I Need God's Regenerating Grace

In saying that God teaches me my sins and misery through the law, 

• I must not think that the law alone is capable of giving me this knowledge. 
• I can memorize the law through and through, 
• and know it completely by heart, 
• and still not come to know my sins and misery, 
• that is, still not come to acknowledge my sins and misery to God. 

There is need for the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit. 

• The Holy Spirit convicts me of sin through the law. 
• Christ said in John 16:8, 
• “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin.”

Think of the effect the Holy Spirit had upon the people of Jerusalem 

• whose hearts were previously closed to the gospel. 
• After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, 
• the crowds who listened to Peter’s sermon came to acknowledge their sin. 

Peter closed his sermon by saying, 

• “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly 
• that God has made this Jesus, 
• whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36) 

And then we read of the response from the people. 

• “Now when they heard this, 
• they were cut to the heart, 
• and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 
• “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). 

The conviction of sin comes from the Holy Spirit who uses the law as His instrument.

Adapted Excerpt From Van Delden's Only By True Faith