1. Dunlap church of Christ Questions? Just Let Us Know!
Welcome
To The Services
Of The
Dunlap church of Christ
Questions? Just Let Us Know!

2. John 16:7-11
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (8) And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

3. (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

4. The Work of the Holy Spirit In Conviction & Conversion
Conviction & conversion are so interrelat­ed that an individual will never be converted until he is convicted.

5. How Does This Work?
One is convicted when he realizes he is guilty of sin [whether as an alien sinner or an erring child of God].
One is converted when he turns from sin to God.
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would reprove, or convict, the world of sin (John 16:8).

6. The Holy Spirit Operates On The Conscience…
Directly?
Indirectly?
Without means, Spirit on spirit
He must operate direct­ly upon those whom He wishes to convict, and that apart from a direct operation no alien sinner would ever be con­victed.
With or by means
In the first century the Holy Spirit convicted people indirectly through the instrumentality (means) of the revealed word.

7. Consistent Practice Throughout
The Holy Spirit later spoke indirectly to the masses through the preaching of the apostles and other inspired men.
Let us notice a few examples from the book of Acts.

8. Acts 2:40-41
“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

9. Acts 2:40-41
“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

10. Acts 2:40-41
“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

11. Acts 2:40-41
“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

12. They were able to save themselves apart from a direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon them, by meeting the conditions given them through Peter's preaching.
Acts 2:40-41
“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

13. Acts 8:5-24
"Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them" (v.5).
They had believed Simon was "the great power of God," for "he had bewitched them with sorceries" (vs. 9-11).
"But when they believed Philip preaching the things con­cerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ,"

14. They must have been convicted of their error, because "they were baptized, both men & women" (v.12).
Even "Simon himself believed” and “was baptized" (v.13), indicating that he had been convicted of his error.
Simon was later convicted as an erring child of God (vs.18-24).
And how was all this convicting accomplished? By & through the instrumentality of God's word.

15. They must have been convicted of their error, because "they were baptized, both men & women" (v.12).
Even "Simon himself believed” and “was baptized" (v.13), indicating that he had been convicted of his error.
Simon was later convicted as an erring child of God (vs.18-24).
And how was all this convicting accomplished? By & through the instrumentality of God's word.

16. Acts 8:26-39 vs. 36-38 “And as they went on their way…”
Philip (being instruct­ed by an angel and by the Spirit) came into contact with an Ethiopian eunuch.
v.35 Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”
vs “And as they went on their way…”
The Spirit spoke indirectly to the eunuch through the writing of Isaiah and the preaching of Philip.
The eunuch un­derstood Philip, was convicted of his sins, and desired baptism, which is "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38).

17. Acts 9
The Lord told Saul of Tarsus, "Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do“ – v.6
And Saul "was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink" after arriving in Damascus (vs.8-9).
Jesus sent Ananias, tell­ing him that Saul was praying (vs ).
According to Paul's account, when Ananias arrived he told Saul, “And now, why tarriest thou, arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

18. Through the preaching of God's word, Saul learned that he was still in his sins (conviction) and that they would be washed away (conversion) in baptism.
The direct operation theory would demand that Saul "pray through" (that is, pray until the Holy Spirit operated upon him directly), but he had been praying already and was still in his sins.
It is baptism, not prayer, that is to follow repentance "for the remission of sins," for alien sinners. (Acts 2:38).

19. It Is The Same Today As Then!
Whenever the Holy Spirit operated on alien sinners in conviction and conversion, it was through the means of the revealed word.
In every case, the number of conversions was directly proportionate to the number of people reached by the preaching.
Why should it be any differ­ent today?

20. We no longer have inspired men, but we do have the inspired word that con­victed men and women in the first century.
And it will convict, even when preached by uninspired men.
The power is not in the men, but in the word - Hebrews 4:12; II Timothy 3:16-17

21. God’s Simple Plan REMAIN FAITHFUL (Revelation 2:10)
HEAR (Romans 10:17)
BELIEVE (John 8:24)
REPENT (Luke 13:3)
CONFESS (Rom. 10:9-10)
BAPTIZED (Gal. 3:27)
ADDED TO THE CHURCH (Acts 2:41,47)
REMAIN FAITHFUL (Revelation 2:10)