THEOLOGICALLY THINKING
Doctrinal pointers by Gerald B. Stanton, Th.D.
Th© Convicting M in istry of the Ho ly Spirit
/hile the primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is toward them that are Christ’s, there is nevertheless a most essential ministry which He performs toward the unsaved. With out it no one would find Christ, for none would be troubled concerning his sin and lost estate. It is the work of the Spirit to reprove and convict the world of its sin and of its desper ate need for a Saviour. Certain problem passages are ex plained if there is indeed a specific work of God’s Spirit toward the lost. For example, in John 12:32 Christ declares: “And I, if I he lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Again in Titus 2:11, Paul states that . . the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” These passages do not imply that all men shall be saved by a “ universal redemption” but rather that all men are touched and moved upon by the Holy Spirit as an act of “ common grace.” There are many things which may move the heart of an unsaved man to consider the claims of Christ. His incomparable teachings, His righteous life, His sacrificial death, the unmerited favor of His grace — all of these exert their own particular drawing power. But not the least of these is the quiet persuasion of the Holy Spirit which reminds men of the enormity of their sin and th e j u d g m e n t rendered against it at Calvary’s cross. Possibly it is this ministry of the Spirit toward unsaved men which is alluded to in the problem passage, Hebrews 6:4, where some are “made partakers of the Holy Ghost,” even though they manifestly know not the things which accompany true salvation (6:9). The convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit is essential to the unsaved because of the depth of their need. The lost are under the condemnation of spiritual death (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1). Their state is one of utter de pravity, having a nature which is fall en, a heart which is desperately wick ed and a life which is spiritually bankrupt, having no good thing to offer God (cf. Rom. 3:9-19). They are unable to comprehend the revelation of God (1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 4:18). They are without hope and without God in the world (Eph. 2:12). It is obvious that the answer to their deep need is not a program of self-improvement but the power and persuasion of the
Holy Spirit (John 6:44). The heart of the Spirit’s ministry toward the unsaved is set forth in John 16:7-11. Christ predicts the coming of the Comforter who will take the place of the Son of God in the midst of the disciples. But when the Spirit is come He will also “re prove the world of sin, and of right eousness, and of judgment.” This threefold work is further explained: “ Of sin, because they believe not on me.” All other sins can be forgiven; this is the one condemning sin of the age. It is the flagrant rejection of the invitation of God, variously stated, to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Again Christ said, the Spirit will convict “ of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more.” By His holy life Christ had manifested the righteousness of God which was His by inherent deity. In His sacrificial death He had secured that righteousness for the believer (2 Cor. 5:21). Evidently the convict ing work of the Spirit at this point is to show the unsaved the utter inade quacy of self-righteousness (Isa. 64: 6 ), and that the righteousness of God is available to all who come unto Him by saving faith (Phil. 3:9). The Spirit shows the unrighteous man how he may become acceptable in Christ. Yet again in John 16, the Spirit will testify “ of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” The mention of Satan indicates that this does not concern “ judgment to come,” for the power of Satan was broken and his condemnation was made sure by the death of Christ upon the cross (Gen. 3:15). The Spirit reminds the unsaved that Satan is a defeated en emy and that all who make common cause with him shall likewise he judged and condemned. But on the other hand those who avail them selves of the benefit of this judgment against sin and Satan shall not perish but have everlasting life. In respect to the world, the chief ministry of the Spirit is to point men to Christ, and this He does by remind ing them of the awful sin of unbelief, the futility of trusting in human righteousness and the final judgment made against sin at Calvary. Without this necessary conviction on the part of the Holy Spirit, none would come to Christ for salvation. END.
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