He does not blame them for having been babes, but they must assume full responsibility for not having grown up out of infancy. Had they desired the sincere milk of the word, as babes, they would have grown (I Peter 2:2). They refused to be tutored by the Divine Teacher, the Spirit who searches all things, even the deep things of God. These deep things “ are freely given to us of God . . . not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spirit ual things with spiritual" (I Cor. 2:12, 13). Spiritual things are explained in spiritual language, the lan guage “ which the Holy Ghost teacheth,” but they can be explained only to spiritual men. Some Christians have not yet learned the difference between the teach ing of man and the teaching of the Spirit. Spiritual things can be received nad communicated only by spiritual men and spiritual methods. A keen intel lect alone is the wrong key with which to unlock the spiritual depths of Spirit-inspired truth. Man needs the Holy Spirit for this, and it was for this very purpose He was sent. Man is in need of spiritual illumination, and the Holy Spirit is the only One Who can fill that need. When we allow Him to open our hearts and our un derstanding, as He did for the disciples enroute to Emmaus (Luke 24:45), and to Lydia at Philippi (Acts 16:14), the veil will be taken away (II Cor. 3:16). The Holy Spirit not only gave to us an infallible Book, but also He has come into our hearts so that we can understand it. The Psalmist realized his own inability to understand Divine truth, so he prayed, “ Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law” (Psalm 119:18). I believe this verse contains the key to a right understanding of God's Word. One must pray first and seek the help of the holy Teacher. No Christian will outgrow this need. Remember, it was for Christians that Paul prayed, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:17, 18). So with us too. We need to pray that the dimness will be taken from our eyes so that we will be free from all blind spots. The Holy Spirit is able to do this. Bishop Moule said, “ The blessed Spirit is not only the true Author of the written Word, but also its supreme and true Expositor.” It may be well here to sound a word of warning. If I am not mistaken, the idea is wide-spread among Christians that all one needs to do is open his Bible, read a verse or two, and the Holy Spirit will expound the meaning of the portion read. I do not believe the Holy One acts in any such way. His ministry of illumination and interpretation comes to those who seek it and who wait upon Him. The Christian who ignores the Spirit cannot benefit from the Spirit’s teaching ministry. 20
The Galatian believers found this out to their regret. Their ignoring of the Spirit resulted in their ignor ance of the truth of grace. Paul wrote, “ Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh" ( Gal. 3:3)? A man who is saved by the Spirit, sanctified by the Spirit, strengthened by the Spirit and sealed with the Spirit, likewise must look to the Spirit to be taught spiritual truth. The Spirit who inspired and authored the Word must in terpret the Word. The Word without the Spirit be comes a dead letter to the reader. And now, in conclusion, look with me at two verses in the First Epistle of John, “ But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things" (I John 2:20). “ But the anointing which ye have re ceived of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teach eth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (I John 2:27). The word unction (Gr. chrisma) should read anointing. The Divine act of anointing is the impartation of the Holy Spirit. The effect of His in coming is the disclosure of truth in contrast to the false teaching of anti-christian teachers. They have not the Holy Spirit, therefore, they have not the truth. We have Him, therefore we can “ know all things” needful if we will but seek the enlightenment He alone can give. This unction for knowing is not the property and privilege of some ecclesiastical hier archy, nor of an expert in languages, nor of a trained theologian. The fact that the Holy Spirit indwells each Christian means that the Divine enlightenment is for each Christian individually and for the Church collectively. The Holy Spirit is the final source of authority, and He will not withhold the truth from any child of God who comes to Him humbly and depen dency seeking the truth. The false anti-christian teachers had come with their pernicious doctrine. But with the Divine anoint ing the Christian should be able to detect false teach ing. When the apostle says, “ Ye need not that any man teach you” (vs. 27), he is not suggesting that they were without the need for teaching, but rather that the Holy Spirit dwelling in them was able and willing to enlighten them. They certainly did not need those false teachers to teach them. The true teacher is the gift of the ascended Lord (Eph. 4:11, 12), and we all should thank God for every Spirit-filled teacher sent from God. But the Apostle John is suggesting here that every Christian should resort daily to a time of Bible study with the Holy Spirit as his Teach er. Human instructors were never intended to take the place of the Holy Spirit. Child of God, it may seem difficult for you to remain steadfast in the face of error, especially when you are alone and there is no man to whom you can turn, but be sure that you will find your way as you look to the Spirit. He searches all things. By reading your Bible care fully and prayerfully each day, you will absorb the truth and thereby be able to detect the error. THE KING’S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker