:12)
• Simon—"He believed also." (8:13)
• The Eunuch—"Philip preached to him Jesus." (8:35-38)
• Cornelius—"Words to you which you will be saved." (11:14)
• Lydia—"Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message." (16:14)
• Jailor—"Spoke the word of the Lord to him." (16:32)
• Corinthians—"hearing, believed, and were baptized." (18:8)
• Bereans—"Received the word." (17:2)
• 12 Men at Ephesus—"When they heard this were baptized." (19:5)
• Saul—"Will be told everything you are to do." (22:10)

What do we learn when we look more closely at the Conversion of the Gentiles? (Acts 10:1-48; 11:1-18):

• Cornelius saw a vision that told him to send for Peter.
• Meanwhile, Peter was given a vision and then told to go with the men from Cornelius.
• Peter came for the purpose to speaking words to them that they could be saved.
• Peter preached to them.
• The Holy Spirit fell upon them like it did on the Apostles at the beginning, and they spoke in tongues.
• Peter was convinced, seeing this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that God wanted the Gentiles to be saved as well as the Jews by an obedient faith.
• So, Peter commanded them to be baptized.

It is obvious that the Holy Spirit was involved in this conversion. It took three miracles to help Peter and the Jewish Christians with him that God wanted the Gentiles to be saved also. The Gentiles were told to do the same thing to be saved as the Jews were (Acts 2:38; Acts 10:43, 47-48). The Holy Spirit gave them power to speak in tongues, but He did not save them by such.

They were told words (gospel) to believe and obey like everyone else had been told (Acts 11:14).

Conclusion — Without the Holy Spirit’s work in conversion, there is no salvation from sins or new birth. He gives life to the Word, generating in our heart a conviction of sin and need for salvation. He convicts us of sin. He is directly involved, along with the water of baptism, in the new birth. Without the Spirit’s involvement, baptism is a meaningless ritual.

For those that would advocate that the Holy Spirit saves a man directly apart from the Word of God, the following things should be honestly dealt with:

• Such a belief contradicts passages that say that the Word of God tells us how to be saved.
• The Holy Spirit becomes “a respecter of persons” if He does not convert everyone.
• Preaching to sinners is without purpose.
• Such a belief relieves every Christian and the lost individual of personal responsibility and accountability.
• It violates man's freedom of choice.
• It contradicts passages that indicate that the Holy Spirit is given to the Sons of God—not sinners (Acts 5:32).

Yet, apart from the Word, the Spirit may use situations so that the influence or example of Christians may open the heart to hearing the Word and responding. Tragedies or setbacks of many kinds may cause a person to take stock of their life and search for answers or change. Providential circumstances may play a part in bringing a person to seek Christ.

God's Spirit has given us His Word. There is no conversion to God without the preaching of the Word of God (1 Corinthians 1:21). There are no Christians where the Word has not gone! In order for people to know God, we must take serious the spreading of the Word of God.

Reflective Questions for a Response — Live it today.

• Why has the Holy Spirit specifically called disciples to go and make disciples? Practically what does that mean for you?
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this study? How will you apply it to your life this week?
• How does this equip us to be better disciples and help empower us to “make disciples”?
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this?

The apostle Paul speaking about the lost, “… how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Romans 10:14