`Absolutely!!! No conviction of SIN by the Holy Spirit = No conversion. Without conviction of SIN by the Holy SPirit, all you have is a "Theological conversion" no FAITH involved.
Only if they're Driven home by the holy spirit. otherwise they're nothing but "Religious Words".
I was once in a discussion with someone who believed the only thing involved in the new birth was paper, ink and human intelligence. The person I was in a discussion with denied the work of the Holy Spirit in conjunction with the gospel. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - For our gospel did not come to you in
word only, but also in
power, and in the
Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
That person also denied the very essence of regeneration, which is to be born again from above. (John 3:3) His error also led him to the denial of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He seemed to postulate everything upon man's obedience to the letter of the Word and denied an accompanying work of the Holy Spirit. He seemed to rely heavily on human logic and legalism and even taught salvation by works.
Prior to the cross, Jesus talked about His death, burial and resurrection, yet what was the response from the disciples?
Peter rebukes Jesus for saying he will be killed and be raised again the third day." (Matthew 16:21) In verse 22,
Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
Before his death, Jesus told the twelve that he had to die and that he would rise on the third day, yet the disciples were
ignorant of its meaning at that time. “Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem...
And they shall scourge him and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hidden from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. (Luke 18:331-34).
After his crucifixion, instead of anxiously waiting his resurrection,
the apostles were still ignorant, disheartened at the death of their redeemer, and did not even at first believe the testimony of his resurrection. (Mark 16:14, Luke 24:19-24) It was not until
after his resurrection that Jesus appeared to the apostles and
opened their understanding. (Luke 24:44-47)
Acts 16:14 - Now a certain woman named Lydia heard
us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord
opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. While the Word is the means of communicating that which is to be believed, the additional unseen work of the Holy Spirit is necessary for being “born from above.”
Paul referred to his preaching as being
“in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Corinthians 2:4). Reading on from verse 5 -
so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
