What's Up with the Invitation System? Part 3

The following are the last four points of Martyn Lloyd-Jones' reasons against calling people forward in an invitation. The two previous posts deal with the previous 6 points minus the 2nd (so 5 points). I introduce the subject there. Consider these:

7. "[By inviting people forward] you are encouraging people to think that their act of going forward somehow saved them. This is something that must be done there and then, and it is this act that really saves them." 

Even when the evangelist tries to dissuade inquirers from believing this, it is still difficult to separate the physical connection of going forward from trusting Christ.

8. This practice of inviting people to the front is "based ultimately on a distrust of the Holy Spirit and His power and His work. Does it not imply that the Holy Spirit needs to be helped and aided and supplemented, the the work has to be hastened, that we cannot leave it in the hands of the Spirit?" 

More importantly,

9. "Does it not raise the whole question of the doctrine of Regeneration? This, to me, is the most serious thing of all. What I mean is this, and it covers this point and the previous one, that as this work is the work of the Holy Spirit, and His work alone, no one else can do it. The true work of conviction of sin, and regeneration, and the giving of the gift of faith and new life is solely the work of the Holy Spirit. And if it is His work it is always a thorough work; and it is always a work that will show itself." [emphasis mine] Peter gave no invitation at Pentecost, but when he finished the people blurted out, "What must we do." This was the work of the Spirit. Again, when there is a work of the Spirit going on, "it invariably shows itself."

Lastly,

10.  "No sinner ever really 'decides' for Christ. That term 'decide' has always seemed to me to be quite wrong. I have often heard people use the expressions which have disturbed me, and made me feel very unhappy. They have generally done so in ignorance and with the best intentions. I can think of an old man who used to use the following expression: 'You know, friends, I decided for Christ forty years ago, and I have never regretted it.' What a terrible thing to say! 'Never regretted it!" But this is the kind of thing people say who have been brought up under this teaching and approach. The sinner does not 'decide' for Christ; the sinner 'flies' to Christ in utter helplessness and despair saying--

Foul, I to the fountain fly,

Wash me, Saviour, or I die.

Thank you for walking us through your thinking, Doctor. Lord, help us to examine how we do evangelism. Appeal to sinners, yes. Call for them to turn and repent, to see, or to hear God, yes! But know that if and until the Holy Spirit calls the sinner, he cannot do any of these things. God grant us wisdom to know the difference.