Illumining Scripture (Protestant/Evangelical Caucus and Devotional)

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (v. 14). - 1 Corinthians 2:10b–16

Scholars of the Reformation regularly point out that in asserting the final authority of Scripture, the Reformers did not believe that unaided human reason was sufficient in order for the Bible to function as the last court of appeal in the church. The Reformers believed there was a place for reason, to be sure, but even the soundest rules of interpretation would be insufficient for appropriating the teaching of Scripture without the work of the Bible’s divine author. In other words, the Reformers held to a view of sola Scriptura that embraced the work of the Holy Spirit in illumining His Word in the hearts and minds of His people. Word and Spirit must go together in order for people to know, believe, and be transformed by divine revelation.

In noting that the illumining work of the Holy Spirit is necessary when we read Scripture, we are not saying that unbelievers are wholly unable to gain an understanding of the meaning of the biblical text. Non-Christians often are able to comprehend at least part of what a particular passage of Scripture means. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, however, a non-Christian cannot truly understand the significance of a particular text for salvation or come to saving faith. There is an understanding of Scripture that unbelievers can gain, but it is limited in its scope, and its efficacy will be only to harden the heart of the reader unless the Spirit does His work of changing the reader’s heart and mind. John Calvin comments on today’s passage: “It is not owing simply to the obstinacy of the human will, but to the impotency, also, of the understanding, that man does not attain to the things of the Spirit. Had he said that men are not willing to be wise, that indeed would have been true, but he states farther that they are not able. Hence we infer, that faith is not in one’s own power, but is divinely conferred.”

We require divine assistance to understand the full import of Scripture and to apply it rightly to our lives. The Holy Spirit must do His work of illumination, for as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:10b–16, only spiritual men and women can discern the things of God. And while the Holy Spirit certainly does this on an individual level, we must remember that the Spirit is given to all of God’s people (12:13). We need one another to enjoy the full benefit of the Spirit’s work of illumination, for the Spirit is often pleased to speak, as it were, through others, giving them insights to help us all know His Word.

In all of our study of Scripture, we must never forget our need of the Holy Spirit’s assistance. As we read God’s Word, let us pray that the Spirit would illumine it so that we would understand and apply it rightly. And let us pray for this illumination when we read Scripture together so that we will be led in paths of righteousness through the Scriptures.

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. , 73 Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

Isaiah 58:11 And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

John 16:12 “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. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love6 toward all the saints, 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 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand yin the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

“Without the work of the Holy Spirit, however, a non-Christian cannot truly understand the significance of a particular text for salvation or come to saving faith.”

Let me break that down a little further...

Without the work of the Holy Spirit, however, a non-Christian cannot .... come to saving faith.

Either this is not true or the Holy Spirit was within me BEFORE I was saved.

I believe BOTH to be true. I came to be saved through reading the bible.

Galatians 1:15 English Standard Version (ESV)

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,

Psalm 71:6 English Standard Version (ESV)

6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.

Isaiah 49:15 English Standard Version (ESV)

15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.

Isaiah 44:24 English Standard Version (ESV)

24 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
who formed you from the womb:
“I am the Lord, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself,

"I believe BOTH to be true. I came to be saved through reading the bible."

I am the same way. I had read bits and pieces of scripture for my entire life but it had never made much of an impact on me. Yet I never gave up. There came a time, however, when a change occurred. I believe this was regeneration. I began reading scripture with new eyes and it all started making sense in a fashion it never had before. I instinctively knew that what I was reading was truth and I began to see meaning within meaning. I suddenly felt the presence of the Lord guiding me. The more I read the more I grew. It drove me to join a Church a receive a true baptism. I had been baptized as an infant but I knew I had never been saved before and that now I needed a true baptism. I've been growing in it ever since.

I remember trying to read Scripture as a young person and it never made sense.

When I got saved, one of the first things I knew I needed to do (not that anyone person told me to) was to go out and buy a Bible.

I didn’t even have a clue where to go to do that.

I started reading it and could not get enough of it. So much truth that I could see that I completely missed before.

And still, to this day, as I read passages that I am well familiar with, the Holy Spirit STILL illuminates it and reveals new truth to me through it.

And when we die and get to spend eternity with God in heaven, it still will not be enough to exhaust knowledge of Him.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.