The Holy Spirit‘s use of the Word in conversion
A man might say he cut down a tree. No one would assume he did it without some kind of tool, axe, chainsaw, etc. The Holy Spirit uses the Bible as his tool to convert sinful man.
Jesus told Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” He went on to explain, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:18).
Peter, Paul and James report the Spirit uses the inspired word as an instrument to change men’s hearts. Christians are born of the incorruptible seed, which is the word of God (1 Peter 1:23). The Corinthians were begotten “through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15). James wrote, “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (1:18).
Those outside of Christ are dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1). The Spirit is the one through whom we can be made alive again (2 Corinthians 3:6). The Comforter (Holy Spirit) uses the word as an instrument to make one alive. “This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life….I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life” (Psalm 119:50; 93). The Lord said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).
Paul described part of the Christian’s armor when he stated, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (6:17). God’s word is “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Peter used the sword of God’s word on Pentecost, quoting Joel 2:28-32; Psalm 16:8-11; and 110:1. Those verses demonstrated God planned for Jesus to die and raised him from the dead. Peter proclaimed “that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” His hearers were cut to their hearts by the truth and asked what they must do to be saved. They were not urged to wait for some operation of the Spirit, but told,
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. … Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:14-41).
Philip, a Christian among those scattered by the persecution following Stephen’s death, went to Samaria and “preached Christ to them.” The people heard what he said and noted the miracles he worked, which confirmed he was a spokesman from God. They were baptized as a result of the word preached (Acts 8:1-12).
Lydia was far from home when she went regularly to the riverside on the Sabbath day for prayer. The Spirit did not permit Paul and his group to go to Asia or Bithynia. In a vision, Paul learned of the need for Macedonia to hear the gospel. Paul concluded the “Lord had called” them to preach the gospel to the people of Macedonia. While in Philippi, they went to the prayer gathering by the river. Lydia’s heart was opened by the Lord through the preaching of Paul. Notice, Luke says she gave heed to “the things spoken by Paul.” She was baptized as a result of hearing the words of the Spirit (Acts 16:6-15).
The word is the Spirit’s tool to reach men dead in sin. The Holy Spirit has never revealed himself directly to a sinner to tell him what to do to be saved. Instead, he has always used men, like Peter, Philip and Paul, to proclaim his word.
- Meeting God in worship - 2024-04-25
- Moses’ early life - 2024-04-12
- I must love - 2024-03-21