The Author is The Truth

• Bible
• Bible study
• Christian Evidences
• Christian Living
• Christianity
• Faith
• Glory
• Gospel
• Grace
• Jesus
• Prayer

Oct 23, 2015 1132

God has prepared things for those who love him that no eye has seen, or ear has heard, or that haven’t crossed the mind of any human being (1 Corinthians 2:9).

This Bible verse is commonly taken out of context. We commonly apply this to the glories of heaven that await the redeemed, and the words themselves do apply. But the very next verse says,

God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit (v.10).

Paul is referring specifically to the truths of salvation that are revealed through the Spirit about salvation through Christ.

So let’s continue from yesterday’s discussion, and return to the topic of the Bible and how we must understand its teachings.

We must affirm that the Holy Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, the only rule of faith and doctrine. We must affirm that if the Scriptures are the Word of God, so that ultimately the Spirit of God is its Author, then the Spirit of God will never lead a believer away from the Scriptures, but always in agreement with the Scriptures. The gifts and revelations of the Spirit of God are never private, since they are always in line with the Scriptures, and neither are they are never independent of the body of Christ, as is the clear teaching of 1 Cor 12.

We are to test all things, and so we are commanded to test the spirits (1 John 4:1) according to the Word of God. However, we must equally commanded to never quench the Spirit (1 Thess 5:19), and so we must ensure that we never use the Scriptures to quench the Spirit, or to deny the work – the guidance, convicting power, and leadership – of the risen Lord in our lives.

Is there a correct way to analyse and understand the Bible? Most definitely.

Does God appeal to our rational being and our intellect so that we may know Him through Scripture? Again, most definitely yes! He says to us, “Come, let us reason together…” (Isa 1:18). God is rational and he appeals to our rational being in order that we may come to him and understand him. And as we do this, even unknowingly, we are being led by His gentle Spirit.

However, here is the bottom line. A true understanding of Scripture is a supernatural undertaking. It only comes through a right relationship, not just with the words of Scripture themselves, but even more importantly the Author himself. It was in failing to understand this, that the blindness of the Jewish people consisted (John 9:35–41).

Because ultimately, it is the Author of Scripture himself who is the Truth (John 14:6). He is the one to whom all of Scripture points, and whom all of Scripture reflects.