Tuesday: The Holy Spirit and the Truthfulness of Scripture
While revelation is the supernatural act by which God reveals truth to chosen human beings, inspiration is the activity of the Holy Spirit that safeguards the truthfulness of what the human authors wrote, so that their words have the full approval of God. God hates false witness (Exod. 20:16) and cannot lie (Heb. 6:18). He is called a God of truth (Ps. 31:5, Isa. 65:16). In a similar manner, the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17).
Read Psalm 119:160. What does this teach about anything God reveals to us?
Read John 17:17. What does Jesus say to us here about God’s Word?
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
The Word of God is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. It is not our task to sit in judgment over Scripture; Scripture, rather, has the right and the authority to judge us. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12, NIV).
Though, of course, the Bible was written by those living in specific times and places and cultures (how could it have been otherwise?), we should not use that fact to water down or dismiss the message of the Bible to us. Once that door is opened, the Bible becomes subject to humans and to their determination of what is truth. The result is that many people, while claiming to believe the Bible, reject such things as a six-day creation, a worldwide flood, the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and the literal Second Coming. These are just a few of many biblical truths that fallible people, sitting in judgment on the Scriptures, have thrown out. That’s not a path any of us should ever take.
| Why is it so crucial to submit our own judgment to the Word of God rather than vice versa? |
(26)
It is impossible for us to understand the scriptures within the parameters of human reason. Romans 12: 2 says"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God".
Before conversion, man's power of reason, the faculty for discerning between right and wrong is under the dominion of bodily impulses. the mind is described as fleshly mind. SDA Bible commentary.I await your comments
Man is naturally own way (Proverbs 12:14). Paul having experienced this himself charged us to present our bodies as living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). Living sacrifices are hard to transport. We therefore need to be under subjection of the Holy Spirit momentarily. This takes growth in spiritual maturity. How? Live Godly. Jesus is our only example. "As the son of man, (Jesus) prayed to the father, showing that human nature requires all the divine support which man can obtain that he may be braced for duty and prepared for trial." Prayer, p. 19. Today we pray to the Father through Jesus Christ. Yes, we must experience conversion by way of the spirit to fight these carnal temptations. A life working with the Spirit of God calls for watchfulness.
We need to really submit our own judgment to the word of God because the word of God is the truth.
It seems like we should always submit our thoughts and our minds to the fashioning and guidance of the Holy Spirit as we open God's word to read and study.
The Bible gives us a sense of the way we're in... In these difficult times we get caught up and are sometimes blind... Thus, we need a Light! But we also need the guiding of the Spirit through our readings! That's why we need to ask God to have an open mind while studying... Otherwise we may interpret the Word with our own super limited senses!
Men entertain error when the truth is clearly marked out, and if they would bring their doctrines to the word of God and not read the word of God in the light of their opinions to prove their ideas right they would not walk in darkness and blindness. Many give the word of scripture meaning that suit their own opinions deceiving themselves and misleading others. When we allow the word of God to dwell deep within our hearts it has a sanctifying influence upon the mind leading us to high and noble themes, above the low ,sensual indulgences for which the heart unrenewed by grace naturally seeks. When we do not submit to the word of God we bring down the word to our standard where animal passion is the principal that controls our actions. This makes it impossible for the Holy Spirit to raise our our faculties to the highest cultivation, to cleanse us from all filthiness of the the flesh and the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Humility and total submission is the key.
As humans our natural tendency is to sin according to scripture Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:10. We aren't able to justify ourselves by our works according to Romans 3:21 and 7:18.
Our only hope is in searching the scriptures and responding as the Spirit of God reveals His will to us, John 5:39.
"The Lord God hath opened my ear and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back." Isaiah 50:5. (This prophetic description of Christ can be our experience also.)
Before seeking Gods word it is very important to pray for the knowledge wisdom and understanding to understand what we are reading, for the evil one is thrashing about like a lion trying to distract our thoughts, which ultimately makes us miss out on very important information which God may want to convey to us. If we remain focused God will never leave or forsake us and with that hope, deep within, we continue to learn from His word/commands in the walk of being His faithful and humble servants.
I know we are talking here about understanding the truthfullness of the word of God. But shouldn't that same Holy Spirit guidance be necessary as we pick up any piece of material to read? Just asking.
Yep :0)
God has sent us this antique e-mail thousands of years ago, and look how accurate it still is today. The day we become smarter then God, we will smart for it.
"Though, of course, the Bible was written by those living in specific times and places and cultures (how could it have been otherwise?), we should not use that fact to water down or dismiss the message of the Bible to us. Once that door is opened, the Bible becomes subject to humans and to their determination of what is truth. The result is that many people, while claiming to believe the Bible, reject such things as a six-day creation, a worldwide flood, the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and the literal Second Coming. These are just a few of many biblical truths that fallible people, sitting in judgment on the Scriptures, have thrown out. That's not a path any of us should ever take."
----------------------------
The author has picked his list of "errors" which could have been drawn up by any fundamentalist pastor. Why doesn't he allow for disagreement without using the idea of "throwing out" truth?