In answer to the above question, there are two ideas that are being advocated. Some say that God directly (through the Holy Spirit) influences the unbeliever and makes him a believer. Others say that God indirectly (through the word) makes believers. It is certain that both of these cannot possibly be right. They are wholly irreconcilable because they are exactly opposite. If it is done in one of these ways it cannot possibly be done in the other. How are we to settle this issue? Are we to settle it by the witness of men? If so, all kinds of doctrines can be proved by what is called "experience." We must let the Bible and it alone settle the question. Let me say just here, that the question is not whether God makes believers, nor is it a question of whether He does it by His power. The question is how does He do it? Does He do it directly or indirectly?
Concerning the conversion of Cornelius and his household (the first Gentiles to obey the Gospel) we read, "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved:" (Acts 11:14). Please note that it was not without "words." Let the person who says that people are saved directly "without words" bring forth his proof for his contention. Please note that in Acts 10 where we read of Cornelius and his family being converted to Christ, we find the following: "...he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do" (verse 6); "...and to hear words of thee" (verse 22). Please note what happened when Peter arrived on the scene. Cornelius was relating to him what had taken place and how he was told to, "Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou has done well that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God" (Acts 10:32-33).
It should be clear to all who are willing to accept what the inspired record says that Cornelius and his family were converted by hearing words and not by God directly working on their heart. In Matthew 13 and Luke 8 we read the parable of the sower. In explaining the parable, Jesus made the statement, "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God" (Lk. 8:11). This being the case, all products of the kingdom come from the seed, which is the word of God. Seed is indispensable to a crop. You can have the ground, but until the seed is planted in the ground there will not be a crop to harvest. Faith is the first step in conversion, but one cannot have faith without hearing or reading the word of God. We are told, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Thisbeing the case, faith does not come directly from God, but by one's hearing the word of God. In the parable of the sower our Lord spoke of four kinds of soil. Concerning the seed that fell by the wayside, Jesus said "Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved" (Lk. 8:12). It is certain that the devil knows what it is that produces faith. The seed that fell on the stony ground produced faith for a while, but when temptation came along they fell away. When the seed fell into the thorny ground, our Lord said, "...when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection" (Lk. 8:14). Sometimes people are overwhelmed by the affairs of this life and do not remain faithful to the Lord and His cause. This shows that the word must not only get into the heart, but it must remain there. The Lord also talked about the seed that fell into good ground. This is represented by "an honest and good heart" (Lk. 8:15). According to the Lord, these, "...having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." Please observe that in each case the seed had to be sown. There is not one example given of there being any kind of crop without the seed being planted. If so, where can it be found? The thing that keeps a lot of people from being converted, according to our Lord, is the fact that "...their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should be converted and I should heal them" (Matt. 13:15). Our Lord does not force people to obey Him. These people could have been converted but they chose not to be. It was their fault not the fault of the Lord nor of His word.
In His prayer to the Father, Jesus prayed that through the word of His Apostles people would believe on Him (Jno. 17:20). The word of God has been written in order to produce faith (Jno. 20:30-31). Peter made it clear that it was by preaching that people would have faith. He spoke the following words, "...Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God make choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe" (Acts 15:7). May we again be reminded that "...faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17), and not by some direct operation of the Holy Spirit. Paul asked the question, "...how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard?" (Rom. 10:14). The Holy Ghost guided the inspired men in their speaking and their writing. Paul could write, "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Cor. 2:13).
When Philip went to Samaria we are told that He "preached Christ unto them" (Acts 8:5), and they believed and obeyed his teaching (verse 12). The same was true regarding the eunuch from Ethiopia. Philip "...preached unto him Jesus" (Acts 8:35). This man also obeyed the teaching (verses 36-39). There is not a case of conversion where God's word was not taught. After all, the gospel is God's power to save (Rom. 1:16).
Think about it-if people are given faith directly by God, then if anyone is lost at the day of judgment it will have to be God's fault. This false doctrine takes away man's accountability. When people claim that the Holy Spirit directly makes believers, it depends on who is teaching and what is being taught as to what people become. Rest assured, the "seed of the kingdom" makes Christians, only Christians, and nothing else. If you will believe and obey the word of God, you will be a Christian-nothing more and nothing less. When should you obey? NOW-TODAY!
...Virgil L. Hale