“Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18).
Scriptural soul-winning is soul-winning based on the Scriptures and accomplished by using the Scriptures. The “word of truth” is the means by which the Lord brings about the miracle of regeneration. This is also the testimony of the Apostle Peter: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (I Peter 1:23). “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11) which, when properly sown and watered in good ground, will bring forth the fruit of salvation. In order for one’s soul to be truly “saved,” one must “receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).
The Lord Jesus has said: “He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). And, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life” (John 5:39).
It is only in the written Word that we learn of the living Word, without whom “was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3), and who “was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). He is “the Word of life,” and “these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God” says the apostle John, “that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (I John 1:1; 5:13).
It may be that no two people ever come to faith in exactly the same way, but one thing is always essential: “Of His own will begat He us with the Word of Truth” (text verse). If we would win others to Christ, we must believe and live and use the Holy Scriptures, for only they can make one “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 3:15). HMM
