Podcast Summary: Ask Ligonier

Episode: What Role Does the Holy Spirit Play in the Life of an Unbeliever?

Host: Nathan W. Bingham
Guest: Dr. Sinclair Ferguson
Date: November 27, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, recorded live at Ligonier’s 2025 national conference, host Nathan W. Bingham poses a foundational theological question to Dr. Sinclair Ferguson: What role does the Holy Spirit play in the life of an unbeliever? Dr. Ferguson provides a nuanced and rich answer, exploring the cosmic and personal workings of the Holy Spirit both universally and in the experiences of individuals who do not yet have faith in Christ.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trinity and God’s Activity in the World

[00:29–02:40]

• Unity in Diversity: Dr. Ferguson begins by emphasizing that within the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each person always participates in every divine act, but in distinct ways according to their personhood.
  • "Everything God does in terms of his internal relationships...all three persons of the Trinity are always participating...but they participate with each other as persons in different ways." — Dr. Ferguson [00:36]
• Cosmic Involvement: The Holy Spirit is involved in every aspect of God's work—creation, providence, redemption, consummation.
  • Example: In creation, the Father plans, the Son (the Word) executes, and the Spirit “hovers over the waters” to bring order (Genesis 1:2).

2. The Holy Spirit’s Sovereign Role in the World

[02:41–03:43]

• Dr. Ferguson likens the Spirit’s behind-the-scenes working to the unseen but essential “hive of activity” backstage at a conference, enabling the visible events to happen.
  • “So everything that God does is really superintended by the Holy Spirit...he is sovereign through the work of the Holy Spirit.” — Dr. Ferguson [03:20]

3. The Spirit’s Specific Work in Unbelievers: Conviction and Preparation

[03:43–06:05]

• Biblical Reference: John 16:8–11, where Jesus says the Spirit will “convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment.”
  • The Spirit’s work in individuals involves:
    • Convicting them of sin
    • Convincing them of their need for Christ’s righteousness
    • Warning of judgment apart from Christ
• Often, the Spirit’s activity is unrecognized by unbelievers at the time it takes place.
  • “We are brought to conviction of sin...without realizing that the Spirit is working in them.” — Dr. Ferguson [05:09]

4. The “Airplane Pilot” Illustration

[05:20–06:55]

• Analogy: Dr. Ferguson recounts a personal story of flying from Scotland to Dubai, learning only after landing that a friend was piloting the plane—unknowingly being accompanied and guided.
  • This mirrors the Spirit’s working in unbelievers—God is at work guiding and convicting, even when individuals are unaware until later realization.
  • “We become conscious of our sin...then it’s as though the Captain comes over to us and says through His word, ‘You know, I was flying you there.’ And that’s how the Spirit works in unbelievers.” — Dr. Ferguson [06:40]

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the Trinity’s Unified Work:
  "Everything that God does is really superintended by the Holy Spirit." — Dr. Ferguson [03:20]
• On Unseen Guidance:
  "It’s what is happening in that hive of activity that makes what happens outside possible...I think we can say the same thing about the ministry of the Holy Spirit." — Dr. Ferguson [03:10]
• On Conviction of Sin:
  "He works in individuals to convict us of our sin, to convict us that only in Jesus Christ will we find righteousness, and to absolutely convince us that apart from Jesus Christ, there is only judgment." — Dr. Ferguson [04:14]
• The Airplane Illustration:
  "It was a fantastic experience, really, to think I’d been flown by somebody I knew and actually about whom I had been thinking, but I hadn’t brought the two pieces together...This is such an illustration of how it is when we are brought to faith in Christ." — Dr. Ferguson [06:07]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [00:29] — Dr. Ferguson begins foundational explanation of the Trinity’s shared work.
• [02:41] — Explains the Spirit’s sovereign role in the world and behind-the-scenes providence.
• [03:43] — Shifts focus to the Spirit’s convicting work in unbelievers (John 16).
• [05:20] — Tells the airplane story as an analogy for the Spirit’s often-unseen work.
• [06:40] — Draws out the personal realization of the Spirit’s influence upon conversion.

Conclusion

Dr. Ferguson’s Answer, in Summary:

• The Holy Spirit's role in the life of an unbeliever is twofold:
  1. Cosmic/Governing: The Spirit is always at work in sustaining, ordering, and bringing God’s plan to completion throughout creation and providence—even in the lives of those who do not believe.
  2. Personal/Convicting: The Spirit uniquely works to convict, convince, and prepare unbelievers for faith in Christ, often in subtle, largely unrecognized ways until the moment of conversion.

Dr. Ferguson’s insights emphasize both the pervasive, sovereign activity of the Spirit and the intensely personal, gentle operation that underlies every step toward faith in Christ—even among those who, as yet, do not believe.

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