It saddens me that so many believe that we Arminians believe that we “will” ourselves to salvation or that we co-operate with God in salvation. I will admit that so many churches in the United States (and I am sure beyond our borders) are proclaiming a semi-Pelagian gospel that sees men and women as coming to Christ in their own power. The reality is that apart from the Holy Spirit, there is no true repentance and no true regeneration. Jesus said that no one can come to Him unless the Father who sent Him draws them (John 6:44). This drawing takes place when the gospel is proclaimed, Christ is exalted, and the Spirit works on the sinner’s heart.
A beautiful picture of this is seen over and over again in the Book of Acts. In Acts 2:37 we find the Jews in Jerusalem cut to the heart by the powerful, Spirit-filled preaching of Peter. Acts 2:47 says that the Lord added 3,000 (Acts 2:41) to the Church. Notice that it was the Lord who added them and not the will of the hearers or even the Apostles (1 Corinthians 1:30-31 NASB).
In Acts 8:12 we find the Samaritans becoming disciples of Jesus after hearing the gospel preached through Philip. The Holy Spirit was doing His work of exalting Jesus and bringing glory to His name through Philip (John 15:26-27). Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come and bring conviction of sin, and this He did in Samaria (John 16:8-11).
In Acts 10:44-48 we find the Spirit falling on the household of Cornelius after he sent for Peter who came and preached the gospel to his household (Acts 10:43). Again, the Holy Spirit glorified Jesus and brought Gentiles into the kingdom of God through the preaching of Peter.
In Acts 16:14-15 we find one of the clearest New Testament examples of the Holy Spirit opening the heart of an unbeliever that she might hear the gospel through Paul and be saved.
The proof is in the pudding (as we say in the South) and it is clear from these passages in Acts that the Holy Spirit’s work is necessary for salvation. We don’t have to force people to salvation. We don’t have to sing, “Just As I Am” fifteen times. We don’t have to use gimmicks or even “the sinner’s prayer” to bring people to Jesus. We need only to preach the gospel and God will work through the gospel to exalt Christ and bring sinners into the kingdom (Titus 3:5-7). Only God can translate us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13 KJV).
Brothers and sisters, may we be a people of the Spirit who allow the Holy Spirit to use us to proclaim the glory and riches of Christ Jesus and through that message, to bring conviction of sin and salvation through His grace (1 Corinthians 1:18, 21-25).
[Link to original post and comments on Roy Ingle’s website.]
