Understand the Bible?

Years ago a couple of ‘missionaries’ came to my door. Their main question was, “Where did you learn the meaning of the Bible?” I didn’t realize they wanted me to name my church so they could attack whatever flaws they perceived in it. But I had an answer. I told them that my teaching came from the Bible, not from people or a church. That upset them. They didn’t believe me. I realized later that in their minds no one can learn anything that way; it must be taught to them by a religious organization.

For that reason, these verses are particularly meaningful to me:

I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 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. (1 John 2:26–27)

Even though the Holy Spirit is the teacher, my church and other Christians often affirm to me what the Spirit has been telling me. This week I’ve been able to catch John MacArthur a couple of times. He is talking about how he knows what he knows about God. Basically, he says, “from the Bible” and because he is convinced it is inspired by God, it is the only reliable source.

He goes on to say what I know also, that the human mind cannot understand the things of God without the illumination from the Holy Spirit. He uses these verses, which I also believe give the answer to both issues:

These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 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. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:10–16)

Both questions involve knowing the truth. Why does a Christian know what we know? Why do those without faith in Christ not understand what we know? The answers are above. Christians know because we have the Holy Spirit and are taught by Him. This is according to a promise Jesus made before He was crucified, resurrected and left this world:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16–17)

The second question is answered too. The unsaved person does not know or understand the things of God because that person does not have the Holy Spirit imparting spiritual truth to their heart and mind. Not only is this true, but God’s truth seems totally foolish to them. It does not make sense nor seem right or useful. Even hearing that this is what is happening does not make sense. In human independence, the sinner’s heart is convinced that he knows all he needs to know to run his own life.

This is a danger for me too. Even though I know the source of all things is my triune God, I can fall into assuming I can handle things. When I fail or become weak, God reminds me that this isn’t so. I need to rely on Him all the time and for everything.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I do look forward to the day when this battle with sin and relying on myself instead of You comes to an end. Here I get a taste now and then of what that will be like and love the freedom of walking in the Spirit. You are amazing and You do amazing things, even with such a sinner as I. Today’s challenge is to cooperate with You in every detail of life!

Today’s thankful list . . .

- that Jesus gives me His mind and thoughts as I need them.

- a day of rest now that my work has created a tennis elbow (no tennis though).

- hubby’s help to clean out a long-overdue junk drawer of hangers, nails, hooks, etc.

- a short nap during a hockey game (and being able to sleep through anything).

- healthy snacks like nuts and grapes.

- clean clothes and good food.

What’s worse than following a false teacher . . . ?

I was telling a seminary professor about a class I was taking and he asked what textbook the professor was teaching from. I said none; this professor was teaching what God had taught him, not what God had taught someone else.

This is what Jesus did. The religious people of His day always cited this rabbi or that, but Jesus was a breath of fresh air. He didn’t need to quote someone else to back up what He said. Those who heard Him often said there was no teacher like Him.

As I listen to teachers, good and not so good, I am noticing that the Holy Spirit is my greatest and most accurate teacher, but He does use a textbook. Like all others, I need Him to interpret Scripture, but I also need Scripture to make certain that I’m not merely getting my instructions from voices in my head.

I also need the Holy Spirit to help me with false teaching. John says, “I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 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.” (1 John 2:26–27)

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God as His text and life as His classroom. He instills truth and gives purpose to His students. I am in the same school as the psalmist who said, “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” (Psalm 71:17–18)

Some of us come into this school without any skills at all. Others have abilities, but even the most gifted need the Holy Spirit to round out their talent and make of them what He wants them to be . . .

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (Acts 18:24–26)

Apollos needed help because everyone comes into the kingdom from darkness. We may be with or without skills, but all of us need the Spirit to teach us and give us light. God tells us to learn from Him, and even after we do, to beware of falling back into that old way of thinking. I can avoid it by keeping my heart soft toward God and by continually relying on the Teacher that He has given me . . .

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ! — assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17–24)

In other words, life is not a mere classroom to walk in and out of without the lessons making a difference. If I do not put into practice the truths God is teaching me, then my old self will continue to rule. For that new life that Jesus has given me to be evident and effective, I have to obey what I learn.

Following false teachers is a sad and terrible danger, but it is just as sad and terrible to not pay any attention to the Holy Spirit who is teaching me truth each day.