“Jesus I Know. Paul I Know. Who are you?” – Part 3

So as we wrestle with this topic of subjective impressions and guidance that we think are from the Holy Spirit that I've written about in Part 1 and Part 2, we continue the discussion here. I believe that my overarching proposition is of critical importance. The point that seems clear in New Testament life in the Spirit is this:

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.

So we continue to examine some oft cited texts that tend to support a subjective "unmediated" guidance of the Spirit that leads to conclusive authoritative action.

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

Here are some more passages cited to support authoritative subjective direction:

2. Galatians 5:18 (ESV), ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

I will choose to make this brief because of the similarities between this and Romans 8:14. Likewise in this passage, Paul described the conflicting pulls of the flesh on the one hand, and the indwelling Spirit on the other. The key to overcoming the lust of the flesh and fulfilling the desire of the Spirit consists in walking by the Spirit (5:16) and being led by the Spirit (5:18).  This is a parallel passage to Romans 8:14. This leading of the Spirit is what enables us not to obey the lust of the flesh, but obey the Spirit resulting in Spiritual Fruit.  How is this leading accomplished from our part?  The answer is found in chapter 6 of the passage:  “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:8, ESV)  

This is exactly what Jesus taught in Mark 4:26-29.  The Word of God is what is sown in a person’s life resulting in maturity and fruitfulness.

3. John 16:12–14 (ESV), ¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

These words are often taken in reference to the Holy Spirit's ministry to all the people of Christ. But Jesus' point here is much more specific than that. He is not at all saying that the Spirit will "teach every believer everything" or cause every believer to "remember everything which he said" or "guide every believer into all truth." That was not what he said, and that is not what has happened. His promise is to his apostles. This is the task for which he had called them. They will be taught "everything." The Holy Spirit will remind them of "everything" which Jesus had spoken. The Spirit will guide them into "all truth."

Jesus is really teaching us about the distinctiveness of these Twelve.  They are the repositories of God’s full and final revelation. God has spoken fully and finally in no less than his Son. God's climactic word "was declared at first through the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him" (Heb 2:3).  Notice this strand of thought in Jesus' high priestly prayer:

 “For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.” (John 17:8, ESV).  “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,” (John 17:18–20, ESV)  

Equipped by the teaching of our Lord himself and via his Spirit, they were our Lord's commissioned spokesmen.  Many of them were the human authors of His written Word. This passage is a specific promise and encouragement to the Twelve, not to us directly.

So neither of these texts support the notion that God's Spirit, in an unmediated way, leads and guides us by subjective feelings, thoughts or impressions -- in a manner that we are to respond to them in unmitigated authority and obedience.

In the next Blog, I will look at a couple of important texts in 1 John.