The Holy Spirit

"But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all. . . And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him" 1 John 2:20,27

Devotion #3 of 14

THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE

Here, we enter into an extremely controversial and sensitive area. Much teaching on this subject that has taken place in "conservative" churches has been more reactionary than foundational. More has been said about how the Spirit is NOT involved in the understanding of Scripture, than what God has said on the subject. There has been more reasoning that believing, more argumentation than declaration. All of this tends to cause people to avoid the consideration of this aspect of spiritual life. Suffice it to say, such things "ought not to be!" God has spoken on this subject! It is to our eternal advantage to believer what He has said. It is to our eternal disadvantage to fail to do so--regardless of what men--even "scholarly" men--have to say on this theme. Scripture directed by the Holy Spirit In the writing of Scripture, "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet 1:21). This is what is meant by the words, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Tim 3:16). The Gospel, which is the heart and core of all Scripture, was preached "with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven" (1 Pet 1:12). The "things" of God that were hidden from men in ages past have now been revealed "by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (1 Cor 2:10). The "mystery" of divine purpose "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men . . . is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Eph 3:5). The things revealed in the Word of God could never have been discovered by searching, analysis, or logical expertise. If God did not reveal these things through the Holy Spirit, the human race would have remained in abysmal ignorance concerning God's "eternal purpose."