Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

Question:

(2) ‘Is the unbeliever quickened?’

Answer:

Most assuredly it is an unbeliever who is quickened, otherwise he would be a believer of his own act. Where, then would be the truth of John 1:10-12; James 1:18? If God did not quicken us by the Word, we never would be saved. No doubt, on the other side, man is responsible to believe; but that is beside this question. It is the action of the word of God by the Holy Ghost on the conscience of the individual, producing conviction of its state and repentance, or moral judgment of his state by the quickened one. God has acted on the ground of the blood in quickening him. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17.) The person who has thus received life may not have the conscious knowledge of redemption for many a day. The throes of a new birth may last long enough indeed, before the soul is at liberty. When the conscience is purged and the forgiveness of sins known, the Holy Ghost dwells personally as a seal (a further action) in the person who has believed. It is the knowledge of forgiveness which is thus sealed. Deliverance may not be known at the time.

Before the deliverance of the Red Sea, the cloud and pillar came down. Before the learning of deliverance from a sinful state (Romans 5:12-21; 6, 7, 8), and after the person’s sins are forgiven, in Romans 4, the Holy Ghost is given unto us (Romans 5:5). Forgiveness of sins would be followed by the Holy Ghost in Acts 2:38. It was so, historically, in Acts 10:43-44, 45. Just as the words “forgiveness of sins” fell from Peter’s lips on the ears and hearts of those previously quickened, the gift of the Holy Ghost followed as a seal.