Share this...
A relationship with God demands a comprehension of the Scriptures. We cannot hope to grow in our knowledge of God by observing our surroundings, meditating upon our thoughts, or discerning our emotions. Moreover, we cannot enter into a relationship with God based solely upon diligent study. Certainly, the physical world proves the existence of God and our imperfections (Rom [1:18]-21, [2:12]-15); and the word of God bears the fruit of faith (Rom [10:17]). Yet, we must realize no amount of internal introspection nor intellectual study will replace the necessity of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit serves as a believer’s great helper to comprehend the Scriptures and to guide us in our application of God’s truth. God’s Spirit and Word work in conjunction, depending on each other to reveal God’s truth. In the second part of this series on How to Read the Scriptures, this article plans to address the essential role of the Holy Spirit in reading the Scriptures and comprehending God’s intended purpose, so we may ably apply them to our lives.
The Role of the Spirit
Scriptural comprehension depends upon a heart in fear of the Lord operating under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit serves as God’s great catalyst, acting upon the heart of a believer to etch God’s image deeper into their conscience. The Spirit of God serves as Christ’s representative (John [14:26]), providing the believer direct access to the revealed mind of Christ (1 Cor [2:16]). Christ served His disciples by battling error, constantly invoking the Scriptures in unison with the Spirit. He challenged the modern wrong-headed beliefs of the day. Christ said, “You have heard it said, but I say…” (Matt 5:4-22, 27-44). He redirected and led the lost sheep of Israel in the ways of God (John [6:45], [10:14]-15).
Upon His ascension, Christ left the protection of His flock to the Holy Spirit. He promised a helper and encouraged His disciples to remain in Jerusalem till they received His support (Luke [24:49]; Acts 1:5-8). Christ intended His Spirit to serve in unison with the Scriptures as an interpreter and illuminator of God’s truth. The present work of the Spirit closely mirrors the earthly ministry of Jesus. As Christ utilized the word of God to open the eyes of His disciples on the Road to Emmaus (John [24:25]-27, 45), so the Spirit works in conjunction with the word of God to convict men of their sin (John 16:8) and illuminate the text (John [14:26], [16:13]), so the word of God may bring men and women to repentance (Hebrew [4:12]) and create new disciples for Christ.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
Christ taught, encouraged, exhorted, and rebuked all men. Some rejected Him outright; others followed Him. His disciples repented (Luke 5:8), worshiped him (John [6:69]), and obeyed his teachings. Yet they remained fickle: in one breath, they expressed statements of great faith (Matt [16:16]); and in the next, demands and denials of devilish proportions (Matt [16:22]-25). They challenged fellow workers of Christ (Mark [9:38]-40) and often stumbled over the words of false teachers (Luke [5:30]-34). These men desired God, feared God, loved God, pursued God, and abandoned everything for God. Yet, time and again, they returned to their fallen nature. The law of God remained unwritten on their hearts of stone (Ezk [36:26]). They had not experienced divine adoption into God’s kingdom nor received His seal of the Holy Spirit (Eph [1:13]-14). Only the ascension of Christ and the arrival of the Holy Spirit fulfill the Old Testament prophecies. He undertakes the role of teacher and illuminator (Jer [31:34]; John [14:26]). He places a new heart into men and writes His law on their hearts (Jer [31:33]; Ezk [36:26]-27). Only He brings the dead to life (Ezk 37). The Spirit serves the believer as a guide in the truth- ensuring the path of understanding runs straight and lighted (Prov 3:6; John [16:13]).
The Result of the Holy Spirit
The presence of the Holy Spirit completely changes the disposition of a believer (1 Cor [2:14]-15). He transforms our hearts and renews our minds in the things of God (Rom 12:2). This renewal bears a deeper understanding and correct interpretation of the Scriptures. On Pentecost, Peter stands in the power of the Holy Spirit: he interprets the Scriptures (Acts [1:15]-25) and boldly proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts [2:14]-40). In Damascus, Paul immediately begins to proclaim Jesus upon receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts [9:17]-22)- a transformation so severe he scared the local Christians and earned persecution from the local Jews. God works through weak men and strong adversaries to disseminate His message. The Spirit allows a transformed and reinvigorated understanding of the Scriptures.
One caveat exists. The Holy Spirit cannot work outside the Scriptures. Moreover, the Holy Spirit cannot reveal anything beyond a believer’s knowledge of the Scriptures. The convicting power of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8) is the strong arm of the Lord, which lunges forth and thrusts the sword of the word (Heb [6:12]). Men and women, knowledgeable of their sin and spiritually wounded, cry out, “What shall we do to be saved?” (Acts [2:37]) Such is the power when the Holy Spirit and the Word work together in inseparable unison. After Paul’s sudden conversion, he begins to preach immediately because he was already steeped in Torah learning (Acts 22:3). While the converts at Pentecost, whom lacked a rich scriptural knowledge, immediately devoted themselves to study (Acts [2:42]). The Holy Spirit builds in one a desire to study the Scriptures, then an unassailable, unalloyed urge to proclaim God’s truth. The power of God strengthens a believer to assuredly and boldly argue the case for Christ from the Scriptures (Acts [18:27]-28). Deception finds a foothold in a heart void of the Spirit, or one’s spirit void of the Word.
Certainly, some ask the common question, “If the word is so important, than why are there so many different interpretations?” They claim many interpretations prove the subjective, and thereby untrustworthy nature of God’s word. Yet, such a question often ignores the flawed means by which men achieve their various interpretations. If we all approach the text with our own opinions, unique perspectives, and special backgrounds, we cannot hope to reach a common consensus. But, if we realize that the Scripture is not based upon our own interpretations, feelings, or emotions (2 Peter [1:20]-21), but is instead breathed out by God (2 Tim [3:16]), then we realize both the means and ends of our interpretation must rely on God. Therefore, when we approach the Scriptures, we must examine the text and desire to understand what God desires to say, not what we think he says. In short, this means we throw out all matters of human interpretation, while retaining our intellect, for human means of interpretation rely on our subjective thoughts, feelings, experiences, and emotions. These subjective ideas always result in various and unreliable conclusions and would in any field of study. Instead, we must read the Scriptures plainly and through a straightforward and literal interpretative approach, which relies on correct grammar, sound logic, and accurate history, discover what God intends to tell us. Scriptural comprehension depends upon a heart in fear of the Lord, under the power of the Holy Spirit, and in deep and abiding study of His word (John [8:31]). The Christian reader must never deprive the Spirit the fuel of the Word, nor cloud their interpretations with their own subjective personalities.
God's Seal and Man's Response
The Spirit remains God’s irrevocable stamp on a believer (Eph [1:13]-14). Once sealed with the King’s divine signet, we remain in the possession of Christ for all eternity (John [6:37]-40). Dear reader, Christ oversees the hearth of your eternal resting place and He guards your salvation. Shall we not rejoice in Christ! But, we must also take heed. The Holy Spirit grants understanding and the Scriptures deliver God’s truth. Shall we fall to the arguments of men as Peter fell to the Judaizers (Gal [2:11])? He possessed the full knowledge of God in the Holy Spirit, but fearing men he failed to exert the authority of the Scriptures. Only Paul in Spirit and Truth overturned his hypocrisy. Let us, pull together these two great truths, God’s word and spirit, and seek to firmly establish the foundation of His Holy temple in our hearts (Eph [2:19]-22).
If you would like to read the first part of this articles, How to Read the Scriptures, please click here.
- I am glad to hear from readers. Write: brendan.flannagan@gmail.com
- Follow regular updates on Twitter at twitter.com/brendnflannagan
- Please subscribe for email updates.