Holy Spirit – Our Spirit – This page explores the relationship between the Holy Spirit and a Christian’s spirit. Please view the video below or continue with the study below the video.
God Dwells in the True Christian
The Christian is not necessarily filled with the Spirit
God is Working in True Christians
The Holy Spirit is our Teacher
True Christians are Led by the Spirit of God
True Christians Have Experiential Fellowship with God
True Christians Understand Spiritual Truth through the Holy Spirit
God Dwells in the True Christian
The Scriptures are abundant and clear: God dwells within each true believer.
“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Rom 8:9-10
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” Titus 3:5
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer 1 who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise … that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints …” Eph 1:13, 17-18
“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col 1:27
“That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” 2 Tim 1:14
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” 1 Cor2:12
“At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you…lf anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My father will love him, and We will make Our home with him.” John 14:20, 23
“Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee” 2 Cor 5:5
“…And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us••••.you are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 3:24, 4:4
“These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit…” Jude 19-20
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you” 1 Cor 3:16
“But he who is joined to the Lord is one Spirit with Him…Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1 Cor 6:17-19
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” Luke 11:13
The Christian is not necessarily filled with the Spirit
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
(Eph 5:18)
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
(Act 2:13-18)
God is Working in True Christians
The following verses attest to the fact that it is God who is at work in us. It is not sufficient that God dwells in us, but God must also be at work in us to lead us into all righteousness (John 10:4-5, Ps 23):
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given us. Rom 5:5
“…comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work.” 2 Thess 2:17
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Cor 2:14
“For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.” 2 Cor 13:4
“The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body is also full of darkness.” Luke 11:34
“For by one covering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” Heb 10:14
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly…” Titus 2:11-12
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Eph2:10
“…as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Pet 1:3-4
“To this end I also labor according to His working which works in me mightily.” Col 1:29
“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” 1 Thess 2:13
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Rom 8:11
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26 (see also 15:26, 16:13)
“Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” Ps 37:5-6
“…how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Heb 9:14
“For both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren …” Heb 2:11
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Heb 13:20-21
“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes…” Ez 36:27
“Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Eph 1:3
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father.'” Gal 4:6
“…for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” Gal 4:19
“…our outward man is perishing, but the inward man is being renewed day by day.” 2 Cor 4:16
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, by you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” Rom 8:15-16
“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died, and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Cor 5:14-15
“O my soul, you have said to the Lord, You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” Ps 16:2
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” John 12:24
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38
“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor 2:16
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess 5:23
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that he might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” Eph5:25-27
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Cor 12:13
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Cor 2:14
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Phil 2:13
“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. …being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Phil 1:6, 11
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be cast down.” Ps 37:23-24 “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices …” 1Pet 2:5
The Holy Spirit is our Teacher
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26 (see also 15:26, 16:13)
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
(Joh 15:26)
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
(Joh 16:13)
“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor 2:16
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, by you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” Rom 8:15-16
“…our outward man is perishing, but the inward man is being renewed day by day.” 2 Cor 4:16
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father.'” Gal 4:6
“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes…” Ez 36:27
True Christians are Led by the Spirit of God
In Holy Result #8, it was seen that the true Christian has an experiential fellowship with God as a result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Ro 8:9, Gal 4:6, 1 Cor 2:12, Eph 1:13, 2 Tim 1:14). The true Christian will experience a change in his life that will prove to him that the Holy Spirit is truly present within him (Rom 8:15-16). As the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit, we experience fellowship with Him. We have become one spirit with the Lord (1 Cor 6:17). The Holy Spirit also leads us in the things we do. Jesus promised the disciples that He would send the paraclete, or Helper, so that they would be taught and have brought to remembrance all things that Jesus taught them (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:13). The Holy Spirit is therefore our Helper:
“Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
It is plain from this Scripture that the Holy Spirit assists us in our prayers because we do not always know what to pray for. We are limited in our knowledge and abilities. Therefore, there are times that we do not realize what needs to be done and what should be prayed for. However, the Holy Spirit intercedes in order that the sovereign purpose of God may be fulfilled.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” 2 Tim 1:7
Because we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us as true believers, we have been given the ability to be overcomers over our flesh nature (Ro 6:5-8). We have a Spirit of power through the gifts He has given us for the service of the ministry (see 1 Cor 12, Eph 4:11-16). Therefore, we are able to do things to serve the Lord that we would not otherwise be able to do. We also have the Spirit of love. We, in our fleshly state without the Spirit of God, cannot truly love others (1 John 4:7-10). Although unsaved people can do things that appear to be loving, the motives are from a selfish nature because that is the nature of the unredeemed (Ro 3:10-18). Finally, the Spirit has given us a sound mind. Our minds as Christians have been illuminated in order to have the ability to understand spiritual truth (1 Cor 2:9-16). True Christians will, as disciples of Christ, follow and learn from Jesus through His word, the Bible. So far, we have seen that the Holy Spirit has given us abilities to live the Christian life. But, the point that is important to be stressed in this chapter is that the Holy Spirit also leads us in the things we do. The philosophy of free will immediately become a stumbling block to some. However, it is important to understand the careful balance between man’s options in the things he does and the leading of the Holy Spirit in the lives of true Christians. God’s purpose for all Christians is that they do good works. We are His workmanship (Eph 2:10) and in the final judgment all are to be judged at the judgment seat of Christ by their works done in the flesh. It is true that we are saved by grace alone (Eph 2:8-9), but God is leading us to do the good works that His holiness demands (Habakkuk 1:13):
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” Eph 3:20
God is working in us. He has not given us the Holy Spirit to lie dormant within us. This is what Christendom today would have you believe of so called carnal or ‘backslidden’ Christians. However, the Bible, on several occasions, teaches us that God is at work in us to lead us into all righteousness. To discover the delicate balance between a believer’s free will and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we must return to Romans 8 (see Appendix A). The following argument summarizes the teaching of Romans 8:
- Every true Christian has the Holy Spirit indwelling him (Rom 8:9)
- If the Holy Spirit indwells a person, then he will have his mind in the Spirit rather than the flesh (Rom 8:9)
- Those who have their minds in the Spirit will live in the Spirit (Ro 8:5)
- The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in those who walk according to the Spirit (Ro 8:4)
- There is no condemnation for those who walk according to the Spirit (Ro 8:1, l3)
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out ‘Abba Father’. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” Romans 8:14-16
The Scripture is clear that only those who are led by the Spirit of God are the true sons of God. The Greek word for led carries the meaning of one who is willingly led. This is important in our study. The true Christian is willing to allow the Holy Spirit to lead Him through life. In other words, the spirit of a man will submit to the Spirit of God. He who is in us is greater than He who is in the world (1 John 4:4). This is a very significant fact. Just as God chose us out of the world contrary to our depraved nature (Ro 3:9-23), he has given us the Spirit that is all powerful and will work with our human spirit. He is the potter and we are the clay (Ro 9:21). The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit (Ro 8:16) that we are the children of God. The Holy Spirit is stronger than our spirit and therefore we will follow. We are not forced to follow, but as the Scripture reveals to us in Ro 8:14, we will gladly follow.
The fact that God works in His people is contrary to the notion that a true Christian can live a life of rebellion from God and His teachings. Those that teach this are essentially saying that the spirit of a man is greater than the Spirit of God and will be able to rebel against the indwelling Spirit. This is scripturally inaccurate. All true Christians will be led by the Spirit (v. 14) in order to put to death the deeds of the body (v.13). The Spirit of God will lead us from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18). Christians still must diligently strive to be more yielded to the Spirit. Of course, this is God’s work and God will determined the type and amount of fruit which the Christian will yield. We must still battle against the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:17). The lust of the flesh will try to get us to do the things we should not do. But, if we are true Christians, we are led by the Spirit (Ro 8:14, Gal 5:18). We will no longer practice the lusts of the flesh, for the Scripture is plain that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal 5:19-21). But the divine paradox is that although we are led by the Holy Spirit, we must more find ways to yield and learn so that we will walk in the Spirit and grow all the more (see Gal 5:25) and through God’s enabling power, we will (Phil 2:13).
The following Psalms teach us that those who are of the true flock of God will be led into paths of righteousness:
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me besides still waters. He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23
“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance…” Psalm 32:7
“He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works …Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him; On those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” Psalm 33:15,18-19
“The angel of the lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7
True Christians Have Experiential Fellowship with God
“By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit.” 1 John 4:13
“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself.” 1 John 5:10
It is hard to imagine a more clear Scripture on the witness that each true believer has within himself. Every true believer will experience the presence of God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit living within (see Romans 8:9, 2 Tim 1:14). This is a Holy Result that can only be observed by the true Christian. No one can see the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Others can only observe the results of that working. Because true believers have the Holy Spirit indwelling them, they abide in God (union) and God abides in them (communion). The transaction of union-communion was very notable in the writings of John. John wrote about this topic in his gospel when he quoted Jesus as saying, “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me and I in you” (John 14:20). When the true believer is in Christ, he abides in him and has union into the body of Christ (see 1 Cor 12:13, John 15:4). When Christ said that He will be in us, this is referring to communion. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all come to dwell in us when we are put in union with God. The working out of God in us’ (Gal 2:20, Ro 8:9) is referring to the intimate fellowship we have with God in our communion with Him. While union refers to the process by which God has saved us (Eph 2:8-9), communion is the process by which God works out through us (Eph 2:10). We are God’s workmanship for good works.
If we are truly saved and have union with God, we are promised that we also have communion with God. We, as Christians, cannot say we are saved and claim union with God and at the same time live a lifestyle of sin and worldliness. For if we do these things, we truly do not have the communion with God which is evidence of God living in us. Prior to our glorification in our spiritual bodies (see 1 Cor 15), we are still in a situation where the sinful nature is still present. However, we have received the down payment of our future glorification:
“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:22 (see also 5:5)
The Holy Spirit was given to us in our hearts as a guarantee of our future glorification with Christ. We have been securely sealed with the Holy Spirit. He is in our hearts and the Holy Spirit works with our human spirit:
“But you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ‘Abba Father’. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” Romans8:15-16
This Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit. In other words, the Holy Spirit is present with our spirit and is known to our spirit. Our human spirit is our consciousness. We consciously understand that there is a work going on in our lives. This is very comforting to the true Christian. But, if one who professes to know Christ has never experienced the Holy Spirit at work in their own lives, then they need to examine themselves to see whether they truly are in the faith. For we are given the guarantee of the Spirit so that we have a foretaste, a down payment, that we are abiding in God and He in us. When we are saved, we become new creations in Christ. The old is gone and there is a new nature within us (see 2 Cor 5:17).
The natural question arises as to exactly what is this witness of God that dwells in us. What is the difference when one is converted that they can discern that God dwells in them? This is a question that each believer can only answer for himself since no man knows another’s thoughts. I will venture to describe the experience in my own conversion. When I was converted (i.e., saved), I immediately realized that I had been sinful. Prior to my conversion, it was not clear to me exactly what was right and wrong. When I was converted, the Holy Spirit immediately showed me that Jesus Christ was the righteous standard and all men’s works are as filthy rags (Is 64:6). The Holy Spirit enabled me and gave me the desire and ability to study God’s word. The Holy Spirit convicts my spirit when I do something I know is wrong. He has helped me make decisions in my life that although in the near term I did not understand were in the long term of the most benefit to my sanctification. There has been many instances that I would study topics in the Bible that were reinforced from other sources such as pastors or events. There is a peace in my life that exceeds understanding (see Ro 5:1, Ps 29:11, 4:8, Ps 37). Finally, there is the assurance of knowing who I am in Christ and that He is my Savior. There is a comfort in all trials of life and there is an ability to be a channel of comfort to others (2 Cor 1:3-11).
The Holy Spirit will give us the comfort to be able to persevere through the difficult times in life:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the suffering of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will be partakers of the consolation.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
A proof of the Holy Spirit within us is the comfort we receive in times of affliction. The Bible is clear that it is appointed for all true Christians to undergo suffering in this life (1 Pet 2:21, Mat 16:24, 1 Thess 3:1-4). However, we also receive the encouragement of God within us that our suffering was predicted by the Lord. We know that in the body we earnestly wait and groan to be clothed with immortality (Ro 8:18-19, Phil 3:20-21, 1 Cor 15, 2 Cor 5:1-4). If a professing Christian finds no comfort when in affliction, but only despair, this may be an indication that this person does not have the Holy Spirit indwelling him. This, of course, would mean that he is not saved. The Bible says that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to endure, but will provide escape (1 Cor 10:13). We, as true Christians are not above our Lord, we must expect suffering. But since we have this fellowship with Christ (1 Cor 1:9) and Christ dwells within us (Gal 2:20), we have the inner witness of comfort to help us though all trials that are sure to come.
In summary, it is clear from Scripture that every true believer will have a witness of the Holy Spirit within himself. It is recognized that caution must be exercised when examining oneself in this area. For those who were converted later in life, it is a simple matter to see the change effected at conversion (2 Cor 5:17). One who has lived in sin following the ways of the world can readily see the newness of life he has when saved. This newness of life should not be confused with an emotional experience, although an emotional experience often accompanies true con version. The emotional experience may occur for reasons other than the true indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Rather, one can notice the fellowship of God within himself by his ability to do righteosuness. A true witness of the Holy Spirit will result in an ability to understand spiritual things, a conviction of the Holy Spirit when we do things that are wrong, a repulsive ness for the materialism of the world, and a change in behavior from the former old nature of sin to the new nature of righteous ness (see Ro 6 and 8).
Another area of caution concerns the individual who was converted early in life. At an early age, this person may never have fully understood his sin nature. He may have been saved as a child and does not recall his former conduct. The witness of the Holy Spirit within him may be so natural that he has forgotten what it is like to not have this inner witness. Rather the person who professed Christ at an early age must not so much look for the change that he experienced but rather at the current state of affairs in his life. The same witnesses such as understanding spiritual truths and freedom from the worldly desires of materialism will be the criteria for examining himself.
Finally, caution must be exercised in the area of misunderstanding one’s own desires for that of the Spirit. For example, everything we decide to do is not necessarily directed by the Holy Spirit, for then we would make the Holy Spirit the author of sin since we all occasionally sin. We cannot use the Holy Spirit to excuse our own laziness or other occasional sins. For example, someone that says that they are led by the Spirit to do that which is contrary to Scripture, cannot be truly led by the Spirit in this case. We must be careful in discerning between the witness of the Spirit that occurs in our consciences and that of our own fleshly nature.
True Christians Understand Spiritual Truth through the Holy Spirit
“And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, not do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears. Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear …” Matthew 13:10-16
True Christians have been given the ability to know the mysteries of God. This is the reason Jesus gave when questioned why he spoke in parables. Contrary to what many believe, the deeper spiritual truths about God are hidden from those who are perishing. The Bible is not a book which all can understand. It is only to those who are indwelt with the Holy Spirit that will be able to discern the deeper spiritual truths of the Bible. God has enlightened those who have been called and saved by grace so that they may know about God and have their ears opened to spiritual truth as found in the Bible. God’s desire therefore is that His children know the truth so that they may be set free from the bondage of sin (see John 8:30-32). In verse 12 above, Jesus told us that even to he who has (i.e., the saving knowledge of the kingdom of God), more knowledge will be given to him and to him who does not have (i.e., saving knowledge of God) even the natural truth of God will be taken from him. Or, in other words, the true Christian will be given the wherewithal to understand deeper truths about God while the unsaved person will not understand the deeper things and even the superficial understanding he has 42 about God will be hardened. In verse 15, we are given the reason why God does not reveal His deeper spiritual truth to all. The reason is that if the unsaved man truly understood the deeper things of God then ‘they should understand with their hearts and turn so that I should heal them’. If they understood, all men would in their own power turn to God in profession. All men would want to join the church and superficially follow God. But as Scripture teaches us, man’s works are as filthy rags (Is 64:6) and there is none that do good (Rom 3:9-23). We would have virtually all sinners turning to follow God, but they would not have the enabling work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts to do good works. God is interested in saving his elect (Eph 1:3-14, Ro 9:8-24) to be a special people that will be His workmanship for good works (Eph 2:10). Therefore, God has chosen to save his elect and the rest were hardened (see Ro 9:18).
“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, not of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Cor 2:6-8
In these verses we clearly see that the truth and wisdom of God is a mystery and is hidden. It has not been revealed to all men. If it had, then as verse 8 clearly tells us they would not have crucified the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore Jesus would not have had the victory over Satan 1. All men would know about God and superficially follow Him thereby thwarting the work of God. God has designed the present age that only through faith it is only possible to please Him (Heb 11:6). As we saw in Mat 13:10-16, God has not revealed spiritual truth to all men, for then all men would follow in their own power. In Christendom today, we hear often the teaching that the Bible is a simple book that all men can understand. That simply is not true. The Bible is a spiritual book with spiritual truth that cannot be understood outside of the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. At God’s will, He will open the pages of the Bible to our understanding so that we may be saved and grow in sanctification (see Phil 2:13, 1 Thess 2:13). This is not to say that the natural man cannot understand the historical truths of the Bible or understand basic truths of God. But, it takes the Holy Spirit to open the understanding of the Bible that will result in true salvation and will be effective in our Christian walk.
“But as it is written:’Eye has not seen, not heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things 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 know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” 1 Cor 2:9-12
In this Scripture we are told how God has revealed to us spiritual truth. The Holy Spirit is the agent by whom we are able to understand spiritual truth. Because we are indwelt by the Spirit of God (Ro 8:9, 2 Tim 1:14), we have the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit and leading us into all truth (Rom 8:1516, John 16:12-13, John 14:24-26). He is our Helper who will teach us all things and bring to our remembrance the words of God (John 14:24-26). It is for this reason that very intelligent people with a string of higher education degrees behind their name cannot truly understand the Bible. These so-called doctors can dissect the Bible, analyze the words in the original languages, and theorize about the historical setting of the Scriptures, but they deny the Lord that bought them. They hypothesize that the Bible is the redaction of men who wrote it to promote their philosophies. They teach that most of the words in the Bible that are attributed to Christ were actually those of later writers of the New Testament. They interpret passages out of their clear con text in order to support doctrinal agendas. These men who have all learning have not understood even the basic truths about the Bible and therefore prove that they are truly unsaved. They are truly those who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth (2 Tim 3:7).
One who is saved, although untrained in learning can more understand the things of God than those who are wise and have all learning yet unsaved. And so, the words of 1 Cor 1:26-31 are fulfilled in that the foolish things of the world shame the wise and the weak things will shame the mighty so that no flesh will glory in God’s sight.
“These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Cor 2:13
Instead of needing man’s wisdom in interpreting the Scripture, true Christians can understand spiritual truths by the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The Bible is a spiritual book with spiritual truth that must be interpreted with itself. In other words, since the whole Bible is inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16), the true Christian will be able to use the Bible including all its words to interpret itself. The Christian does not need shelves of commentaries and other analyses by men to help him understand.
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things yet he himself is rightly judged by no one…For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor 2:14-16
The natural man (i.e., the unsaved man) cannot receive spiritual truth because it is foolishness to him (see also 1:18). The spiritual man (i.e., the saved) judges all things. God in His sovereign grace has chosen to reveal spiritual truth to His elect and has allowed those who are not elect to be blinded. He then who is spiritual will judge all things. In other words, he has the discernment of the Holy Spirit within himself in order to perceive those things that are right and wrong. The true Christian’s and other’s sin will grieve the spiritual person since he judges all things. By judging ourselves and our sin (1 Cor 11:31), we will grow in sanctification by the Holy Spirit. The word of God will effectively work in us (1 Thess 2:13) through the illumination of the Holy Spirit so that we may be able to grow on the pure milk of the word of God (1 Pet 2:2). Additionally, those who are spiritual will follow the truth:
“We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:6
Those who truly know God and are saved will hear what the Bible teaches. Because they understand the Bible, they will tend to follow those who preach the truth of the Bible. This was stated by the apostle Paul to the Corinthians as well. In 2 Cor 13:6, he trusted that the Corinthians would know that he was not disqualified. In other words, he trusted that the Corinthians would truly recognize the word of God and not be in rebellion to the word thereby proving that they were not truly saved. This encouragement was just after he warned them to examine them selves to see whether they were in the faith (2 Cor 13:5).
The Removing of the Veil
“Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech, unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds ‘were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord… the veil is taken away.” 2 Cor 3:12-16
Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, uses an analogy from the Old Testament to illustrate the truth of Christians being en lightened to understand spiritual truth. Moses wore a veil over his face after he was done speaking the words of the Lord to Israel (Ex 34:29-33). This was symbolic of the blindness of the Israelites due to the hardness of their hearts (2 Cor 3:14, see also Eph 4:18). Because they are blinded to the truth of Christ that was contained in the Old Testament, they were not able to under stand the things that were told to them (see 1 Pet 1:8-12). In 2 Cor 3:16, it is clear that when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away or, in other words, the saved person is able to under stand the deeper spiritual truths taught in the Bible.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore, since we have this ministry as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.” 2 Cor 3:17-4:1
God is one and He is Spirit (John 4:24). His Spirit dwells within us. Because of this, we have liberty, the freedom to understand the deeper spiritual truths of God. In verse 18, the Scripture says that we all have an unveiled face and we behold the glory of the Lord in the mirror. We are able to come to the word of God and view ourselves in the mirror in order to be transformed from glory to glory to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. This is God’s great plan for our lives. By giving us the Holy Spirit, our minds are unveiled and we are able to understand spiritual truths. By being able to understand spiritual truths, we are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. We are on a pilgrimage of learning and discipline to become more holy. As the Scripture says, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’ (1 Pet 1:1516). As 2 Cor 4:1 teaches us, because we have received the unveiling by the Holy Spirit, we are encouraged to be bold in our walk and talk of Jesus Christ.
“But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in the craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Cor 4:2
Because we have unveiled hearts, we no longer walk in craftiness or handle the word of God deceitfully. In other words, because we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we can know the truths of God and can faithfully teach one another and apply God’s word. We no longer are influenced by our own desires of what we want the Scriptures to say, but rather we faithfully preach the truth as it has been revealed to us. Because the truth is of the Holy Spirit, we can commend ourselves to other men’s conscience who are also indwelt by the Spirit of God. They will recognize the truth of the word of God because the Holy Spirit is the same teacher. Therefore, true Christians will be able to understand Scripture in a consistent manner. This is not to say there may be some differences because all men still have sin and have not fully come to know all spiritual truth. However, central doctrine of Scripture such as salvation by grace will be easily recognizable amongst true believers. We all will be able to walk in the light just as Jesus Christ said that His true disciples would (John 8:12).
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 2 Cor 4:3-4
Those who are unsaved have veiled minds and are not able to understand spiritual truth. The source of this blinding is Satan, the god of this age. God, in His sovereign will, has al lowed this to occur so that they, having ears and eyes that function in the physical world, have ears and eyes that are shut tightly in the spiritual world. But to the saved we are told:
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, And in their minds I will write them…” Heb 10:16 (Jer 31:33-34)
The following Scriptures are others that attest to the fact that true believers will have the ability to understand spiritual truth (see also Psalm 119):
“The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be in us forever…” 2 John 1-2
“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge ac cording to the image of Him who created him…” Cold 3:9-10
“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear His voice…” John 10:3
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim 1:7
“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.“ 1John 2:26-27
“The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;” Ps 19:7-8
“Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses …The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.” Ps 25:12, 14
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; 1 will guide you with My eye.“ Ps 32:8
The Lights of the World
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.” Luke 11:33-36
The Bible teaches us that as Christians, we are the light of the world (see Mat 5:14, Eph 5:8) and sons of light (Luke 16:8, John 12:36, 1 Thess 5:5). The teaching of the Bible is that Christians are to be beacons of light to a lost world in order to at tract those who will be saved. By being light, Christians preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. In many places, the Bible refers to the gospel as the light (see 2 Cor 4:4, 6,2 Pet 1:19,2 Tim 1:10, 1 Pet 2:9, Ps 43:3, Is 8:20). In addition, as lights of the world, Christians are reflecting the light of God. God the Father and Jesus are referred to as light (see John 1:4,9,3:19,8:12,9:5, 12:36,46,21:23, Is 60:1,20, 1 John. 1:5, Ps 27:1, Ps 4:6) and therefore Christians as light are merely reflecting (see 1 John 1:7, 2 Cor 3:18, 4:4,6) the truth of God. In Luke 11:33-36, we find that the lamp of the body is the eye. When the eye is good, the whole body will be full of light. The term ‘eye’ in the Bible refers to spiritual understanding (see Acts 26:18, Mat 13:14-16, Is 6:9-10, Luke 19:42, Deut 29:4, Ro 11:8, Rev 3:18, Gen 3:5). Therefore, this passage means that when the eye, or spiritual understanding, is good, the body will be full of light. In other words, when the Christian is able to understand spiritual truth (i.e., when he is saved), he will have spiritual enlightenment to be full of truth and good works in order that he may shine as a light. Therefore, the Christian will be able to proclaim the gospel both in word and in deed. However, when the eye is bad (i.e., unable to understand spiritual truth), the person will be full of darkness (i.e., will not have spiritual under standing) and therefore cannot be a light of the world. The exhortation in verse 35 is to take heed that the light in you is not darkness. In other words, professing believers must be careful that the light that they think they have is not spurious. The professor may think he has ‘received’ the gospel and is saved, but in reality this light may not be authentic and therefore he is in dark ness since his lamp (i.e., spiritual understanding) is bad due to not having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In other words, if he is in darkness (i.e., does not have spiritual understanding), he is not saved. Therefore, we see from the above study that true Christians are light. They are light because they have been indwelt with the Holy Spirit and therefore have the spiritual understanding and capability to be a light to the world. As the lamp is the instrument of light, so is the eye of spiritual understanding the instrument by which, through the Holy Spirit, Christians can understand and apply spiritual truth in order to be lights of the world. True Christians walk in the light and do not abide in dark ness (1 John 1:6-7, John 12:46). They must let their lamp shine before men so that men will see their good works (Mat 5:16). True Christians are the light of the world (Mat 5:14) and their lights cannot be put out. The wicked, however are in darkness because their lamp has been put out (Pr 13:9). As we have seen from the above paragraphs, the Bible is clear that those who are truly of God’s flock will have their eyes and ears opened to understand spiritual truth. This does not mean they are perfect in wisdom of the Lord. What it does mean is that they have the wherewithal (i.e., the Holy Spirit) to be able to understand and apply spiritual knowledge in order to conform them more to our Lord Jesus Christ. As we shall see in Chapter 21, the amount of a person’s sanctification will depend on their study of the word of God, for it is by the word of God that we grow. In looking at Christendom, there is an abundance of doctrinal confusion. This points to the fact that there are many in the churches of today who truly are unable to properly understand and apply spiritual truth. There are no doubt some who with the zeal for knowledge diligently study the Bible and gain knowledge only to find themselves unable to grasp the things of God. This person cannot have the Spirit of God in them. Then there are others who have given up trying to study the word of God since they realize that it is ‘too difficult’ for them to understand. These also, prove themselves to be devoid of the Spirit.