31. Drawing Power of the Spirit

Sermon 31

Before calling attention to the drawing power of the Holy Spirit it may be well to consider some thoughts which He before that part of the subject.

• The religious world all agree that God and the sinner are separated in their present relationship.

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• All agree that before the sinner can be saved, he and God must be reconciled to each other.

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• All must agree that in order to bring about this reconciliation God must come to the sinner and save him, or the sinner must go to God and be saved—one way or the other. Then which way does the Bible teach? If the Bible teaches that the sinner is totally depraved, can do nothing, and we can find what it will take to induce God to come and save one sinner, upon the same principle He will save all as He is no respecter of men. But on the other hand, if we find the doctrine of total depravity not true and find that the sinner has power and is able to come to God and be saved, it only remains to find what one sinner must do to be saved, knowing that all are saved alike. If one man, by doing certain things, can be saved, of course all who do the same things can be saved also. Then which way does the Bible teach ? Let the Savior answer. (Matthew 11:25): "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”This forever settles who must do the coming—the sinner and not God. If the religious world could learn this lesson, three-fourths of their works and prayers would cease; for often they do much more praying and work to get God to come, with all His converting power, and save the sinner, than they do to get the sinner to come to God and be saved.

But another trouble comes up in the assumption that by the "weary and heavy laden" the Savior had reference to the eternally elect; that when they have exhausted all their power in trying to do something, and fail, then will God make known to them the way of life and save them. But let the word of God help on this subject. In Matthew 9 : l 3 Jesus says, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." This forever settles the matter as to who is called.

In Isaiah 55:7 we are taught what God proposes: "Let the wicked man forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, who will have mercy upon him, and unto our God, for He will abundantly pardon."

So far we have learned that God does the calling and the sinner does the coming, and the blessings and pardon take place after the coming.

But at this point we are met with the difficult problem that no one can come unless he is drawn. Then how are we drawn ? There are only two ways by which a man can be drawn—one by inducements held out to him; the other by compulsory power. Does God draw us by an irresistible power, or by inducements held out? To the law:

No one can come except he is drawn (Bible).

All who are drawn can come.

Then who are drawn? John 12:32 says: "If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me." Having learned that no one can come except he is drawn, and that all men are drawn, the next question is, how are we drawn? John says (6:45) "It is written in the prophets, 'They shall all be taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me.' " This is the only way taught in God's word. A man is drawn by simply hearing, learning of the Father, and going unto Him.

If this proposition were only taught and recognized in the religious world, the many sleepless nights, the many earnest prayers, and the many imploring songs used around the popular camp-meetings to get God to draw sinners to Him, would be numbered with the past, as God has already taught us how we are drawn.

Having learned God's manner of drawing, the next question to settle is, which way, or how must I travel to get God? Christ tells us in John 14:6 that He is the way. If Christ is the way, no other way, save the one He has given will ever lead a man to heaven.

In the law Christ has given, Paul says we walk by faith and not by sight. As it is a way in which we must walk, and as no one can walk without taking steps, I am now prepared to affirm that the Bible teaches no sinner can be saved without taking five steps that separate him from God.

In Romans 4:12, Paul speaks of our walking in the steps of that faith which Abraham had before he was circumcised. If we walk in the steps (plural number) no one can be saved by faith only, or walk in the step (singular number) of faith only.

If it is true that we are separated five steps from God, which we must take in coming to Him, we ask, what are they ?

You will notice in the diagram:

1. The sinner must hear the word of God; for Christ says, "Whoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, is like a wise man who built his house upon a rock." (Matthew 7:24). Peter teaches in (Acts 3:22 that we must hear Him in all things, whatsoever He shall say unto us.

2. Turning to hear what He says I hear Him saying that I must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this I may have life through His name (John 20:30-31). Jesus teaches that without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6) .

3. NOW as I am to hear Him in all things, and believe what he says, I must believe His teaching that repentance should be preached in His name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47); and learning that repentance is unto life, I must then expect to repent, or turn from my sins before I can be accepted with him

4. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32). In Romans 10:8 we are taught that with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. In 1 Timothy 2:5 Paul teaches that if a man strive for mastery he is not crowned except he strive lawfully. In this we learn (1) that we must confess Christ—not ourselves nor our feelings; (2) that this confession must be lawful, or according to the spiritual law; (3) that this confession must be made with the mouth; and (4) that this confession must be made unto (not because of) salvation. Therefore we necessarily conclude that all confessions made because of salvation, and all persons confessing themselves, or their feelings instead of Christ, are unscriptural, and will not be accepted in the sight of God.

5. We now call attention to the language of Christ who said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16); and to Peter's statement when he said, "Repent, and be baptized .... for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38); and to the words of Paul who said that as many as had been baptized into Christ had put on Christ (Galatians 3:27).

These scriptures will be the end of controversy to those who believe the Bible. Christ teaches that if we believe not we shall be damned.

Then, friendly reader, I ask you, have you never been drawn to God by inducements offered you ?

There are only two roads to travel. Each has its associations with its inducements held out. Each leads to an eternal abode. On which road are you traveling today?

If you find that one road is broad, full of disappointments, and leads finally to a place of woe, will you not turn from it, and accept the terms of mercy offered. Do you not desire e to go to that city whose builder and maker is God, where with loved ones you can ever dwell ? If so, will you not start now and do His will?