What is inspired?

Well, I do not disagree that it is the Holy Spirit that convicts and saves a man, but I believe the medium the Holy Spirit works through is the word of God.
1 Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

As Paul asked in Romans 10, how can a man believe on Jesus if they have never heard of him? It is impossible. And as I have said many times, there is no man walking around today who was completely ignorant of the gospel who was suddenly regenerated to know and understand the gospel.

If you know the gospel, you either read it in the scriptures, or you heard it from preaching of the scriptures. It is not supernaturally revealed to man by the Holy Spirit. And God's word is not withheld from the unregenerate or unelect, it is available to all men to hear if they will do so.

In the parable of the sower Jesus explained that the seed was God's word. It is when a man receives the word and believes it that the word springs to life. Those by the wayside heard the word, but they did not receive it or believe it, just like a seed laying on the surface of the ground. And so the devil, or in the parable, the fowls came and stole it away before it could take root and spring to life.

But those who not only hear but believe the word of God are those in whom the word takes root and springs forth to life bringing forth fruit.

Mark 4: 14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

You put much emphasis on the Spirit, but Jesus put much emphasis on God's word.

 

True enough Winman, however, it is clearly not the ONLY medium in which the Holy Spirit works. I have referenced Romans 1 a number of times on this Board lately, and I do so here again.

The Holy Spirit is no doubt at work convicting people of truth and sin, as it is recorded here:

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

This then would be an example of the Holy Spirit using His Creation as a tool for conviction - is it not? This would seem to confirm Dr. Bob's point that the Holy Spirit can use anything. HOWEVER, I also think (and probably Dr. Bob would agree?) that ultimately it does come down to the use of LOGOS for salvation. In no way do I minimize LOGOS by merely pointing out the truth in other areas.

 

God does not have to work in the manner which we prescribe. He will of course work according to Hid Word, but he does NOT HAVE TO use the Bible to do it.

Acts 2- read it.

 

I may be guilty of splitting hairs here, or probably just not understanding what you and Dr. Bob are saying. I realize too, that we may be getting slightly off thread...but, first of all, Acts 2 does have Peter quoting form the OT - which is God's Word - right? Secondly, tho I think I understand the point y'all're making - I would not attempt to put much on this Board that was not backed up by actual scripture - not just my take on it. Likewise, I would not witness about salvation or any other truth of God to anyone without attempting to actually quote scripture. So, I guess I don't quite understand how this 'looks,' so to speak, without using God's Word. Probably just me.

 

I agree. I think in their effort to rail against KJVO, they have gone to the extreme and ended up implying that the translated word is not powerful in the saving of souls. They have implied that they are just words (graphe) and have no power in and of themselves.

 

I may be KJV preferred, but the person that led me to the Lord used "Good News for Modern Man," or as some would say, "Bad News..." Some of those same people might conclude that I am not saved.

It wasn't the exact words in the verses that saved; it was the message of the gospel. I agree with you.

 

It has zip to do with "railing against KJVO" and everything to do with not limiting God.

He is not limited to using the "Roman's Road", any particular Bible version, or any particular religious group to save.

Yes, Peter used the OT in Acts 2. But that was to bring them to conviction. When they asked what they should do, Peter said, "Repent and be baptized". He didn't use Scripture, although he spoke the truth.

Another illustration and I'll leave off here because it's not the OP- when we preach, do we just read the Bible and then close it and give an invitation? Of course not. God can use our expositions, illustrations, or even our actions to bring someone to believe upon Himself. Otherwise the old saying "you are the only Bible some people will ever read" is untrue.

 

God can use any means He desires to draw people to Himself, but when you give someone the gospel, you are able to do so because of the written word of God. The gospel has not been handed down to us by "tradition". It is the written word, which Peter calls scripture.

 

Where did I mention "tradition"? Of course salvation is based upon the written word of God. But we can present it in sign language, in pictures, in drama, etc. Not everyone can read English- or even read, for that matter.

 

I can share the gospel and not quote a single verse from any translation, at least not directly. Would someone I lead to the Lord in such a manner not be saved? Is it the bible that saves, or is it the work of the Spirit? The verses are not magical incantations; I simply distill the truths from them and put them into my own words for the situation and God honors it.

I can also use the FAITH outline or the Roman Road from memory if I want, but I usually don't. It is much more natural to share what God has done for me and to give the truths of God's words in a manner that is easily communicated between two people (as a conversation and not repeating from rote).

Getting back to the OP, does it require "inspired" words, such as quoting scripture, for someone to be saved?

 

Scripture is inspired not the quotes from other sources. Scripture does not refute what you suggest.

For example the source for "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." However Titus 1:12 is inspired.

The message is not just the words. It has power unlike a newspaper source or some other source which has its origin in man.

Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."