Having sown the word, it is out of our control; we have no further involvement in its development. We speak the gospel, we explain the need, we may urge and persuade a person but if that person is converted, what is going on in the life is entirely the Lord’s doing. The word has been sown and then wonderful things begin to take place. The one who sows the word, goes to bed at night and rises and he just watches it, watches the field and the germination of the crop and the crop growing, and he doesn’t know how it all happens, far less can he make it happen. Of course, we may today know a little more about the how, but by analogy with those times the evangelist has no insight at all into how God works in the heart. We can describe it but we can’t see a spiritual operation. God is doing it. The seed is sown and if the Holy Spirit works, then certain things begin to take place. That sinner is awakened to his need for the first time in his life: ‘I need the Lord. I need God’s pardon. I need spiritual life.’ He thought before that he was an adequate person, a capable person and now sees himself spiritually. ‘I need conversion and life and God.’ What a change from self-confidence to need. This is something which only God can do in the secrecy of the heart.
At the same time as that, the person we say comes under conviction. He realises what a sinner he is, how much he has offended against God, how much he deserves to die. We call it a person being awakened to spiritual need and convicted of sin. I cannot bring that about as a preacher! I preach just what God has told me to preach and then the Spirit brings that about in the life. He regenerates; he brings the conception of life into the person and these things begin to happen.
Then, of course, that person is so moved, that he repents of his sin before God – falls on his knees and repents and acknowledges he deserves nothing at all and he trusts in Christ at the same time. He repents and he puts his faith in Christ and what he has done for needy sinners.
Then, if he does that sincerely, he is justified before God. God makes a declaration in heaven – that person is now considered just. He isn’t just; he isn’t righteous, but he is deemed just and righteous, because the suffering and the death of Christ in bearing away sin benefits him. His sin is taken away by Christ. He is made new and acceptable to God through Christ.
And wonderfully, at the same time, he is consciously born again. Yes, in a sense, he is re-born at the very beginning of this wonderful invisible process, but now he is consciously born again as a believer and he knows his sins are forgiven and there is life in his soul and he is assured of his salvation.