The unsaved person must first hear the voice of God, which is life and spirit. Jesus emphasized this in John 6:63: “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” It is through the Word of God that the heart is awakened to its true condition. The Word of God has a unique ability to penetrate the deepest parts of a person’s being, revealing their need for salvation. Hebrews 4:12 captures this truth: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Only God’s Word can uncover the hidden motives and expose the spiritual emptiness within the heart of the unsaved.
It is God who grants access to the hearts of the unsaved, using the power of His Word to convict them of their need for salvation. Without this divine intervention, no person can come to Christ. Conviction of sin—the first work of the Holy Spirit—requires an honest heart. This means the individual must be willing to acknowledge their sin and open their heart to God. An honest heart is the key that allows God’s Word to take root, enabling the Spirit to begin the drawing process.
However, no unsaved person can open their heart to God unless God first penetrates it with His Word, which is both spirit and life. The words of Jesus are not just information; they are transformative. They carry divine power to awaken the soul, stir the conscience, and reveal the need for repentance. When a person hears the Word in their hearts and respond by opening their heart, the Spirit of God begins the process of drawing them to Christ.
The importance of preachers sent by God cannot be overstated here. Such preachers are vessels through whom God delivers His Word, which is life and spirit. Their messages carry divine authority and are able to pierce the hearts of unbelievers, Hebrews 4:12. The preachers speak the voice of God, delivering messages that are not merely human ideas but Spirit-inspired truths. Without such Spirit-filled preaching, many hearts would remain untouched and unaware of their need for salvation.
A clear example of this can be seen in the early church. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached a powerful message about Christ. Acts 2:37 records the response of the crowd: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” This conviction of sin was the work of the Spirit through Peter’s preaching, leading many to repentance and faith in Christ.
The condition for God to begin drawing a person to salvation lies in the state of their heart. An honest heart, accessed by the penetrating power of God’s Word, is the doorway to this divine process. God uses His Word, which is spirit and life, to convict and reveal the truth. Spirit-filled preachers play a vital role in delivering this life-giving Word to the unsaved. Only when the individual hears the Word and open their heart can God begin to draw them toward salvation. Thus, the process is entirely initiated and sustained by God’s grace, but it requires a heart willing to receive His truth.
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