{"id":1927,"date":"2023-11-29T14:30:54","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T14:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/?p=1927"},"modified":"2024-01-16T18:32:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T18:32:48","slug":"the-holy-spirit-a-christians-best-teacher-of-biblical-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/?p=1927","title":{"rendered":"The Holy Spirit: A Christian\u2019s Best Teacher of Biblical Truth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dr. Charles Stanley posted (March 10, 2018) a devotional entitled \u201cThe Holy Spirit: Our Teacher.\u201d  The link is: Daily Devotions In Touch Ministries March 10, 2018 \u2013 The Holy Spirit: Our Teacher \u2013 Daily Inspirational devotionals (247devotionals.com)<\/a>.  His post raises the question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do believers first go to human Bible teachers rather than go to the Holy Spirit?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In responding, Dr. Stanley made the following helpful points that establish a believer should first consult with the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, the Holy Spirit is the One who authored Scripture.  2 Peter 1:20\u201321 (NET) has always been one of my favorites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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20<\/sup> Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet\u2019s own imagination,21<\/sup> for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This passage describes the exciting direct connection<\/u><\/strong> between what we read in the Bible and God.  One of the most memorable descriptions of divine inspiration is in John Piper\u2019s book A Peculiar Glory, (John Piper, A Peculiar Glory, (2016), Crossway, Wheaton, IL 60187) where on page 69, John Piper describes verbal inspiration of Scripture [italics in the original]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When we confess our belief that \u201cthe infallible Word of God [is] verbally inspired by God<\/em>,\u201d the word \u201cverbally\u201d means that we believe God guided the biblical authors in their selection of the very words <\/em>that they wrote to communicate his divine meaning.  This is not identical with dictation, since the biblical authors are themselves selecting the words, under God\u2019s guidance.  Though there are rare times when God dictates the very words a prophet is to speak, typically the biblical authors write with their own styles and personalities, which are guided by God.   <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Keeping divine inspiration in mind, there is no way that a thinking person can characterize the Bible as a \u201cdead\u201d book.  It is alive and always ready to dispense truth.  Hebrews 4:12 (NET) makes this point:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12<\/sup> For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Second, as a member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is God and He knows the mind of God per 1 Corinthians 2:10 (NET):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10<\/sup> God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Who better to consult to learn biblical truth than the One who knows the mind of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, one description of the Holy Spirit is \u201cthe Spirit of truth.\u201d  For example, John 15:26 (NET) records what Jesus said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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26<\/sup> When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father\u2014the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father\u2014he will testify about me,<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Another example of Jesus speaking is in John 16:13 (NET), which reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13<\/sup> But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cSpirit of truth\u201d knows you better than you know yourself.  Again, who better to consult to learn biblical truth than the One who knows you on the outside and the inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Stanley ends this devotional with the paragraph:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We have a teacher of divine quality. He will help us to learn and grow, guide us through difficult passages, and shed light on why the Lord allows certain challenges in our life. When it comes to aiding God\u2019s people to know His Word, no one is more qualified than His Spirit.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not saying that you have no need to consult human teachers, but why not try going to the Holy Spirit first? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are a believer, then I hope what I wrote made some sense.  If you are not a believer, then what I wrote most likely made no sense at all.  After all, an unbeliever does not have the indwelling Holy Spirit.  But, your status vis-\u00e0-vis God can change in an instant.  Please keep reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If You Are an Unbeliever<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you need to get ready!!  Please (1) read through \u201cGod\u2019s Plan of Salvation\u201d so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the \u201cSinner\u2019s Prayer\u201d meaning every word.  If you do, you will be reconciled to God \u2013 saved – through Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s Plan of Salvation<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe.  As a part of His creative actions, He made humans (male and female) in His image to know Him.  For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve.  But Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God, whereby Adam\u2019s sin was passed down to all of humanity, creating a separation between God and humanity.  We cannot do anything to bridge that separation so that without God\u2019s intervention, hell is our eternal destination.   Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy, God provided us with the only<\/u><\/strong> means of salvation through Abraham\u2019s lineage by sending the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ, God\u2019s only unique Son.  While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, thereby fulfilling the Law, and died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all people.  Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Jesus\u2019 sacrifice on the cross, thereby exhausting God\u2019s wrath against humanity.  God now calls on every unbeliever to repent of their sins and completely trust in Christ alone that Jesus died for their sins and rose to life from the dead.  Every unbeliever who repents and trusts in Jesus Christ will be forgiven of all their sins (past, present, and future) and born again as a new creation in Christ, possessing guaranteed eternal life with God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7-25;  Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Matthew 1:18, 20, 24-25; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2:17; 9:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 26:20; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cSinner\u2019s Prayer\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life.  I know I\u2019m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell.  But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven.  I now repent of my sins and completely trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation.  Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior.  Thank You so much for saving me.  I am now Yours forever!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or “fair use” is available and\/or to secure direct permission for specific works.  The quotations from commentaries are considered to be “fair use.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNASB95\u201d are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE\u00ae, Copyright \u00a9 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked “NCV” is taken from the New Century Version.  Copyright \u00a9 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Scriptures marked “NET” are quoted are from the NET Bible\u00ae  http:\/\/netbible.com copyright \u00a91996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.  All rights reserved”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked “GW” is taken from the God’s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations.  Quotations are used by permission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible\u00ae, Used by Permission HCSB \u00a91999,2000,2002,2003,2009 Holman Bible Publishers.  Holman Christian Standard Bible\u00ae, Holman CSB\u00ae, and HCSB\u00ae are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr. Charles Stanley posted (March 10, 2018) a devotional entitled \u201cThe Holy Spirit: Our Teacher.\u201d  The link is: Daily Devotions In Touch Ministries March 10, 2018 \u2013 The Holy Spirit: Our Teacher \u2013 Daily Inspirational devotionals (247devotionals.com).  His post raises the question: Why do believers first go to human Bible teachers rather than go to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[321],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-study"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1927"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1930,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1927\/revisions\/1930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}