There is just too much study here when looking at the word and the Spirit being one.
All I am trying to say is that we should not separate the Spirit of God from the scriptures, that I believe is the Word of God. No the paper and the plastic cover is not the word of God or the spirit of God. But the writings are as they are of God as I point out in this study.
I realize too that there were many people saved before the bible was written and that is why Jesus taught the Apostles (those He was to send out ) the words the Father gave Him.
Later the Holy Spirit was sent to remind (those He sent )of the words He taught (see Matt 28:16-20, John12:44-50, 14:23-26.
Many people get saved from reading the bible how is that possible if it’s not God’s word and the working of His Spirit in the hearing of the word?
We are also warned in scripture not to add or take away from the scripture. Deut 4:2, 12:32 , Psalms 119:160, Prov 30:6, 1Cor 4:6.
WARNING In Rev 22:18-19 we read “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
My opening point is this, don’t mess around with what God has written.
The word of God (the gospel specifically ) is how we come to faith written or spoken. God must be hear the word and we must respond by believing what we have heard. Rom 10:17
I realize too that we are not infallible and scripture gets misused and very bad interpretations of the meaning of scripture are used to gain money and claim false healing. I Further realize that there are some translations like the “message” that are really only good for propping up a wonky table or using as kindling.
Lets begin.
Some argue that the “the letter kills but the Spirit gives life“ (2Cor 3:5-7) therefore that those believers in Jesus Christ, who are being born again, having been baptized into Christ and having the Spirit of Christ in them need only the spirit of God to guide their Christian life. The scriptures referred to as the letter kills. The scriptures it seems are in such a low place that we are to read the “word of God” as a man make letter that killeth.
Furthermore that now in someway “it has been written on our hearts” so we can go through life as a perfect, spiritual people living by the revelation of the Spirit.
Apparently we no longer need the lamp to our feet or the our a light to our path.
Note aside: I do not support the idea that Christians must keep of the Law of Moses. This includes the Sabbath. James 2:10,Gal 2:16
So is this true?
If we are to just follow the leading of the Spirit why do we need scripture? Why did Paul urge Timothy to study the scriptures to be approved by God and rightly divide the word? Surely Paul should have said, “Timothy it’s written on your heart forget the study”.
In fact why did Jesus need to quote scripture surly the Spirit was enough.
We read in Deut 8:3 “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.
in Matt 4:4 Jesus quotes Deut 8:3 to combat Satan’s word
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Question: Where does what is written come from?
Think also of creation and that God breathed life into Adam . Think also of John 20:22 “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
2Tim 3:15-17 says “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Note verse 16 All scripture is what? is given by inspiration of God from the Greek Theopneustos meaning God breathed . Scripture comes forth from God’s mouth. It is God’s Spirit dictation. What is the scripture for? “it’s profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”
Don’t let anyone say doctrine is not important. Scripture “the word of God” is for our benefit. By the Spirit breathed word, men are saved. Faith comes by the hearing of the word.
Jesus (the Word) said to Lazarus “come forth”.
In Acts1:16-17 we read “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; “for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”
The holy Spirit spoke by the mouth of David and here Peter is saying this is scripture being fulfilled. The Spirit of God will not say anything outside of scripture. As Scripture is what God has already spoken.
In 2Pet 1:15-21 we read of the testimony of Peter how God’s prophetic word was confirmed in the coming of Jesus. Speaking of the day the Lord was transfigured on the mountain, Peter says I want to make sure you know these details. Hence they where put in the scripture. They heard God voice. Do we hear that voice today?
Peter goes on to say “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Verse 20-21
Prophecy of Scripture is not to be interpreted as man sees fit. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved or directed by the holy Spirit. Therefore we must do the same.
We must Study the word of God and by the Spirit of God interpret what the Spirit of God has already breathed.
Paul writes in 1Cor 4:6 “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.”
All the things Paul has just spoken of in Chapter 1-3 of 1Cor he want’s these Christians in Corinth not to go beyond what is written.
There are of cause things in scripture that have to be understood contextually and Hermeneutically. There are specifics for Israel and the Church and both and so on.
But we have to be sure that we don’t try and separate the spiritual from the physical. What is written (physical) is God breathed Spiritual. Period.
Deut 6:4 says “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! The Lord is one, or more accurately oneness.
we must therefore determine that God is The Father, The Word, the Holy Spirit are one. We can not be separated them, they are one and work together as one. In creation, New birth, resurrection and so on. In the beginning was the word etc. John 1:1
Jesus did on earth what He saw the Father doing. Jesus spoke the words the Father gave Him. How? By the spirit. John12:44-50, 14:23-26
The Holy Spirit who is the helper is sent to remind them of what Jesus said.
Likewise so we read in John17:17-19 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.“As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.“And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
The word is truth and we are to be sanctified by the word ( see also Eph 5:25)
So are we sanctified by the word of God or the Spirit? Which is it? 2Thess 2:13
A proof of our Love
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. John14:23-26
The spirit & The word of God?
Eph 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
The weapon we use is God’s word because it is from God’s mouth, not ours.
Heb 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Our worship
We just read in John 17:17-19 that the word (logos) of God is true and we are to be sanctified by the word and by the spirit In addition we must worship thus John 4:23-24 We worship in Spirit and truth. See also Ps 29:2
Note aside: The scriptures never exhorts us to worship or pray to the Holy Spirit. We always pray to the Father in the name of the son, Jesus, by the working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit points to Christ not Himself. Jesus Points to the Father not Himself. The Father is made known through the son and the son is made know through the Father.
Heb1:1-2 GOD, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
Jesus is “The word of God”. Rev 19:14-16 The scripture point to Him and His finished work. Gods salvation is by grace through faith in His son Jesus alone.
Of course the Holy Spirit gives life but Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The spirit will only Give you the life that’s in Jesus.
Jesus is the word of life the bread of life and water and so on.
But Jesus said in “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him–the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.“For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.“And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”John 12:48-50
Everlasting life is the from the Father because He is everlasting life.
Jesus Himself said In John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
Here is the perfect example of the letter killeth (1Cor 4:6) Are you seeking life or the book. Jesus is of course the life. But how we understand Him and His teaching from the scripture where it is written “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Are the scriptures not from the mouth of God? Yes and The Holy Spirit will sanctify us in His word.
So to conclude
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31
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