What God's Word Doesಮಾದರಿ

GOD’S WORD CONVICTS

Nehemiah 8:9—One of the great proofs that the Bible is really God’s inspired Word is its unique ability to convict men and women of their sins. Let us consider but a few Old Testament and New Testament examples that demonstrate the life saving power of the Scriptures.

Josiah, a young and godly Judean king who ruled the Lord’s people more than six centuries before Christ, succeeded a wicked ruler who hated righteousness. At the beginning of Josiah’s rule, a copy of God’s Word was found in the temple. When it was read to the king, both he and his people were convicted of their sins in not keeping God’s law. A great revival then took place (2 Chr. 34:18–21). Nehemiah provides a second Old Testament example. After Jerusalem’s gates and walls had been repaired, he assembled the people and had the Scriptures read to them for three hours per day. This soon caused them to confess their sins (Neh. 9:3).

Before Jesus left this earth, He promised that the Holy Spirit would come upon the apostles: “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). We see this come true at Pentecost when Peter used the Scriptures to rebuke Israel for crucifying its Messiah. This sermon resulted in 3,000 people being convicted of their sins and trusting in Christ (Acts 2:37, 41). A second instance of the Word convicting its reader of sin is found in Paul. In Romans 7:7–12, Paul describes how he would not even know of sin if it were not for the law convicting him of it.

This Bible study is an excerpt fromThe OPEN Bible, Published by Thomas Nelson Bibles