The Work of The Holy Spirit in Salvation

When God's time shall come he will do his own work, through those fail that should forward it. It is here promised, that God will reckon with his enemies and will render to them according to their deeds, to the enemies of his people abroad, that have oppressed them, in the enemies of justice and truth at home, that have oppressed them...., fr they also are God's enemies, and when the day of vengeance shall have come, he will deal with both as they have deserved according to retributions (so the world is), the law of retributions, or accordiing to former retributions; as he has rendered to his enemies formerly, accordingly he will not repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; his fury shall not exceed the rules of justice, as men's fury commanly does.

The work of the Holy Spirit is convicting. Mankind's sin and righteousness are exposed by the Holy Spirit. John 16:8 And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: See who they are whom he is to reprove and convince. The World, Both the Jew and the Gentile. He shall sufffficiently provide for the taking off and silencing of the objections and prejudices of the world against the gospel. Many an infidel was convinced of all and judged of all.

There are two well-known examples of sinners being convicted by the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. Felix, a ROman governor, actually trenches under conviction as he hears Paul preach. Acts 24:25 And he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go your way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for you.

With that design Felix sent for Paul. He had a mind to have some talk with him concerning the faith in christ, the Christian religion; he had some knowledge of the way, but he desired to have an account of it from Paul, who was so celebrated a preacher of that faith, above the rest. Those that would enlarge their knowledge must discourse with men of their own profession, and those that would be acquainted with any profession should consult those who excel in the knowledge of it; and therefore Felix had a mind to talk with Paul more freely than he could in open court, where he observed Paul upon his guard, concerning the faith of Christ; and this only to satisfy his curiosity, or rather the curiosity of his wife Drusilla who was a Jewess, daughter of Herod Agrippa, that was eaten of worms. Being educated in the Jewish religion, she was more inquisitive concerning the Christian religion, which pretended to be the perfection of that, and desired to hear Paul discourse of it, but it was no great matter what religion she was of, for, whatever it was, she was a reproach and scandal to it-a Jewess, but an adulteress; she was another man's wife when Felix took her to be his wife, and she lived with him in whoredom, and was noted for an impudent woman, yet she desires to hear concerning the faith of CHrist. Many are fond of new notions and speculation in religion, and can hear and speak of them with pleasure, who yet hate to come under the power and influence of religion, can be content to have their judgments informed but not their lives reformed.

The other case involves King Agrippa who reponds to a gospel meeting by saying: "Almost you persuaded me to be a Christian" Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, Almost you persuaded me to be a Christian. Agrippa admits there was a great deal of reason in what Paul said. Some understand this as spoken ironically, and read it so, Would you in so little time persuade me to be a Christian? But, taking it so, it is an acknowledgement that Paul spoke very much to the purpose, and that, whatever others thought of it, to his mind there came a convincing power along with what he said: "Paul, you are too hasty, you can not think to make a convert of me all of a sudden." Others take it as spoken seriously, and as a confession that he was in a manner, or within a little, convinced that Christ was the Messiah; for he could not but admit, and had many times thought so within himself, that the prophecies of the Old Testament has had their accomplishment in him, and now that it is urged so solemnly upon him he is ready to yield to the conviction, he begins to sound a parley, and to think of rendering.

The work of the Holy Spirit is regenerating. When arepenting sinner accepts Christ as Savior he is given a new nature by the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, alll things are become new. A through change of heart: For if any man be in Christ, if any man be a Christian indeed, and will approve himself such, he is, or he must be a new creature. This ought to be the care of all who profess the Christian faith, that they be new creatures; not only that they have a new name, and wear a new livery, but that they have a new heart and a new nature. And so great is the change the grace of God makes in the soul, that, as it follows, old things are passed away--old thoughts, old principles, and old practices, are passed away; and all things must become new. Regenerating grace creates a new world in the soul; all things are new. The renewed man acts from new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company.

Jesus carefully explained this ministry of the Holy Spirit to Nicodemus. John:3-7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nichodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 Thaat which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.

Except we be born from above, we cannot see this. That is, First, we cannot understand the nature of it. Such is the nature of things pretaining to the kingdom of God that the soul must be re-modeled and moulded, the natural man must become a spiritual man, before he is capable of receiving and understanding them. Secondly, We cannot receive the comfort of it, cannot expect any benefits by Christ and his gospel, nor have any part or lot in the matter. Regeneration is absolutely necessary to our happiness here and hereafter. Considering what we are by nature, how corrupt and sinful,--what God is, in whom alone we can be happy,--and what heaven is, to which the perfection of our happiness is reserved,--it will appear, in the nature of the thing, that we must be born again, because it is impossible that we should be happy if we be not holy.