The conversion of a sinner involves conviction of sin, a knowledge of the way to be saved, and a definite acceptance, by faith, of that way.

The instrument God uses to accomplish all this is His Word - the Bible.

 

1. THE BIBLE CONVICTS MEN OF THEIR SINS.

Heb. 4:12 "Word of God . . . is a discerner of the . . . heart."

Rom. 3:19-20 "By the law is the knowledge of sin."

Gal. 3:22 "The SCRIPTURE hath concluded all under sin."

 

ILLUSTRATION: Acts 2:37, 5:33, 7:54.

 

2. THE BIBLE ALONE REVEALS THE WAY OF SALVATION.

II Tim. 3:15 "Scriptures . . . make thee wise unto salvation."

I Cor. 15:34 "Christ died . . . ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES."

Acts 11:13-14 "WORDS, whereby thou . . . shall be saved."

ILLUSTRATION: Luke 16:30-31 (Word refused, no other message.)

 

3. THE BIBLE MUST BE BELIEVED IF WE ARE TO BE SAVED.

John 5:24 "heareth my WORD . . . believeth Him . . . hath, etc."

Jas. 1:21 "Engrafted (i. e. received) WORD . . . able to save."

CONTRAST:

I John 5:10 "BECAUSE he believeth not the RECORD."

Acts 13:46 "Word of God . . . ye put it from you . . . unworthy."

Heb. 4:2 "Word . . . did not profit, not . . . mixed with faith."

 

4. THE BIBLE NOT ONLY DEMANDS FAITH BUT PRODUCES FAITH

Acts. 17:11-12 "received . . . searched . . . Scripture . THEREFORE

John 17:20 "shall believe on me through their word."

Rom. 10:17 "faith cometh by hearing . . . the Word of God."

John 20:30-31 "these are written THAT YE MIGHT BELIEVE."

John 4:41 "many more believed BECAUSE OF HIS WORD."

 

5. BY THE BIBLE WE ARE BORN AGAIN.

I Pet. 1:23 "born again . . . by the Word of God."

II Pet. 1:4 "Promises . . . by THESE . . . partakers....divine nature.

Jas. 1:18 "begat He us with the Word of Truth."

 

6. THE BIBLE, IF NEGLECTED, WILL JUDGE US IN THE END.

John 12:4748 "the WORD . . . shall judge him in the last day."

Heb. 12:25 "not . . . escape, if we turn away . . . speaketh."

Knowledge adds responsibility.

Mat. 25:26-27 "thou knewest."

 

7. THE BIBLE AND SOUL WINNING WORK.

Seeing, then, the place the Bible has in the conversion of a sinner,

the Christian worker should KNOW THE BIBLE and USE IT.

II Tim. 2:15; Acts 17:2-3.

 

ILLUSTRATION: Acts 8:30-38. Eunuch saved through Bible.

By David E. Hubbard