In this sermon on Galatians 3:3, Charles Spurgeon warns that while Christians correctly believe salvation comes entirely from the Holy Spirit, they constantly fall into the foolish practice of trusting their own strength, resolutions, and moral efforts instead of depending on the Spirit who began their salvation. He teaches that regeneration is the Spirit's first work—coming even before conviction of sin—when God mysteriously breathes spiritual life into a dead sinner, enabling him to truly feel his guilt, recognize his complete inability to save himself, and eventually believe in Christ and receive assurance, since without this supernatural quickening by the Spirit, even the best preaching, ceremonies, and moral efforts are utterly powerless. Spurgeon insists that no one can begin regeneration themselves because they're spiritually dead, incapable, and unwilling, dismissing those who sneer at "supernaturalism" as no wiser than Nicodemus and warning that moral, religious people who've never experienced this divine change are just as lost as the vilest sinners. He concludes by assuring anyone who feels their guilt and helplessness that Christ died for them as part of His purchased people, so they can rejoice that their sins are forgiven through faith alone.

Sermon delivered on November 5, 1858.