WORDS OF LIFE SERIES 48 our sinful, lost, dead condition, and it leads us to seek salvation (Isaiah 55:6).

BIBLE STUDY NOTES TEN STUDIES IN PSALM This Book convicts the sinner, and the convicted sinner becomes a seeker.
119 2. THIS BOOK CONVERTS THE SEEKER
by Francis W. Dixon The Bible is the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to turn a man away from his sin
to the Saviour, who is able to save from the penalty of sin (John 5:24; Romans
8:1); able to cleanse from the defilement of sin (Zechariah 13:1 and 1 John
Study 6 WHY WE LOVE THE BIBLE 1:7); able to deliver from the power of sin (John 8:36 and Romans 6:14). The
Key-verse: “Oh, how I love your law!” (Psalm 119:97)
Bible converts the seeking sinner (Psalm 19:7)! To be converted is to be
turned away from sin, self and Satan and to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ as
In Psalm 119 we only have to compare verses 16, 24, 47, 103, 111, 113, 119,
our Saviour and our Lord. How wonderfully the Holy Spirit used “the Word of
127, 128, 140, 159 and 162 with the key-verse of this study (verse 97) to see
God” on Peter’s lips on the Day of Pentecost to convict sinners and then to
how much the psalmist loved God’s Word. It is true to say that our love for the
convert seekers! – look up and study Acts 1:14-42 (especially verses 36-39 and
Bible is like a thermometer by which we may tell the temperature of our love for
41-42). About 3000 were convicted of sin and were converted. Have you been
the Lord Himself. The measure in which we love the Bible will determine the
converted? Conversion is described in Psalm 119:59-60, illustrated in Luke
measure in which we love Him; and conversely, as we love Him so shall we
15:11-24, and described again in 2 Corinthians 5:17. This Book convicts the
love His Word. There are plenty of people who hate the Bible; there have
sinner, and the convicted sinner becomes a seeker. Then, this Book converts
always been those who are enemies of the Book. Some have tried to destroy it
the seeker and the converted seeker becomes a saint.
but have never succeeded. Those who hate and reject God’s Word do so
primarily because they are not willing to submit to its authority and live
3. THIS BOOK COMFORTS THE SAINT
according to its teaching. Think, though, of the millions who all down the ages
The Bible is the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to comfort those who love and
have loved the Word of God. David certainly was not alone in his testimony
belong to the Lord, and who are described by God as His saints (Deuteronomy
when he exclaimed, “Oh, how I love your law!” Out of love for His Word many
33:3; 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalm 50:5; Acts 9:13; Romans 12:13; Ephesians 1:1;
people have laboured long hours to translate it, have travelled far to distribute it,
Revelation 15:3). What is it God’s saints need most of all? They need comfort,
and have suffered great perils to declare it, and many have died because of
the sheer practical down-to-earth comfort that is found in and imparted by the
their devotion to the Bible and to the Lord Himself. Think of Stephen, whose
Bible. It is not a flabby, sentimental thing; it is that solid spiritual upholding and
preaching was filled with the Word of Truth (Acts chapters 6 and 7). He was
support that the Lord promises to give to His people to enable them to live for
martyred for his love for God’s Word, and thousands have followed. Why did
Him, to serve Him, and if necessary to suffer for Him. Turn to a few examples
David love God’s “law”? Why do we love the Bible? We could give forty
of great words from the Bible which minister comfort to God’s people. Begin
answers to this question, forty reasons for loving the Bible! Here are four worth
with Psalm 119:165. Then turn to Isaiah 41:10; then Psalms 23, 27, 34, 91;
considering:-
then John 14:1-3; Philippians 4:19, etc. etc. We see here comfort, strength,
grace, enabling to support and sustain us in every time of joy or sorrow,
1. THIS BOOK CONVICTS THE SINNER
triumph or trial, health or sickness – life or death.
The Bible is the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to show man that he is a sinner.
Only the Holy Spirit can convict or convince of sin, and He does it with the
4. THIS BOOK CONCERNS THE SAVIOUR
sword-thrust of the Word, of which He is the Author – look up and compare
The Bible is the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to reveal Christ to His people:
John 16:8 with Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12. The Bible shows us that we
Christ, who is in all the scriptures, the theme of all scripture, and whom the
are sinners, and this is one reason why many do not read the Bible; it shows
Holy Spirit alone seeks to glorify – look up and compare John 5:39 and John
them their sinful state and their sinful actions. For example, look up
16:13-15. When the two were walking to Emmaus, Jesus walked with them,
Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 53:6; John 8:7-9 and Romans 3:10-23. The Bible not
and we read that “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to
only declares that all men are sinners, but it states that because of our sin we
them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:13-27,
are dead (Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:1); and we are lost (Luke 19:10 and
especially verses 15-27). This Book concerns the Saviour, who is in all the
2 Corinthians 4:3). How strange to love the Bible when it shows us to be sinful,
scriptures, and all scripture points to Him. Wherever we turn we see Him in the
dead and lost! But that is a very good reason for loving it! If we were in a
glory of His Person and the sufficiency of His work. Moreover, He is the Author
burning building and someone came in to warn us, surely we would love that
of the Book. We love the Bible because it acquaints us with the Author and
friend for saving us. It is for this reason that we love God’s Word. It shows us
makes us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).
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