Sunday Sermons
Ephesians 2 and Holy Spirit Guidance
Ephesians 2 & Holy Spirit Guidance
Greetings all / Especially to our visitors / Not the preacher here / hope you find this helpful
Want to thank the Elders and Mark for this opportunity.
If you have any questions or comments afterwards then please come see me.
Last December I presented a Sermon called “Teaching the Taught”.
Goal was help those who believe that…
- salvation comes through faith only…
- with “baptism” playing no role in the process
- That baptism something a saved person (that is, saved by “faith only”) should do, as a symbol that they are already saved.
I presented numerous verses that showed that baptism is indeed the final step unto salvation,
where the believer goes from being lost and still in their sins to being saved, their sins forgiven.
I also addressed over a dozen common objections to this truth, and how to answer them.
This morning I want to do a deeper dive into 1 of those topics and objections…
And then introduce an additional topic that you are likely to encounter when you study with others.
The goal is the same: to help you help them (friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, visitors) with good and honest hearts, to know the truth.
To know how to effectively and accurately answer their position & questions on these issues from the Bible.
The goal is NOT to start & win an argument.
Here are 3 passages to remind us of the approach we are to take…
2 Tim 2:24-26 – The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged…
With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth…
And they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Col 4:5-6 – Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity…
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to (or “answer”) each person.
I Peter 3:15 – Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you for the reason of the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
Here, “reason” = the mental activity used in the search for truth.
Remember…
- Don’t win a battle (an argument) and lose the war (their soul)
- Remember this isn’t about you. It’s about them and the best interest of their soul. All discussion should keep that firmly in mind.
So this morning I want to cover 2 topics, or questions…
- Is Eph 2:8-9 a proof text that we are saved by faith only, without baptism?
- What is the role of the Holy Spirit in regards to the Bible, in particular, as we read our Bibles?
So, first, is Eph 2:8-9 a proof text that we are saved by faith only, without baptism?
Eph 2:8-9 - “For by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Not as a result of works, so that no one may boast”
In addition to the “faith only” claim, another common reason others often cite this verse is to imply that we believe baptism is a “work”, and that we believe we are “saved by works”.
So what do these two verses teach?
- We must have faith
- Through faith we are saved by God’s grace
- We cannot save ourselves or “earn” salvation by doing works (or works alone)
- Salvation is a gift of God
It is not teaching - nor do we believe - that baptism is a “work”, or that we are “saved by works”.
- Nowhere does the Bible call baptism a "work".
- Interestingly though, it does refer to belief / faith as a "work" in John 6:29.
- Baptism is not a “work”, it is a commandment.
- We must obey God’s commandments…
- Heb 5:8-9 says that “God is the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him”.
It is true that we do not save ourselves…
nor do we "earn" our salvation…
but that is not the same thing as saying we have no role in our salvation.
It is also true that we cannot be saved apart from the blood of Christ…
we are saved when the blood of Christ washes away our sins.
The question is: “when and where does that happen?”.
- Saul, who became the Apostle Paul, was told in Acts 22:16 “Why do you delay? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”.
- Acts 2:38 – those who crucified Jesus were told “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins”
- Mark 16:16 – “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”.
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Now what about Ephesians chapter 2?...
Is baptism found there?
YES…
“Please look at your handout where I have pulled together several passages” (the key parallel phrases are color-coded in my version that I will e-mail to you)
In Ephesians 2 we find "mercy" in verse 4.
We find "grace in" verse 5.
What else do we find in verse 5?
That "we were dead in our transgressions, made alive together with Christ",
and in verse 6: Christ "raised us up with Him".
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Note: this is the same language used in Romans 6 verse 4: "we are buried with Him through baptism (immersed in water) into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life".
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But that's not all - It is the same language as in Col 2:12-13 - we are buried (immersed) with Him in baptism, dead in our transgressions, raised up, made us alive together with Him, having our transgressions forgiven.
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Lastly, the same Eph 2 language found in Titus 3:4-5, and again the reference to baptism is clear.
Verse 5 of Titus 3 says "He saved us not on the basis of deeds we have done in righteousness (or on the basis of works, just like in Eph 2:8-9), but according to His mercy (also found in Eph 2:4) by the washing of regeneration (there's baptism, also found in the Romans & Colossians passage).
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Notice in Titus 3:5 that the “washing of regeneration” (baptism) is clearly identified as not being a “deed” (or “work”).
So we are saved not on the basis of deeds / works…but how?...
”according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit”.
The “not, but” construction here clearly identifies baptism as not being a work.
We are saved not on the basis of works, but, by something else. That non-work “something else” includes baptism.
Compare this to I Peter 3:21 which says “baptism now saves you”.
Clearly, baptism is not a work, but a basis for being saved.
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Key point: The “raising up” we do in Eph 2:6 is the same “raising up” we do in Romans 6 and Colossians 2 after being buried with Christ in baptism.
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Who was Paul’s audience in Eph 2? Christians!...
- Those who “were dead in their transgressions and sins”
- But have now have been raised up and made alive together with Christ
-
How? Why?
- They were buried with Christ in baptism
- They died to sin
- They were raised up from the waters of baptism to walk in newness of life
- Their trespasses forgiven.
Bottom line: if you look at the whole context of Ephesians 2 - not just verses 8 & 9…
and look at the same language used in the companion passages of Romans 6, Col 2, and Titus 3…
it is clear that not only is baptism there, but it is an essential step in one becoming saved.
Final point on this topic…
“Please look at your handout again”
II Cor 5:17 says…
5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Clearly, we must be “in Christ” in order to be a new creature (freed & forgiven of our sins), dead to our old sinful self.
Gal 3:26-27 says…
3:26 For you are all the sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (ç there’s faith)
3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
So who is “in Christ”?
Who has “put on Christ”?
All who were baptized? YES…
- baptized into Christ.
- Buried with Him, Rom 6 and Col 2, which we saw earlier.
Baptism, immersion in water, is a burial in Christ.
It is when and where, by faith, through God’s grace and mercy, we “put on Christ”, and are “in Christ”.
Also compare this “in Christ”, “into Christ” and “putting on Christ” to the phrase “made us alive together with Christ” that we saw earlier in Eph 2:5 and Col 2:13.
Continuing…
Eph 4:24 says…
4:24 …put on the new self, which is in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth
Note “the new self”, compare this to the new creature of II Cor 5:17.
Compare it also to 6:4, where after being buried with Christ in baptism, we are raised, to walk in newness of life.
And in verse 6 of Romans 6, where “our old self was crucified with him” when we were baptized.
Lastly…
Phil 3:8-11…
3:8 …that I may gain Christ,
3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, (ç Here’s faith)
3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
3:11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Points to note…
- We want to “gain Christ”, to be “found in Him”. (Compare to II Cor 5:17.)
- Righteousness is not from keeping the Old Law, but is on the basis of faith
- We are to be comformed to His death (Compare that to being “buried with Christ in baptism”…is this not “conforming to His death?”)
- In order that we may attain resurrection from the dead.
Faith is the basis, but it is not the end of the story.
By faith we are buried with Him in baptism (conformed to His death).
For what purpose?...
Specifically, so that we may attain resurrection from the (spiritually) dead…
In other words, be “saved”.
Many of our “faith only” friends seek to “kill off” the verses which prove the necessity of baptism unto salvation, calling them “exceptions”…
But in doing so they are left with a large “body count” of “exceptions”.
I hope this part of the sermon was helpful.
Let’s share this study with our friends and neighbors!
Our second topic is:
“What role does the Holy Spirit play, if any, as we read our Bible”?
This discussion came up with someone I had an online study with regarding the previous topic.
They pointed me to a website that represents the most elaborate effort I have ever seen that tries to “prove” that “salvation is by faith only”, and that “baptism is not required for salvation”.
When I e-mailed this person regarding his articles his response was…
- That “while we disagree, we are not at an impasse”.
- That “The Holy Spirit is the ultimate Teacher, and if we remain open to Him with a humble and teachable spirit then He will make things clear. One of the main problems, I believe, is that many people are listening to their head instead of their spirit. They are studying the Bible with "head knowledge," yet it's our spirit where the Holy Spirit communicates with us.”
- He continued “Sometimes people will email me and debate this view or that view, and we end up fruitlessly going round and round, not reaching any agreement. Lately this has been happening more and more, on different topics, and each time the Holy Spirit has indicated that I don't need to change anything in my articles. Instead, He showed me that He has been putting these situations in my path for a reason. He pointed out that when these situations arise (i.e. not reaching agreement with someone), I'm supposed to keep in mind that I have a ministry of teachING but it's the Holy Spirit who is the teachER. In other words, I'm not going to be able to open your eyes, and you're not going to be able to open my eyes, it's the Holy Spirit who will do it as needed.“
- Continuing…”What it boils down to is that the Holy Spirit will make things clear to you or me in His way and in His timing. I know from experience that by remaining humble and teachable, He never fails to correct me.”
“At the moment I am not sensing any correction from the Holy Spirit concerning baptism and I am not being prompted by the Spirit to make any changes to those articles, so I will simply leave it up to Him to teach either one of us as needed.
Apparently you don't believe that the Holy Spirit corrects us, in which case you might be missing the correction which He is trying to bring to you!”
To summarize his position…
- the Holy Spirit will guide us, miraculously, directly and personally as we read the Bible so that we can understand it; and…
- If we need correction in our understanding, then he will correct us, miraculously, directly and personally if we remain humble and teachable.
This position is a symptom of a larger problem: Calvinism – which I will not get into today…
which includes the belief that the Holy Spirit directly and irresistibly operates on the hearts of certain sinners (the “Elect” or “Called”)…
providing them with “an experience”…
converting them…
independent of the written Word of God…
and personally and literally dwells in them.
Somewhere in there they also claim the need to cite a “sinner’s prayer”,
and say that you should get baptized as a “symbol” of being (already) saved by process just described.
No wonder such elaborate efforts are made to disprove clear teachings on the necessity to be baptized “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), to “wash away our sins” (Acts 22:16), and “to be saved” (Mark 16:16).
All of us, esp the young people who are the next generation of the Lord’s church need to understand this doctrine, and how to answer it.
But back to the specific issue this morning: Does the Holy Spirit guide us, miraculously, directly and personally as we read the Bible so that we can understand it?
How do we answer this position? With scripture...
John 14:26 – At the Last Supper, with His Apostles, Jesus said "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you".
"Who" is being promised? The Holy Spirit.
“Who is He being promised to…to teach "who"?...
The Apostles
Why?
To teach them, to help them to remember what Christ told them…
to know what to record, infallibly, as “scripture”
Here is a silly example, but it makes the point:
Can you see Luke saying…
- “Now how many kinds of soil were there in the parable of the sower?
- Did He say “rocky ground”?”
- “So much has happened…it’s hard to remember it all”
If God used fallible men to record His eternal truth, doesn’t it make sense that they be inspired / taught / reminded exactly what God wanted them to record?
To be guided by the Holy Spirit?
Not only does that make sense, it is exactly what John 14:26 is saying.
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As 2 Peter 1 puts it (verse 3,19-21) …
“So that we (the Apostles) have the prophetic word made more sure…
to which you do well to pay attention to…
as a lamp shining in a dark place…
a prophecy that was not made by human will…
but by men moved by the Holy Spirit”.
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Speaking of the parable of the sower, who is the “good ground”?
The one who hears the Word with a good and honest heart, and holds fast to it.
This is the one who bears fruit, even a hundred-fold (Luke 8:8, 15)
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My study partner wrote:
“There are numerous denominations and numerous interpretations of various doctrines because many people are relying on their fallible "mind of the flesh" to interpret Scripture.
Many people are not properly understanding things which are meant to be spiritually discerned.
He quoted 1 Corinthians 2:13-14:
"This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words."
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
So let’s look at I Corinthians 2. And we should really start in verse 10 (which you will find in your handout).
10 - For to us God revealed them (the things of verse 9) through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
11 – For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? (We can read our own minds, but not anyone else’s) Even so, the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit).
12 – Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we might know the things freely given to us by God,
13 – Which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
Who is the “us” and “we” in verses 10, 12 &13? It is the Apostles…the ones who were promised the Holy Spirit in John 14:26
Well, I am not an Apostle, and neither is he.
I am not recording scripture, and neither is he.
The Holy Spirit directly, miraculously and personally taught these men, the Apostles, exactly - word by word - what to record as "scripture", for your benefit and mine.
It was God's spiritual thoughts (not their human wisdom)…
delivered, revealed to them – the Apostles - through the Holy Spirit... (verse 10)
and put into spiritual words. (verse 13)
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In what is now I Cor 13…
when we read about “love”…
The Holy Spirit didn’t tell Paul to “take the concept of love, and run with it…
see what you come up with”.
The truth was delivered to the Apostles, not constructed by them.
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Now the Holy Spirit does teach all of us…
- he taught the Apostles directly in what to record as scripture, and
- He teaches us indirectly, operating on us through the Word - when we read the scriptures that He had the Apostles write.
However, there was never a promise that the Holy Spirit would directly and miraculously teach or correct us (non-Apostles, non-Prophets) individually and personally today, including while reading the Bible.
Again…
The Holy Spirit's role in the New Testament was with respect to the Apostles: to teach and guide them (bring to their remembrance) into all truth, the “things” that God wanted recorded as scripture (John 14:26), for your benefit and mine (II Tim 3:16-17).
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Starting in John 16:12 – Before His crucifixion, Jesus said to His Apostles…
16:12 I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
16:13 But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak of His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
The promise for guidance was made to the Apostles, to be guided into all truth, the things in the words which the Holy Spirit taught them, and what to write…
to “testify” regarding Christ (John 15:26-27)
There was never a promise to guide us in our understanding of what these inspired men wrote, where the Holy Spirit would miraculously guide us as we read.
God gave us a brain (plus reason and common sense, etc.) to read and understand what these inspired men wrote from the mind of God.
What my study partner calls "head knowledge" is actually a "good thing"…
We need to use our God-given brains in order to read and understand what these inspired men wrote…
not count on some miraculous personal guidance that was never promised to us.
Of course when we read the Bible we need to…
- read it sincerely…
- with an open heart…
- seeking to know, learn, understand, and apply.
And we should pray for all these things, and for wisdom as well…
But this is not the same thing as having the Holy Spirit inspire us to understand.
The Holy Spirit guided the Apostles in what they wrote, so that we can know and follow the truth when we read it.
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Regarding the natural / earthly / sensual man of I Cor 2…
- This is who is not spiritually inspired or spiritually minded…
- Who sets his mind on the things of the flesh…
- and does not accept the “things” of the Spirit of God (verse 14)…
- what “things” are these?...
- The revealed Word…Scripture: spiritual thoughts combined with spiritual words.
To him it is “foolishness”.
See also Rom 8:5 – they are those “who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh”.
The “spiritual man” is the one who relies on revelation: the spiritual truths in spiritual words that the Holy Spirit guided the Apostles to write in the New Testament.
The “natural man” of I Cor 2 is the one who listens to his own subjective, natural feelings over scripture…
even mistaking that for some personal, miraculous, direct guidance by the Holy Spirit.
That’s the irony of my study partner citing I Cor 2…
- He is doing what the “natural man” does…
- Listening to his subjective, natural feelings…
- over what the inspired Apostles recorded in scripture…
The same scripture we all have access to.
It is no wonder he is “not sensing the need for correction” or “to make changes”.
Some additional questions / thoughts to share if you study with someone from such a persuasion…
- not to embarrass them
- not to win an argument
- but to help them
- to get them to think
- remember what Berry Kercheville recommended: “ask them questions”...
· Ask “How exactly does the Holy Spirit communicate with you?”
· Do you audibly hear a voice?
· Get a tap on your shoulder?
· Feel something?
· This isn’t being sarcastic. It is a fair question…
· Tell them you really would really like to know how this supposedly happens, and if it is possible that it is actually their own feelings, emotions, or zeal.
· Rom 10:2 – “For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge”.
· Perhaps it is nothing more than pride from thinking they are one of “the Called”, when in fact the Gospel calls all of us.
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· If the Holy Spirit was to guide the Apostles and bring to their remembrance all truth (John 16:13), everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3)…
then what "truth" is left out?
Did the Holy Spirit not do what He promised?
Ask them what "truth" is missing from the Bible that they have a miraculous and personal pipeline to.
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Regarding his earlier comment that “the Holy Spirit will make things clear to you or me in His way and in His timing”…
- Why isn’t there some urgency?
- If we are corrected directly, miraculously and personally by the Holy Spirit…
- and there is no urgency about it…
- then we should be asking the same thing Saul was asked in Acts 22:16: “Why do you delay?”.
How did correction happen in the New Testament?…
- When Saul (Paul) needed it on the road to Damascus in Acts 22?
- When Peter needed it due to hypocrisy in Gal 2?
- When Simon needed it, from seeking spiritual gifts for the wrong reason in Acts 8?
- When Apollos needed it, knowing only the baptism of John in Acts 18?
Who did the correcting?...
- The Holy Spirit directly, miraculously and personally?
- No, human beings did.
- It was Priscilla and Aquila who “took Apollos aside and explained to him the way of the Lord more accurately”.
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From 2 Tim 2:24 which we looked at earlier, who…
- is supposed to gently correct those who are in opposition?…
- that God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth?…
- that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will?...
Imperfect you and me, using God’s perfect revelation…
that the Holy Spirit guided the Apostles to write.
Yes, God expects fallible man to read, understand, preach & teach His Word…and to gently correct others.
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· To me, these well-meaning people don't have enough faith and confidence in what the Holy Spirit has already done and provided for us: the written Word.
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· What good is a Bible if we can't understand it when we read it?
· Wasn’t the Holy Spirit clear enough the first time?
· And if not, what confidence should we have that He can make it clear now, through some personal and miraculous means?
· Another silly example, not to be flippant but to illustrate the point:
Does the Holy Spirit have to say…
o "Yeah, I know I wasn’t very clear the first time back then…my bad.”
o “Let me now tell you what I really meant.”
o “And now if you will excuse me, I have a billion other people I need to personally get with in order to clarify my fuzzy message which you can't understand as written".
· Does the Holy Spirit, who wrote the Bible, have to directly illuminate us to understand what He wrote?
· A “revelation” that needs to be revealed is no revelation at all! (J.C. Holloway)
· Again, if He couldn't make it clear then, and has to intervene, what makes them think He can make it clear now?
· He did His job just fine the first time. We need to do a better job of reading and listening.
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· Why do I need the Holy Spirit or anyone else to interpret (or re-interpret) clear passages like "repent and be baptized for the remission of sins"?
Or "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved?".
The only "interpretation" here would be the one that seeks to explain away the clear teaching in order to suit themselves.
· Consider this: If you don’t like what a verse says, or if it conflicts with what you think is truth, isn’t it likely that you won’t feel good about it?...
· that the Holy Spirit is moving you away from it?...
· toward some other interpretation you are more comfortable with?
· As an example, from the discussion with my study partner on baptism, his interpretation of Acts 22:16, where Paul is told “arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins”, is as follows (quoting):
"Brother Saul, now that your sins have been forgiven, let's go wash those sins away."
This makes no sense at all.
"Let's go wash those sins away”?…which sins?...the ones that you have already been forgiven of?
How can you wash away sins that you no longer have?
Key point: If there is a personal "divine guide" working for my study partner, as he claims, then why does it move him further away from what the passage clearly says, not closer?
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· We need to be very careful about assuming what the Lord or Holy Spirit did or did not tell us.
· All of this begs the question: Whose “personal pipeline” to the Holy Spirit is better?
· How can it be an improvement upon the Bible…
which contains “everything that pertains to life and godliness”, “that we be thoroughly equipped unto every good work”?
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· If the Holy Spirit is really talking to them and teaching them, then they had better be recording every word of this revelation for the benefit of the rest of us, because it is “scripture”.
· The only sure test is: "how does this message compare to what the scriptures teach?".
· My favorite example (and I’ve used this before) is the woman who told the preacher that "God wants me to be happy…
· and He told me it was OK for me to leave my husband for this other man."
· The preacher took his Bible, turned to Matt 19, and said "well God tells me that it isn't OK, and I have it in writing!".
The point: the written Word always trumps anything that someone supposedly felt or was told, no matter how sincere they might be.
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My friend’s world has a conflicted and contradictory Holy Spirit…
apparently telling everyone who claims they have a personal pipeline that they are OK…
Afterall, does anyone claiming to have such a pipeline go around saying they are in error and lost?...
regardless of what religion or denomination they may or may not be in?
It is people coming up with all kinds of confusing and conflicting doctrines, not the Holy Spirit.
Somebody once said “If I believed all the things attributed to the Holy Spirit today, I would live in utter confusion”.
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Suggest to such a person that the Holy Spirit would want them to read what has already been provided to them in the Bible.
I find verses like…
· Acts 17:2-3 - ...for three Sabbaths Paul reasoned with them (the Jews) from the scriptures, explaining and giving evidence...
What did he rely on to teach from?
To reason from?
To explain from?
To give evidence from?
· Acts 17:11 - These were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched (or “examined”) the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
How did these people know if what was being taught was true? By the Holy Spirit personally telling them?
No, these "noble-minded" Bereans examined and studied the scriptures daily as to whether those things were so.
· II Tim 2:15 – A verse I cited in the opening: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
How do we know if we are approved unto God?
By the Holy Spirit personally telling us?
No, by "study".
Is this possible? Many men say it isn’t. The Bible says it is.
We can be approved through study.
We can rightly divide the word of truth.
In none of the examples above do we find the Holy Spirit directly and miraculously intervening to help them understand what was written.
There is no New Testament example of someone other than an Apostle or inspired prophet, an author of scripture, being given direct, miraculous, and personal guidance.
The Apostles were guided in what they wrote, and that is the only direct, miraculous, and personal guidance given or promised to anyone in the New Testament.
My study partner wrote: “You really believe that the Holy Spirit was *only* the Teacher for the apostles? You really believe that we are meant to rely on our fallible human brains/minds/reasoning/common sense when studying Scripture?”
Eph 3:3-4 - "By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit".
How can we understand Paul's knowledge/insight into the mystery of Christ?
By reading what he wrote, the “revelation” (verse 3) given to him.
Who was it revealed to? The apostles and prophets.
Why? So that they could record it then, and so that we can read it today.
So to answer his question: Yes, I believe that (quote) "we are meant to rely on our fallible human brains/minds/reasoning/common sense when studying Scripture".
That's why God gave us a brain, mind, reasoning, and common sense: so we can read and understand Paul's knowledge in the mystery of Christ.
Was Paul wrong when he said we could read and understand? Can we or can't we?
Man is indeed fallible, but that is not the same as saying we can't read, think, and understand the Bible!
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I find us being admonished to study to know the truth…
And to let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom”. (Col 3:16)
How do we know if Mormonism is true or false?
By a “still small voice” telling us?...
by the Holy Spirit miraculously telling us, or giving us a warm ‘better felt than told” feeling?
No, because we can read in the already-provided inspired Word of God, verses like Gal 1:8-9 which warn us against any other gospel, even if from an angel.
We are to use our brains…
and make a logical conclusion as to whether Mormonism is in harmony or conflict with God’s truth.
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There are no personal pipelines that some have access to that others don’t.
God is not a respector of persons
We all have a level playing field…
with the inspired,
once for all delivered (Jude 3),
inerrant scripture…
that we all have access to.
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Many like my friend initially say all the right things about Bible study (know the context, who is speaking, to whom, the tense, etc.)…
Yet the last rule seems to be that if a verse violates their beliefs or preferences, then envoke the "Holy Spirit Guidance Clause" to justify explaining the verse away ashaving to mean something other than what it clearly says.
- To ignore the verse…trust your feelings instead.
- The Holy Spirit will "teach" us something other than what is clearly written on the page, for example, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" must mean something else.
I propose that no matter how many times someone reads verses on the necessity of baptism unto salvation that somehow their “private pipeline” will help them to explain it away, if that is what they are inclined for it to do.
The Holy Spirit does not hijack our brains when we become Christians, forcing us to believe anything, be it truth or error.
We still have a free will, and we can use our feelings and emotions to slide down a slippery slope…
further and further away from the truth recorded in Scripture.
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In my friend’s world, we need an inspired message AND…
an inspired interpreter of that inspired message.
Which raises the question, if we have an inspired interpreter or teacher directly available to us, then why do we even need a written Bible at all?
Notice Luke 10:25 where when Jesus is asked a question, He says "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?".
We can read it, and we can understand it…Jesus expects this.
It is up to us to do so with an open and honest heart…
applying those things to our lives…
so that we may be pleasing to God…
and have a home in heaven.
We do not need nor are we promised direct, miraculous, personal guidance
I John 4:6 – says “We (the Apostles) are of God: he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. “
Invitation
- Have you been buried with Christ in baptism?
- Conformed to His death?
- Made dead to sin?
- Raised up to walk in newness of life?
- Your trespasses forgiven?
If not, why do you delay?
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You can read and understand what God expects you to do…
based on your faith in what Jesus did for you…
that the Holy Spirit revealed to all of us in scripture.
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Psalms 19:7 says “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”
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I can think of many good reasons to be saved.
I can’t think of one not to be. Can you?
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The following is the handout that accompanied the sermon:
Ephesians 2 & Holy Spirit Guidance - HANDOUT
The approach we are to take…
2 Tim 2:24-26 – The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged…
With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth…
And they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Col 4:5-6 – Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity…
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to (or “answer”) each person.
I Peter 3:15 – Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense (or “give an answer”) to everyone who asks you to give an account (or “a reason”) for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
Two topics…
- Is Eph 2:8-9 a proof text that we are saved by faith only, without baptism?
- What is the role of the Holy Spirit in regards to the Bible, in particular, as we read our Bibles?
Ephesians 2 -
2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
….
2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which he loved us,
2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
2:6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
…
2:8 For by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
2:9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast
Romans 6 –
6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into his death?
6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
6:5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
6:7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
6:8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.
6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 2 –
2:12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
2:13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made us alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions
Titus 3 –
3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared
3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit
II Cor 5:17 -
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Gal 3:26-27 -
3:26 For you are all the sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Eph 4:24 -
4:24 …put on the new self, which is in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth
Phil 3:8-11 -
3:8 …that I may gain Christ,
3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
3:11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Second topic:
“What role does the Holy Spirit play, if any, as we read our Bible”?
· “The Holy Spirit is the ultimate Teacher, and if we remain open to Him with a humble and teachable spirit then He will make things clear. One of the main problems, I believe, is that many people are listening to their head instead of their spirit. They are studying the Bible with "head knowledge," yet it's our spirit where the Holy Spirit communicates with us.”
· “Sometimes people will email me and debate this view or that view, and we end up fruitlessly going round and round, not reaching any agreement. Lately this has been happening more and more, on different topics, and each time the Holy Spirit has indicated that I don't need to change anything in my articles. Instead, He showed me that He has been putting these situations in my path for a reason. He pointed out that when these situations arise (i.e. not reaching agreement with someone), I'm supposed to keep in mind that I have a ministry of teachING but it's the Holy Spirit who is the teachER. In other words, I'm not going to be able to open your eyes, and you're not going to be able to open my eyes, it's the Holy Spirit who will do it as needed. “
· “What it boils down to is that the Holy Spirit will make things clear to you or me in His way and in His timing. I know from experience that by remaining humble and teachable, He never fails to correct me.”
“At the moment I am not sensing any correction from the Holy Spirit concerning baptism and I am not being prompted by the Spirit to make any changes to those articles, so I will simply leave it up to Him to teach either one of us as needed.
Apparently you don't believe that the Holy Spirit corrects us, in which case you might be missing the correction which He is trying to bring to you!
