1-1-12
There are many people in the religious world who are seeking something "better felt than told," by which they mean, they are seeking an extraordinary or supernatural influence that will lead them to a "religious experience." They often ridicule the idea that God has designed his written word in such a way that it, without a direct operation of the Holy Spirit is capable of convicting and converting sinners, and equipping the saved to live a life of faithful service to God and preparing them for an eternal home in heaven.
Nevertheless, the New Testament teaches there is nothing in addition to the word of God, as a written message from God, that is needed to convict the sinner and bring him to the knowledge of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. One biblical example will suffice to prove this point.
In the second chapter of Acts we read that the Holy Spirit filled the apostles. The "filling" was a miraculous manifestation of the Spirit on the apostles, not on the other people. The text says "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages as the Spirit gave them the ability." (Acts 2:4) The pronouns refer to the "eleven apostles" plus Matthias who was chosen to replace Judas, and that equals twelve apostles. (Acts 1:26) Notice the result of the apostles being filled with the Holy Spirit; "they began to speak." The salvation that would come to the Jews on that day would be the result of God's saving grace, manifested through what the apostles would preach, and the compliance of the Jews to God's will. I call it "word impact."
When the Jews mocked the events that were transpiring on the day of Pentecost, they accused the apostles of being filled with new wine. Peter corrects them by saying, "...give attention to my words. For these are not drunk as you suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day..." The Holy Spirit guides him to quote that which was spoken "through the prophet Joel." (verses 16-21) He further says, "You men of Israel, hear these words." (verse 22) Peter quotes from David with regard to the resurrection and lordship of Jesus. He tells the Jews that "God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Messiah." (verse 36) "Now when they heard this, they were pierced in the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men, brothers, what should we do?" (verse 37) It is what the Jews heard that pierced (convicted) them. The words of Peter made a profound inward impression on them. It was "word impact."
Luke says "With many other words he testified and was appealing to them saying, 'Save yourselves from this perverse generation." (verse 40) As the result of Peter's testimony and appeal, "The ones then having welcomed his word were immersed." (verse 41) This is clear and convincing evidence from the scriptures themselves that "word impact" worked then and "word impact" will work now.
Those who are the adherents of the teaching of Augustine who lived approximately 354-430 A.D. and John Calvin, the French reformer who lived from 1509-1564,are implying that God's word is inadequate to do exactly what God says it can do. (Acts 20:32; Rom. 1:16-17; 1 Cor. 1:18, 21; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Jas. 1:18,21) Both Augustine and Calvin taught that man is so morally corrupt and depraved that something in addition to the word of truth must prepare the heart to receive the word and be saved. Both men were wrong and those who teach today what they taught long ago are also wrong.
Ron Daly
(this week's bulletin was submitted by Jordan Hopkins)