When it comes to our salvation from sin, it is essential that we understand the agency of this salvation! Salvation is only possible through the instrumentality of THE WORD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! We see that the entire Godhead is involved in our salvation from sin—the grace of God, the blood of Christ, the Word of the Holy Spirit.
Every word in our Bible is a product of the Holy Spirit. You “never” read any words that “came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20-21). We are not reading “words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:11-13). That should bring us great confidence!
Scripture teaches us that the Spirit-given Word in our Bible is essential for us to obtain salvation from sin. Paul said that the Word “is the power of God to salvation” (Rom. 1:16). James said that the Word “is able to save your souls” (Jas. 1:21). Without the Bible, a person cannot be saved. He must read, study and obey what the Bible says!
Scripture teaches us that the Spirit-given Word is that which leads one to the point of making the decision to be saved from sin. It is the Word that: “teaches” about sin, Jesus and righteousness (1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16); “convicts” of sin and error (2 Tim. 3:16; John 16:8; Tit. 1:9); “corrects” from sin and error (2 Tim. 3:16; Acts 18:26-28; Matt. 13:15); “instructs” in righteous living (2 Tim. 3:16; Col. 3:17); “gives light” to lead one’s feet in the paths of righteousness (Psa. 119:105; Prov. 6:23); “gives understanding” to know the will of God (Psa. 119:130; Eph. 3:3-4); and generates “faith” in God and the deity of Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). One cannot know how to be saved without the Bible!
Scripture teaches us that the Spirit-given Word is involved in the actual salvation from sin. Consider carefully that it is the Word that: “converts” the soul when it is obeyed (Psa. 19:7); “cleanses” from sin (Eph. 5:26; Psa. 119:9); “purifies” the soul (1 Pet. 1:22); “makes free” from sin (John 8:32); provides “liberty” from sin (Jas. 1:25); “sanctifies” from sin and unto God (Eph. 5:26; John 17:17); “gives life” (Psa. 119:50); is operative when one is “born again” into God’s family (John 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:23); and “reconciles” one back to God when it is obeyed (2 Cor. 5:19-20). One cannot be saved from sin without the Bible!
Truly man is “saved” by the Word of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 15:1-4), but only with a proper response to it. We must “hear” it to “believe” (Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:6). We must “study” it to “know” how to be saved (John 8:32; 2 Tim. 3:16). We must “obey” it to be saved (Acts 2:40; Heb. 5:9).