What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 7 / No. 17”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. VII - No. 17 January 19, 2025
THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION
Nearly everyone, regardless of their Bible knowledge, believes the Holy Spirit operates in the converting of a person from a sinner to a Christian. The controversy begins when the question arises: How does the Holy Spirit do His work of conversion? Generally, there are two ideas: direct and immediate as opposed to indirect and through a medium or agent. Let’s examine both ideas and compare them to the Scriptures.
DIRECT OPERATION: Many believe and teach the Holy Spirit works separate and independently from the Scriptures, the revealed word of God. Should this be true, consider an answer for these questions: If the Holy Spirit works directly on the mind of a sinner to bring about salvation, why are there no Christians where missionaries have not gone? If the Holy Spirit works directly , what is the need of preaching and teaching God’s word? If the Holy Spirit works independently of the gospel, the revealed word of God, how can the gospel be the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16)? For the Holy Spirit to work directly upon a sinner and independent of the Scriptures, His work would make the Bible a “dead letter”. Thus, this idea about the Holy Spirit’s work does not harmonize with what the Scriptures teach. It must be a man made idea!
INDIRECT OPERATION: Before the completed revelation of the New Testament, the Holy Spirit spake through holy men. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit was to testify of Christ. As Jesus was speaking in John 15:26, He said, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” The Holy Spirit also revealed “all truth”. “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13). The context of John 16 shows Jesus is speaking to the twelve apostles and also gave them the promise of the Holy Sprit coming upon them (Acts 1:2-5). In Acts 2 we read of the fulfillment of that promise when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and they spake “as the Spirit gave them utterance” (verse 4).
The apostles spoke and wrote all truth which the Holy Spirit revealed unto them and we have it written in the New Testament. Therefore, everything the Holy Spirit does, including the work of changing a sinner to a Christian, He does through the medium or agency of the Word. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” (Ephesians 6:17). Here are the things the Holy Spirit does and, at the same time, we can see the revealed Word, the Scriptures, also does the same thing.
The Holy Spirit and FAITH, Galatians 5:22; the Word and FAITH, Romans 10:17.
The Holy Spirit and BEING BORN AGAIN, John 3:5-6; the Word and BEING BORN AGAIN, 1 Peter 1:23.
The Holy Spirit QUICKENS, 1 Peter 3:18; the Word QUICKENS, Psalms 119:50.
The Holy Spirit SAVES, Titus 3:5; the Word SAVES, James 1:21.
The Holy Spirit PURIFIES, 1 Peter 1:22; the Word PURIFIES, 1 Peter 1:22-23.
The Holy Spirit SANCTIFIES, Romans 15:16; the Word SANCTIFIES, John 17:17.
The Holy Spirit LEADS, Romans 8:14; the Word LEADS, Psalms 43:3.
The Holy Spirit COMFORTS, Acts 9:31; the Word COMFORTS, 1 Thessalonians 4:18.
The Holy Spirit STRENGTHENS, Ephesians 3:16; the Word STRENGTHENS, Psalms 119:28.
The Holy Spirit INSTRUCTS, Nehemiah 9:20; the Word INSTRUCTS, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
The Holy Spirit CLEANSES, 1 Corinthians 6:11; the Word CLEANSES, John 15:3.
The Holy Spirit CONVICTS, John 16:8; the Word CONVICTS, Titus 1:9.
The Holy Spirit TEACHES, 1 Corinthians 2:13; the Word TEACHES, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
The Holy Spirit REPROVES, John 16:8; the Word REPROVES, 2 Timothy 4:12.
The Holy Spirit JUSTIFIES, 1 Corinthians 6:11; the Word JUSTIFIES, Romans 3:28.
Yes, everything the Holy Spirit accomplishes in conversions today, He accomplishes through the Scriptures that He revealed to the apostles and prophets. Every person who becomes a Christian does so as a result of the work the Holy Spirit does through the Scriptures, the Word of God. He reproves, teaches, produces faith, quickens, purifies, saves, and justifies. After becoming a Christian, the Holy Spirit leads, comforts, strengthens, and instructs but, again, this is accomplished through the agency of the Word, which is "the sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17). —E.R. Hall, Jr.
ARE YOU LIKE A SHARK?
The shark is generally known to be a large fish that swims in open water and is equally large in appetite. In fact, so large is his appetite that he will swallow almost anything that he can get into his mouth. It happens that in the same water a small fish called an urchin, when he encounters a shark will roll himself into a small ball. The shark will, of course, swallow the urchin. But in this case the shark is the loser. The urchin is a parasite and once inside the shark’s stomach, unfolds and begins to prey on the shark from the inside, thus finally destroying his victim completely. What a ridiculous thing it is for the shark to swallow something without first knowing what it is, but after all, aren’t people like that? Let’s examine carefully what we “swallow” in the name of religion because like the shark it may be too late afterwards.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.” (2 Peter 2:1) In view of these verses, we need to be careful what we “swallow”! —E.R. Hall, Jr.
SENTENCE SERMONS
Gold is tested by fire; man is tested by gold.”
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He is happy whose circumstances suit his temper,
but he is more excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances.
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Those who know God will be humble, and those who know themselves cannot be proud.
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The measure of a man is seen in the things which he allows to annoy him.
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He that will not command his thoughts will soon lose the command of his actions.
"What The Bible Says” is e-mailed twice a month. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in the next mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and you will be removed promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page for further instructions as to how you may contact us.
--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
For The East Albertville Church Of Christ
meeting at
4777 U.S. Highway 431
Albertville, AL 35950
Sunday
Bible Classes …………..….…………… 9:30 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….……… 10:30 AM
Evening Worship …………………........ 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:00 PM
Radio Program
Sunday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 8:30 AM
Monday - Saturday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 11:15 AM
Website: www. EastAlbertville.org
