• Does the Holy Spirit directly or miraculously change our hearts so that we will be saved?
    • Calvinism says yes.
      • Irresistible grace?
  • People were saved by learning and obeying the gospel.
    • Pentecost (Acts 2)
    • Second sermon (Acts 3-4)
    • Samaritans (Acts 8)
      • Acts 8:16-17 – They believed before they received the Holy Spirit in a miraculous way.
    • Ethiopian (Acts 8:25-39; 13:2-4; 16:8-10)
      • The Holy Spirit intervened to get Philip to the right place, but the Ethiopian believed on his own.
    • Cornelius (Acts 10-11, 15, cf. 19)
      • Being saved and receiving the Holy Spirit were two separate things!
      • Acts 11:13
    • Mark 16:15-16
    • Romans 1:16
    • Romans 10:17
    • Hebrews 2:1-4
  • Then what about … II Thessalonians 2:13? “sanctification by the spirit”
    • Context and harmony:
      • Acts 10:34-35
      • II Thessalonians 2:14-15
      • I Thessalonians 2:13; 4:1-8
      • Acts 7:51; 17:1-4
    • The message was preached and they had to decide to obey it in their lives.
  • So, what about … Ephesians 1:13? “sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise”
    • Context and harmony
      • Ephesians 3:4-6; 1:13a
      • Colossians 1:5-6
    • They could read Paul’s Holy Spirit-inspired words and know they were saved.
  • What about … John 6:44? No one can come to Me unless the Gather who sent Me draws him”
    • Context and harmony
      • John 6:45
      • Hebrews 2:1-4
    • God draws men through the message preached.
  • What about … John 6:33? “it is the Spirit who gives life”
    • Context and harmony
      • James 2:26
      • John 6:45, 67-68, 63b
    • Probably not the Holy Spirit, but an analogy: “Just like your spirit gives life to your flesh, my spirit gives life to your soul.”
  • What about … Ephesians 5:18? “be filled with the Spirit”
    • Context and harmony
      • Ephesians 5:19
      • Colossians 3:16
  • What about … Acts 9:17-19? “be filled with the Holy Spirit”
    • Context and harmony
      • Acts 9:3-6, 15-16; 26:15-20; 10:44-48; 22:16
  • What about … Acts 16:14? “the Lord opened her heart to respond”
    • Context and harmony
      • Acts 16:13-15
      • Romans 1:16; I Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 2:12
      • II Corinthians 7:6; John 6:44-45
    • He opened her heart through the words from Paul.
  • Take-aways
    • The conversions in Acts consistently show that people simply heard the gospel and obeyed.
    • Calvinism assumes that many Holy Spirit passages involve something supernatural.
    • Don’t wait for the Holy Spirit to do something to your supernaturally – He’s already given the Bible to you!