“For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” (Isaiah 10:4b)
Only the Holy Spirit can convict people, only He can bring them to the knowledge that they are sinners before a righteous God who allows no sin in His presence. You will meet no person who is reading the Scriptures who has not been called to do so first by the Holy Spirit, no matter what questions they have towards it, no matter the reason that they believe they initially opened it, it is the Holy Spirit that draws them to the Word.
Here, in part, Matthew 22:14 can be better understood.
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The conviction to be drawn to the truths of the Word of God and believe them as such can only come from the Holy Spirit, the conviction to deny them as such is by the free will choice of man, and represents again in part, the first seed that Satan comes and takes away.
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1st Cor. 2:14)
No one who is saved is saved without the Holy Spirit’s intervention into their lives, no one takes a “best guess” at whom they believe the Almighty to be and then becomes able to discern the truths of the Scriptures, the Word of God is necessary for salvation.
Reading it, studying it, even applying it in our lives does not save us, speaking to others about the Lord, attending church, even adhering to all it teaches will not save a person. Grace through faith saves us.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Eph. 2:8)
There are not as many who have been born-again as you might like to believe, either in the pews or behind the pulpits, for they believe all that has been written here to be the requirements for salvation, yet that conviction of the Holy Spirit that draws a person to true repentance is overshadowed by the supposed necessary obligations of reading the Bible, of church attendance, of living a “good life,” while there has been no transformation of the heart whatsoever, there has been no broken or contrite heart, tears shed while asking for mercy.
Lives modified, not changed is the path today professed.
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)
They read their Bibles occasionally, when time permits, they sit in the pews out of obligation, they don’t do this anymore and they do a little bit of that now and then, but they still live in the world, they have been convicted by a newly formed moral construct of what they now believe is right, but not convicted to be righteous, to die to self and live for Christ.
Trials and tribulations will prove to them who they are, the seeds that fell upon the rocks. The loss of all or the gaining of much will reveal to them that amongst the thorns and weeds of the world is where they reside.
The only fruit they bear is that which they themselves have planted, a good feeling at times, a happiness they falsely claim as the joy of the Lord, not performing deeds they once enjoyed because it is the right and proper thing to do, but not because of true repentance, of a hatred of sin.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9)
They have been convicted of what seems right, but not by the Holy Spirit.
“Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2nd Tim. 3:7)
A long, happy, relatively healthy life filled with good works for the sake of that heart that deceives them, that is what is considered Christianity by most, thy will be done, as long as I agree with your will.
They have a form of godliness, and relish in it, yet not for the glory of God, but for an emotionally charged reason, because it makes them feel better about themselves, and as long as life goes as they desire, they will remain convicted falsely.
