JAMES A.E. MACLELLAN: June 2015

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

“Jesus I Know. Paul I Know. Who are you?” – Part 7

II – EVALUATING THE TEXTS INFERRING THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT.

You can read the previous Blogs by clicking here:

Part 1,

Part 2,

Part 3,

Part 4,

Part 5, and

Part 6

Does the Bible teach us that we as New Testament Christians can expect authoritative messages from the Holy Spirit, such that we act without question? Can such message be conveyed as "thus sayeth the Lord?" We have been examining texts that are often used to support this idea. Here, in this final examination we consider Romans 8.

II – EVALUATING THE TEXTS INFERRING THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT.

8. Romans 8:26–27 (ESV), ²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

I like the notation in the New Geneva Bible wherein the author comments: “The Holy Spirit strengthens us in our state of weakness, of which we are constantly conscious. Perplexity as to how to pray for oneself is a universal Christian experience. Our inarticulate longings to pray properly are an indication to us that the indwelling Spirit is already helping us by interceding for us in our hearts, making requests that the Father will certainly answer.”^{^[1]}

Here the beloved saint who is groaning even as all creation does (8:22) has the marvelous promise that when life’s struggles reach an inarticulate cry, that cry is interpreted and translated to the very throne of grace in language reflecting the absolute perfect will of God. I remember hearing a mother talk about taking her preschooler to the optometrist. The doctor used pictures as a means of testing eyesight. The mother had to translate for the doctor what her little child was saying. The Holy Spirit does that for our prayers of bewilderment.

But prior to this in Romans 8, we have another passage about the work of the Spirit in our lives.

9. Romans 8:16 (ESV), ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

Does God's Spirit bear witness with our spirit that we should do this, or say that? No! This passage is clear. This is the subjective witness of the Spirit that grants us assurance as God’s children. The context is that this enables us to freely cry to Him in our hour of need: “Abba Father”.

Summary

Here’s the point: Fallible vessels are the conduit for the infallible work of the Spirit and out of necessity must rely on an infallible source to validate their claims. Opponents offer various New Testament references that seem to refute my claim, but to date there is not one shred of evidence that the Holy Spirit speaks to New Testament saints in "authoritative" and "unmediated" (i.e. direct) ways. I can find no substantive text of Scripture that would permit a Christian to act on spiritual impressions or thoughts, taking them to be authoritative and without question.

In the next Blog I want to affirm the subjective work of the Spirit in a person's life, but attempt to show Biblically how that should be anticipated.

^{^[1]}New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Ro 8:26). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Today's Sufficient Grace

Isaiah 10-11 may be a couple of my favorite passages in the Bible. In Isaiah 10:5ff we read of God's sovereignty over the nation of Assyria; and even in though God righteously uses that wicked nation, He still judges them for their wickedness (Isa 10:12ff).

In this passage we also have a picture of God's punishment of His people by the Assyrians, but in the end the Assyrians will be cut down. The Assyrians are portrayed as a forest that the Lord is going to cut down (“He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe, and Lebanon will fall by the Majestic One.” (Isaiah 10:34, ESV)).

From this picture of a raised forest -- a land of just fallen trees and stumps emerges a grand picture of the reign of the Messiah:

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” (Isaiah 11:1–5, ESV)

So compressed is Isaiah's prophecy that he anticipates the First Advent of Christ through to Christ's intended reign over all the earth, in the Final State.

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:6–9, ESV)

That's the point. That's the goal. “. . . the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9, ESV). This is the end of why the world was created.

Monday, June 29, 2015

“Jesus I Know. Paul I Know. Who are you?” – Part 6

II – EVALUATING THE TEXTS INFERRING THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT.

Here’s the point: Fallible vessels are the conduit for the infallible work of the Spirit and out of necessity must rely on an infallible source to validate their claims. Opponents offer various New Testament references that seem to refute my claim, therefore I am examining each text to see if in fact it does. You can read the previous Blogs by clicking here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.

In this Blog I look at 1 Thessalonians 4:9 and Colossians 3:15. Do these passage support the notion that God leads people in such a way that they can without question say, “God told me . . .?”

6. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 (ESV) , ⁹ Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,

Taught of God is one word in the original and implies that they should automatically know that God expects them to love one another.^{^[1]} Indeed this again is a very subjective work of God, but its goal is clear. The believer knows from within that they are to love one another. It is such a ‘given grace’ that one would expect that instantly upon conversion that a new Christian would automatically know that they are to love the Church.

“Jeremiah 31:33–34 prophesied that God would write his law on the hearts of his people and directly teach them as part of the new covenant. Christians already know this reality (1 John 2:27): by love they fulfill the law (Rom. 13:8–10; cf. Lev. 19:18; John 13:34).^{^[2]}

7. Colossians 3:15 (ESV) , ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

This one is commonly used. “I did such and such because I had peace about it”. Is this verse teaching that we can discern right choices by a peaceful disposition? The statement "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" is part of a paragraph that runs from verses 12 through 17. That paragraph begins with an exhortation for believers to " put on" certain virtues: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, and above all, love, which is the perfect bond of unity" (3:14).

The context is an appeal to Christians to put on Christ-likeness so that peace and harmony would exist within their fellowship. To interpret this verse as a support to subjective guidance is clearly irresponsible.

Paul Little, in his helpful pamphlet entitled, "Affirming The Will Of God," offered a relevant illustration. "Several years ago I knew a girl who had signed a contract to teach. In August, she received another offer from a school closer to where she wanted to live. So she broke the original contract. Had she acted on the biblical principle in Psalm 15:4, where God says that He is pleased with a person who swears to his own hurt and does not change; she would not have done that. The department chairman who told me about the Christian girl's action said her justification was `I have a peace about it,' and he commented rather sardonically, `Isn't that lovely? She's got the peace and I've got the pieces.’”

So when Christians believe a certain course of action is in order and claim this verse to support the idea that the Holy Spirit gives peace to affirm or not affirm – they are clearly misusing the text. As would often be the case, doing the right biblical is not peaceful!

So, as yet, I can find no substantive text of Scripture that would permit a Christian to act on spiritual impressions or thoughts, taking them to be authoritative and without question. But there is one more important chapter!

^{^[1]}KJV Bible commentary. 1997, c1994 (electronic ed.) (1 Th 4:9). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^{^[2]} Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2309). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Today's Sufficient Grace

Isaiah records Judah's fear as they realize that King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel are planning an assault of Judah. The prophet relays to Ahaz the king of Judah that God is ready to defend her and he is to ask for a sign. In the end, God gives a sign -- a sign that relates to the impending events but also relates to the coming of the Messiah.

The Savior will be called Immanuel at his birth. He will be a descendant of King David, whose father’s name was Jesse. He will establish a kingdom and draw to himself a remnant of those who love God.

God's promise to His remnant is found in Isaiah 8:9–10 (ESV) as He addresses the marauding nations,

⁹ Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered. ¹⁰ Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.

"In view of Immanuel’s future triumph, Isaiah announces that the enemies of God who gather against his people will be shattered (cf. Gen. 3:15)." [1] "Its theme is very similar to that of Psalm 2, both passages having messianic overtones. Both generalize rather than specify particular foes, for they state a great principle that is for ever true: God's purpose is proof against all that people or nations—any person or nation can do." [2]

“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” (Psalm 33:11, ESV)

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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1256). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

2. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Isaiah/Exposition of Isaiah/I. Oracles Concerning Judah and Jerusalem (1:1-12:6)/K. The Sign of Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (8:1-10), Book Version: 4.0.2

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Today's Sufficient Grace

"This is the beginning of the so-called Syro-Ephraimite War seen so prominently in Isaiah 7–9. In due course Judah will ask Assyria to help fight off Israel and Syria." [1]

The warnings of the prophets that Israel would fall into Assyrian captivity are already starting to come true. Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel had banded together in an anti-Assyrian confederacy. Judah refused to join the confederacy; therefore, she came under attack from the two northern kings.

"In those days the Lord began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.” (2 Kings 15:37, ESV)

But Judah is not the innocent by-stander here. The immediate reason for the Assyrian invasion was that the king of Judah requested help from Assyria against an alliance between Israel and Syria. Behind all these historic events and the free moral choices of kings and rulers, we read: "... the LORD began to send . . .."

As Calvin said, "God so uses the works of the ungodly and so bends their minds to carry out His judgments that he remains pure from every stain." [3] This world is not a mixed-up collage and collision of billions of human choices. Rather the billions of free, voluntary human decisions are folded into God's inestimable plan with such distinction that they ultimately form His sovereignly ordained holy will.

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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 676). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

2. Criswell, W. A., Patterson, P., Clendenen, E. R., Akin, D. L., Chamberlin, M., Patterson, D. K., & Pogue, J. (Eds.). (1991). Believer’s Study Bible (electronic ed., 2 Ki 15:29). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3. http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/calvin/indxbk1.html

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Today's Sufficient Grace

Micah 1:2 (ESV)

² Hear, you peoples, all of you; pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it, and let the Lord God be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.

Micah’s predictions of future events are more numerous and specific than those of other prophets. There are three major discourses as Micah preached to the people of Judah.

"In this prophecy Micah defends his message against those who seek to silence him. Micah rebuffs their command to cease (v. 6). Then the Lord accuses the powerful of exploiting the defenseless (vv. 8, 9), and sentences them to exile because they have defiled the land (v. 10). Finally, the people are condemned for desiring false prophets who would tell them what they wish to hear (v. 11)." [1]

As is his custom, Micah follows his prophecy of judgment (1:1–2:11) with a prophecy of hope (vv. 12–13: “I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men. He who opens the breach goes up before them; they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them, the Lord at their head.” (Micah 2:12–13, ESV).

This prophecy that anticipates Sennacherib overrunning Judah also anticipates that the Great Shepherd of the Sheep will gather His chosen remnant and deliver them from the Assyrians. This Shepherd will lead them on in a triumphant procession out of captivity.

What kind of King is our God? He is our Shepherd-King. He steps out of the ornate palace of privilege and walks among His people leading them through to a glorious end. “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.” (Ezekiel 34:15–16, ESV)

Thou Shepherd of Israel, and mine,
The joy and desire of my heart,
For closer communion I pine,
I long to reside where thou art:
The pasture I languish to find
There all, who their Shepherd obey.
Are fed, on thy bosom reclined,
And screened from the heat of the day.[2]

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1. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Mic 2:6). Nashville: T. Nelson.
2. Charles Wesley.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

The Human Brain.

And this is by chance?

“The human brain is heralded for its staggering complexity and processing capacity. Its hundred billion neurons and several-hundred-trillion synaptic connections can process and exchange large amounts of information over a distributed network of brain tissue in a matter of milliseconds. Such massive parallel-processing capacity permits our brains to analyze complex images in one-tenth of a second, allowing us to visually experience the richness of the world. Likewise, the storage capacity of the human brain is nearly infinite. During our life-time, our brain will have amassed 109 to 1020 bits of information, which is more than fifty-thousand times the amount of text contained in the U.S. Library of Congress, or more than five times the amount of the total printed material in the world!” [1]

King David wrote under the inspiration of God’s Word:

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:13–16, ESV)

[1] René Marois, “Capacity Limits of Information Processing in the Brain,” Phi Kappa Phi Forum, Winter 2005, quoted in Wilson, Andrew (2013-05-21). Incomparable: Explorations in the Character of God (Kindle Locations 398-399).

“Jesus I Know. Paul I Know. Who are you?” – Part 5

II – EVALUATING THE TEXTS INFERRING THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT.

Fallible vessels are the conduit for the infallible work of the Spirit and out of necessity must rely on an infallible source to validate their claims. Opponents offer various New Testament references that seem to refute my claim, therefore I am examining each text to see if in fact it does. In this Blog I look at 1 John 2:27 . You can read the previous Blogs by clicking here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

I have examined Romans 8:14, Galatians 5:18, an important text in John 16:12-14 and also 1 John 5:6, 10. None support the notion of direct, authoritative revelation given to the Believer. But what about 1 John 2.27?

5. 1 John 2:27 (ESV)
²⁷ But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

We can readily see by the context (v26) that what is spoken about is a means of dealing with false and deceptive teaching. How are we to discern what is true? “Well we have an anointing, says the inspired author. There can be little doubt that the anointing is a person and the Person is the One who indwells you. Now the apostle goes on to teach us that the presence of this inner anointing, the Holy Spirit functions as a witness to that which is true. “...you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie. (1 John 2:26b)

These words would seem to dismiss even the attempt to write a Blog on this subject: “You don’t need to be taught.” It also seems to contradict other passages that speak of teaching, preaching and edifying one another in this manner. What can this possibly mean then? How then could John say, "you do not have any need of a human teacher?" The explanation lies in the level at which this kind of teaching takes place. In Matthew 13 our Lord makes a profound assertion as to the rationale of teaching in parables. Note what He says in verse 13,

“This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:13, ESV)

There are several levels of comprehension. The first is with the ears. The second is with the ears and the third is in the soul. We know from 1 Corinthians 2 (particularly verses 6 and following) that it requires the Holy Spirit to give that understanding that occurs at the heart level. Listen to what Paul prays in Ephesians 1:16–19 (ESV),

¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.

Ray Stedman correctly observes:

It requires the operation of the Holy Spirit, to understand, to grasp the immensity of these tremendous things, to be thrilled and gripped with the excitement of what God has set before us. This then is why we do not have any need of human teachers. At this level, only God can do this. Only the Spirit of God can touch the human spirit and give insight to it.[1]

But we’re not finished yet. Notice that this anointing teaches you “everything”. Are Christians so honored to know everything? No, the context is talking about the discerning of truth from error. This verse does not eliminate the need for human teachers; rather, it highlights the adequacy of the Spirit’s instruction and guidance. The Spirit enables the believer to distinguish the truth of Christianity from the deceit of heretical propaganda. Listen to the words of David as they relate to this:

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” (Psalm 119:97–104, ESV)

So John finishes with this call to us: “. . . But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” (1 John 2:27b, ESV)

I am arrested by this words for they draw me back to the teaching of our Lord, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7, ESV)

Now this obedience is absolutely essential. You and I are to open the Word, pour over it, pray fervently that the Spirit of God will convince us of the truth of it and we are to obey that which the Spirit applies to our lives through our hearts. Again, this verse does not eliminate the need for human teachers; nor does it eliminate the need for careful study of God’s Word. Rather, it highlights the adequacy of the Spirit’s illumination to convince us of truth and sufficiently apply it to our lives.

[1] http://www.pbc.org/dp/stedman/1john/0148.html

Note to self: Do not quarrel.

2 Timothy 2:24–26 (ESV)

²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, ²⁵ correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

I readily admit to a sense of discouragement at times, today being an example. Most pastors surely must go through this. Jesus may not be accused of discouragement but at the very least He reflected some frustration. “Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9, ESV). It truly is astounding that a pastor can labor for years and still be engaging the same issues, day after day. The same issues remain the same issues. Admittedly this leads to discouragement. As I pray, the Lord takes my mind to 2 Timothy 2:24f.

The command to me is not to be quarrelsome. Quite literally Paul's imperative is directed toward the servant of the Lord; that is, the δοῦλοσ [doulos] – the slave – the one bonded to Christ in submission and service. This man should not quarrel; not to μάχομαι [machomai], not to engage in combat. It speaks of an environment of aggressiveness but also an environment where one is trying to outdo the other. It's when I am looking for that knock-out-punch. "Don't do that," says the Apostle.

Thankfully, Paul doesn't leave us there. He gives me alternatives:

a. Be kind … to everyone.

b. Be able to teach (the qualification of an elder (“Therefore an overseer must be . . . able to teach,” (1 Timothy 3:2b, ESV).

c. Patiently enduring evil. Evil? Really? Probably not. The NIV translates the phrase "not resentful." The idea is bearing the opposition without resentment.[1]

d. Correcting his opponents with gentleness or meekness. I would think that the correcting, must be rooted in God's Word thus making verse 15 relevant: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, ESV); and giving life to the character qualification of being "able to teach."

And all this is done, "in hope." The hope of the kind, gracious pastor is that God sovereignly will grant repentance (μετάνοια [metanoia] – a change of mind.) If God provides the change of mind, then the servant need not be combative. Why is it that God has to change the mind? Answer? “and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:26, ESV). To come to one's senses and escape is all one word in the Greek. It essentially means a return to sober thinking.[2]

" Here Paul is talking primarily about those accepting false teaching that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil. Satan is behind all false teaching. There is nothing innocent about any of it."^{^[3]} Can a Christian fall prey to false teaching, Satanic deception? I think so. When Peter was abruptly challenged by our Lord, Jesus said to him: “But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”” (Matthew 16:23, ESV) .

Did you notice the charge and evidence presented by Christ? Behind the false statement of Peter was a Satanic influence whereby Peter's thoughts (φρονέω [phroneo] were not the thoughts of God. It was a contest between the thoughts of God versus the thoughts of man. It was a human-based reasoning versus a Divine reasoning. It was the Word of God in contrast to the word of man. And the only hope is Divine intervention that changes the one mind to another.

So as the same issues remain the same issues and people seem reluctant to change, rather than be frustrated, God calls the person who is bound to Christ in service to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit and to teach patiently. He then is to leave the results to the sovereign God who can wrestle the minds of His people from the human-based focus of the Devil to the thoughts of God that are indeed “. . . not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9, ESV).

The glory of the Gospel is that this same Jesus labored patiently and meekly among His own. Some did not receive Him. Some received Him in increments. Even when He went to Calvary and rose again, His disciples did not get it all. Yes, He was eventually led as a lamb to the slaughter and did not provoke or argue – but He died on the Cross to clear my guilt of impatience and unbelief – as well as everyone else who believed in Him. And some day by the gracious glorification of His Son among the Church, His Bride, all disputations and arguments will cease; and so shall we ever live with the Lord. “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end . . ..” (Isaiah 9:7a, ESV).

Note to self: Do not quarrel.

[1] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:2 Timothy/Exposition of 2 Timothy/VI. Contrasts in the Church (2:14-26)/C. The Kind and the Quarrelsome (2:22-26), Book Version: 4.0.2

[2] Ibid,

^{^[3]} Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2514). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

“Jesus I Know. Paul I Know. Who are you?” – Part 4

II – EVALUATING THE TEXTS INFERRING THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT.

I am arguing that the revelatory premise in the New Testament is that fallible vessels are the conduit for the infallible work of the Spirit and out of necessity must rely on an infallible source to validate their claims. Stated otherwise, no wise Christian should respond to any impression, thought or feeling, believing it is from the Lord without testing it with an infallible source. Opponents offer various New Testament references that seem to refute my claim, therefore I am examining each text to see if in fact it does.

In this Blog I look at 1 John 5:6,10 . You can read the previous Blogs by clicking here: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

I have examined Romans 8:14, Galatians 5:18 and an important text in John 16:12-14. None support the notion of direct, authoritative revelation given to the Believer. But what about 1 John 5:6,10?

4. 1 John 5:6, 10 (ESV), ⁶ This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth . . . ¹⁰ Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.

The context here is that John is providing witness to the deity of Christ. He speaks of “water and blood” and now adds a third witness: the indwelling Spirit. Thus, according to John’s count here, there are three that bear record of who Christ is. John’s three witnesses then are: the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one.

By trusting Christ as Savior, we as Christians mystically live in Christ, and Christ lives in us. So the believer also has the Spirit who is once more that third witness that John wrote about. So it seems obviously that the indwelling Spirit of God gives witness to the Lordship of Christ – His Deity. Paul confirms this in 1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV),

³ Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

This passage is assurance to us that the Spirit of God will bear testimony, subjectively, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. This is the experience of Peter who affirmed this truth. What did Jesus say to him? He said, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17, ESV)

This cannot be regarded as a proof text for direct and unequivocal revelations from God to a certain individual. But 1 John 2:27 might be another story, so we look at that next.

Today's Sufficient Grace

Isaiah 1:18–20 (ESV),

¹⁸ “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. ¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; ²⁰ but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

God charges Judah for covenant breaking. He accuses them in vv 2-3 and brings formal charges in vv4ff.

"The prophet’s appeal to come and reason together shows God’s gracious invitation to all men . . . Calvin (p. 21) notes that God stands ever ready to cleanse us and to forgive us when we turn to Him." [1] "God can take away the stain of sin without compromising His righteousness because Jesus Christ bore God’s punishment for sinners (53:4–6; Rom. 3:21–26)." [2]

"The phrase “let us reason” gives the idea of reciprocity, and calls for the people to submit themselves to the laws of God and receive divine pardon." [3]

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV)

What can wash

What can wash away my sin