Nowhere does the Bible teach that the Holy Spirit operates upon the human heart apart fro His Word, and this is true for the alien sinner and the child of God alike. Paul admonished the Ephesians - and us - to take "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). The Bible couldn't be clearer. The means by which the Holy Spirit cuts to the heart of humanity is through and by the Holy Spirit-inspired Scriptures. Therefore, God's Word is the instrument by which the Holy Spirit convicts the sinner, leading him or her to salvation.
The Day of Pentecost is a pure example of this truth. On that occasion some 50 days after the Lord's death, burial and resurrection, the Jews in attendance did not ask what to do to be saved until after they heard Peter proclaim the Lordship of Jesus (Acts 2:36-37). Furthermore, the household of Cornelius responded to the Gospel after they heard Peter proclaim it (Acts 10:32-43; Acts 11:13-14).
We must understand that, ". . .faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Reaching saving faith cannot be obtained until the lost sinner obeys the Word of God. It's just that simple. Those saved on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10) were freed from sin and added to the Lord's church by hearing, believing and obeying the Gospel message, and this is exactly how people are saved today. Nothing has changed. This is the divinely ordained method by which the Holy Spirit exercised influence on the heart of man.
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