Some who reject the personal working of the Holy Spirit today claim that we have all we need through the Word. In their way of thinking, there is nothing left for the Holy Spirit to do that is not already accomplished by the Word. They view all passages that speak of any work done by the Holy Spirit as being fulfilled by the Word which was revealed by the Holy Spirit. Yes, the Spirit works through His revealed Word, but the same Word tells us that the Spirit also work in addition to His Word.
Those who think the Sprit works only in and through the Word are right on one thing - God's Word is great. It is powerful. It works. It changes men. We must never minimize the greatness and our need of the Word of God.
The prophecy of Isaiah:
Isaiah 55:10-11
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
God’s word will accomplish its purpose. We must never lose faith in the Word and its power. The strength of God’s people is not found in psychology, philosophy, scientific theories, or anything else – our strength rests on the Word of God.
Much error on this subject has been promoted as the result of Calvinism; in particular, the doctrine of total depravity. This doctrine teaches that man is born totally depraved and is incapable of going any good at all. Calvinists reason that if man is incapable of doing anything good, God must miraculously change men to make them what they ought to be. The result of this thinking is the doctrine called the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. This doctrine claims the Holy Spirit must fall on a person and directly change them to make them into a new creature who is spiritual and can understand this Word of God. Every command in the Bible directed to sinners contradicts this doctrine. God doesn't tell us to wait for the Holy Spirit to fall on us and change us, but He does constantly tell sinners they need to repent and obey His Word.
The Word contains all the knowledge we need to live properly before God. Below is a list of things the Bible says it can accomplish in the lives of those who will obey it.
1. The Word brings salvation
This is a primary purpose of the Word. It was given so we can know how to come to God and be pleasing in His sight.
James 1:21
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Acts 11:13-14
And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter,
14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’
1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2
by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
2. The Word produces faith
Romans 10:15-17
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Luke 8:11-12
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
John 17:19-20
And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.
John 20:30-31
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31
but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
3. The Word builds up
Acts 20:32
So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
4. The Word sanctifies
To "sanctify" means to make separate. As we obey the Word, we will be separate from the rest of the world for God's purpose.
John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
5. The Word provides certainty
People can know and understand the truth, but still be weak and have doubts. The more one studies the Word, the more certain he can be. A person who is certain can stand without wavering, and not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14).
Luke 1:3-4
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4
that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
6. The Word makes us wise
2 Timothy 3:14-15
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:3-4
How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ).
7. The Word makes us complete
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
8. The Word teaches us
1 Timothy 3:14-15
These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
9. The Word exhorts us
1 Peter 5:12
By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
Hebrews 13:22
And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.
10. The Word makes us clean
John 15:3-4
You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
11. The Word stirs us up
2 Peter 1:12-14
For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
2 Peter 3:1-2
Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
A rebuke to Israel:
Isaiah 64:6-7
But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. 7 And there is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, and have consumed us because of our iniquities.
How do we stir ourselves up? We must spend time in prayer and studying and meditating on the Word. This is the reason it is difficult to get religious discussions going with many – they are not stirred by the Word because they are not spending any time with it.
12. The Word gives us joy
1 John 1:4
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
13. The Word warns us
1 Corinthians 4:14
I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I
warn you.
1 Corinthians 10:11-12
Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
“Admonish” includes the idea of warning of error.
14. The Word helps us remain faithful
Psalm 119:11
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 37:30-31
The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
15. The Word begets us
1 Corinthians 4:15
For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
"Begotten" is from gennao; “to be born”
Matthew 2:1
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.
Matthew 26:24
The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.
16. The Word convicts us
Titus 1:9
Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
James 2:8-9
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
“Convict" in both verses is from elegcho
[el·eng·kho/] 1 to convict, refute, confute. 1a generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted. 1b by conviction to bring to the light, to expose.
2 to find fault with, correct. 2a by word. 2a1 to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove. 2a2 to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation. 2b by deed. 2b1 to chasten, to punish.
Strong’s Concordance
17. The Word gives life
Psalm 119:50
This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.
Psalm 119:93
I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.
18. The Word comforts us
Romans 15:4
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:18
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
19. The Word purifies us
1 Peter 1:22
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
The Word provides the standard by which we know what is pure.
1 John 3:2-3
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
20. The Word exposes us
Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God 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. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
This is like the sacrifice of the O.T. priests who cut apart the animals and completely exposed what was inside. As we are worked on by our High Priest, the Word of God completely exposes what is inside us.
21. The Word is sufficient to teach us
Luke 16:27-31
Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’
What is the Word of God?
1. Word of salvation
Acts 13:26
Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.
2. Word of truth
Ephesians 1:13
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Colossians 1:4-5
since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
3. Word of life
Philippians 2:16
holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
John 6:68
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ”
4. Word of faith
1 Timothy 4:6
If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
Romans 10:8
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach).
5. Word of righteousness
Hebrews 5:13
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
6. Word of exhortation
Hebrews 13:22
And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.
7. Word of His grace
Acts 20:32
So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Acts 14:3
Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Christianity is a religion of reason based on the Word
The Word is reasonable, logical and is based on historical truth that can be examined. When people reject the Word, it is not because they honestly and diligently examined its claims and found them lacking. It is rejected because of an unwillingness to come to God on His terms.
When studied and applied, the Word of God can provide us with everything we need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4). The Word has all truth. There is no other source for true knowledge of God and His will. The early Christians taught by reasoning with people from the Scriptures. God expects us to study, understand and reason from the Scriptures today. God gave us a mind and He wants us to use it. God is not going to send His Spirit and change our lives for us. His Spirit revealed the Word, and now we must read and obey it.
1. In Thessalonica
Acts 17:1-3
They came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”
2. In Athens
Acts 17:16-17
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
3. In Corinth
Acts 18:4
And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
4. Paul’s 1st visit to Ephesus
Acts 18:19
And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
5. Paul’s 2nd visit to Ephesus
Acts 19:8-10
And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
6. Before Felix
Acts 24:24-25
And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25
Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
7. Before Festus
Acts 26:25
But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.”
We must preach the Word
2 Timothy 4:1-2
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Funny stories do not save anyone. The latest psychological theories are never the answer to mankind's problems. People need to hear the Word of God. This alone can make people what they ought to be.
The Word will accomplish what God desires
Isaiah 55:10-11
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
a. For those who desire to come to God, it will show them the way.
b. For those who do not love God, it exposes them for what they are and judges them.
Many wish we could have miracles like the ones that occurred in the 1stcentury to convince people today. Yes, they would be amazing, but we do not need miracles. We have God’s Word. He has the power to continually use miracles to amaze people, but He chose to use His revealed Word. God is looking for people who are honestly willing to study the Scriptures and submit their lives to what is revealed. These are the ones He will bring into His presence for eternity. If the Scriptures are not good enough for someone, he is not the kind of person God is going to have live with him forever.