Is the work of the Holy Spirit really essential for the salvation of a man's soul? Is the power and grace of God the Holy Spirit really necessary, in order for a sinner to be saved? Such questions are foolish, but I know this - If what I am hearing preached today, over radio and television and in the pulpits of most churches is true, a person can be saved, and multitudes are being saved without the gracious operations of God the Holy Spirit. If it is true that a person can be saved by learning certain doctrines and religious practices, then the work of the Holy Spirit is not necessary. If it is true that a baby can be saved by having some water sprinkled on its face by a man in a funny looking suit, then the work of the Holy Spirit is not necessary. If it is true that a person can be saved by being baptized, then the work of the Holy Spirit is not necessary. If it is true that a person can be saved by walking down a church aisle, signing a decision card, and saying what they call "the Sinner's prayer", then the work of the Holy Spirit is not necessary. If it is true that a person can be saved by saying, "I believe on Jesus", then the work of the Holy Spirit is not necessary. Sinners are being told that if they will do these things they will be saved. But all of these things can be done without the gracious influence of God's Spirit. Men, women, and children can be very easily persuaded to do any of these things, if the preacher uses a good emotional appeal, has the organist to play, with every head bowed and the choir singing softly in the background. But none of these things will ever save a soul. These tricks of Satan, employed by modern prophets of deceit, only serve to make sinners feel good about themselves while they are going to hell. You and I both know that no one is truly saved by such things as these. They are only deceived, deceived by their preachers and religious leaders!
If the Holy Spirit did not exist, if there were no such thing as the power of God the Holy Spirit in the world today, I doubt that it would make any difference in the way preachers and churches do business. The churches would have just as many decisions and baptisms next year as they had last year. The flashy, hot-shot evangelists would have just as high a score on their score cards next year as they had last year. If suddenly the Holy Spirit were completely withdrawn from this world, I doubt that he would even be missed in the average Baptist church of Danville.
You know that I am telling you the truth. You may not like it; but you know it is true. The church today is full of so called "soul-winners", who can take people down the "Romans Road" to salvation very quickly. They are especially good at deceiving unsuspecting children. They recite the "sinner's prayer", get their deluded followers to repeat it, and then tell them that they are saved. It is all a sham, a show of the flesh, and a blasphemous perversion of the gospel of Christ. Everything depends upon the talents and the persuasiveness of the "soul-winner" or the preacher.
When was the last time you heard a preacher honestly tell sinners what the Bible teaches? Some of you never have! Man by nature is dead in sin. He can do nothing to save himself. Unless God the Holy Spirit gives him life, he must remain forever dead. Unless God gives him repentance, he cannot repent. Unless the Holy Spirit gives him faith, he cannot believe. Unless the Spirit draws him to Christ, he cannot come to Christ. Is the work of the Holy Spirit really necessary? Our Lord says, "It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profitteth nothing."
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