We can trust the Holy Spirit to do His part

And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
Acts 17:4

Last time we considered our part in pointing people to Christ: Pray and speak. Now let’s consider the Holy Spirit’s part: To regenerate.

Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again,” The 18th century evangelist, George Whitfield, was always saying, “You must be born again.” When asked, “Why are you always telling people, ‘you must be born again?’” Whitefield replied, “Because you MUST be born again!”

But why? Because we are all born dead in sin. Some are born big, others small. Some have blue eyes and blond hair, others have brown eyes and are brunettes. But we are all born sinners. Being spiritually dead in sin doesn’t mean that we are as sinful as we could be—thank God! It does mean, however, that we are born incapable of understanding spiritual truth—including the gospel (read 1 Corinthians 2:14).

The only way a person can understand the gospel is by being born again, which is a work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit regenerates people as they hear the gospel. He regenerates some people, not all people. Who He regenerates and who He does not is His business, not ours. Once a person is born again, that person understands and believes the gospel. That person is given the gift of faith to trust in Jesus, and the gift of repentance to follow Jesus as Lord.

Let us be faithful to do our part, trusting the Holy Spirit to do His part.