The prevenient work of God the Holy Spirit is the divine action that precedes faith and makes a genuine response to the gospel possible. Geisler notes, “Prevenient means ‘before,’ and prevenient grace refers to God’s unmerited work in the human heart prior to salvation, which directs people to this end through Christ.” (N. L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, p. 222). Paul affirms the universal scope of this gracious initiative, stating, “The grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people” (Tit. 2:11). Left to himself, he neither desires nor comprehends the things of God (1 Cor. 2:14). Therefore, God the Holy Spirit must act first. Jesus stated, “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). This convicting ministry is not salvation and it is not coercion. It is illumination. The Spirit exposes the reality of sin, clarifies God’s righteous standard, and confronts the unbeliever with accountability before God. In this way, the Spirit makes the gospel understandable and places the issue of Christ squarely before the conscience. As Paul explains, “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God…because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Cor. 2:14). Prevenient grace overcomes this spiritual blindness, not by forcing belief, but by making the message of Christ intelligible and relevant. Those with positive volition respond in faith to the gospel of grace (1 Cor. 15:3-4).
This divine initiative extends broadly. The Spirit’s drawing work is universal in scope, grounded in the finished work of Christ. Jesus declared, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32). The verb “draw” (ἕλκω) denotes attraction, not compulsion. It is the same term used when Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). Taken together, these passages teach that divine drawing is necessary for anyone to come to Christ and that this drawing is extended to all. The cross is sufficient for every person, and the Spirit actively brings the claims of Christ to bear on the minds of those who hear the gospel. The issue is never a lack of divine provision but the human response to that provision. Those with negative volition reject Jesus and eternal life.
Prevenient grace, however, is enabling but resistible. Scripture repeatedly affirms that people may and often do reject the Spirit’s work. Stephen rebuked Israel’s leaders, declaring, “You are always resisting the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51). Stephen was speaking to unbelievers, which shows, first, that he understood the Holy Spirit was actively working in their hearts through conviction and revelation, and second, that these individuals were consciously resisting that gracious work. Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:39–40). He also lamented over Jerusalem, saying, “How often I wanted to gather your children together…but you were unwilling” (Matt. 23:37). Paul adds that unbelievers “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18), not because the truth is inaccessible, but because it is unwelcome. These passages establish human responsibility at the point of response. The Spirit convicts, illuminates, and draws; the sinner decides whether to believe.
Therefore, salvation occurs at the moment of faith alone, and not before. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). The prevenient work of the Holy Spirit ensures that the gospel is clearly presented and genuinely accessible, while preserving the integrity of human volition. God provides everything necessary for salvation through Christ and the Spirit’s ministry, yet He does not override the will. In this way, salvation remains wholly of grace, Christ receives all the glory, and faith alone stands as the sole condition for eternal life. If you’ve not trusted in Jesus as your Savior, don’t wait another day: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.
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