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What is the most important thing for our children to learn? As homeschooling parents, what should be our priority for our students? It seems to me that preparing our children to fulfill God's desire & purpose in their lives is the most important thing we can do for them.
But what is our children's purpose? What is our purpose? Why did God make man. When we look at the breadth of scripture we find that God made man for communion with Himself. He typically likens this relationship to the romance of betrothal and marriage.
So how do we as parents prepare our children to fulfill this purpose? Certainly making certain they learn God's ways by knowing His word is foundational. But we must model communion with God and draw them into a personal relationship with Him.
Tragically, because of our natural inclination to cling to security that we can see and feel (temporal materialism), and in reaction to irresponsible excesses by some, a number of Christians have rejected the notion that God speaks to us personally and directly today.
The motto of my e-mail newsletter is "INSTRUCTED by the Scriptures, LED by the Spirit." I recently recorded a presentation with that title (not yet available, please don't order it yet). Those who have been subscribers for even a few issues (or have read the archives) recognize that my normal emphasis is on scriptural principles (the ways of God revealed in His written word). But the essence of the Christian life is to be found in being led by the Spirit, not following the written word.
I know the last phrase above may sound shocking to some. Let me use an analogy. When installing a computer program the installation often requires choices regarding various options. But usually one of the choices is recommended as the "default" option. Unless you have specific reasons for another choice it is usually advisable to use the default mode.
Similarly, the scripture gives us the norms (defaults) for our lives. We should clearly live in accordance with these scriptural norms. Most of my ministry focuses on letting scripture shape our thinking of what is normative. But God will intentionally bring exceptions into our lives to require us to be led by the Spirit.
Let me give an example of a scriptural norm. Scripture repeatedly tells us "for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother." The scriptural norm is for young people to not "leave" their parents until marriage. However, we can point to exceptions in scripture itself, where God led exceptionally.
Could God today lead a young man to leave his parents while he is still single? Yes! I believe this would be exceptional and we would do well to advise such a young man to be very careful that he is actually be led by the Spirit rather than by his own desires. Usually the Spirit will lead us in accordance to the principles of scripture (God's ways), and it is helpful to understand these norms in preparing our hearts for being led by the Spirit..
If, on the other hand, a zealous young Christian is desiring to be led by the Spirit, but doesn't have the foundation of a scriptural understanding of God's ways (principles), he will start from a culturally-informed foundation that may instruct him incorrectly that it is "normal" for him to leave home long before marriage. With this expectation he is handicapped in anticipating and preparing for the leading of the Holy Spirit.
But ultimately we (and our children) need to learn to be "LED by the Spirit" while being INSTRUCTED (not LED) by the scriptures.
SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION
A while back a subscriber wrote:
> This may be a strange question, but what verses do you use to support the > view that the Holy Spirit leads Christians? A friend of ours claims that > this is a false belief and I have yet to disprove him with scripture. > Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I think this is the best way to approach this question. WHAT DOES THE SCRIPTURE SAY? Does the Bible claim that God speaks ONLY through the scriptures? Clearly not. Let's take a look.
But first, let me make a case for the foundational role of scripture. Scripture is inerrant. There was a period, when I was young, that I struggled with this truth. I knew Jesus was my Lord, but I just wasn't convinced that scripture contained no errors. At one point, though, I had to face the fact that my Master believed at least the Old Testament scriptures were infallible (I understand "infallible" to be a stronger term than "inerrant," but it certainly includes the inerrancy of scripture).
Jesus commented parenthetically (John 10:35), "and the Scripture cannot be broken." Jesus held that the scriptures are incapable of being broken (being fallible). If I claim to be a servant of Jesus, but think I know better than Him, my pride is the problem. I am deceived because of my arrogance. I had to humble myself before my Master and agree with Him. Scripture is inerrant.
Paul wrote (2 Tim. 3:16), "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." The word translated "given by inspiration of God" is the Greek word "theopneustos," meaning "God-breathed." Jesus and the apostles understood the scriptures to be the result of "holy men of God" being "moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet. 1:20-21). And Peter included Paul's epistles in his classification of "scripture" (2 Pet. 3:15-16).
It seems to me to be the height of conceit to call oneself a Christian but knowingly disagree with the apostles, and especially with Jesus. (I'm not denying the salvation of those who are so smug, just pointing to their foolish presumption.)
SCRIPTURAL WORLD-VIEW
Assuming we accept the veracity of scriptures, we must then ask, what is their ROLE? They shape our perception of normalcy and truth.
We all bring certain presuppositions to our experiences. We all have a historical setting. That cultural background, acquired from our families, friends, media, education, etc. colors the way we view things. We perceive reality through the grid of what we consider standard.
Two people with different cultural presuppositions (no two people have exactly identical backgrounds) can experience the same thing and perceive it quite differently. This is because we all have a slightly different "frame of reference." We all have a set of expectations regarding what we consider NORMAL. We measure and mentally organize all new input according to the gauge of these assumptions
These assumptions are so deeply held that we seldom even recognize them. This is why people visiting in another culture experience "culture shock." They are honestly surprised that others don't share their assumptions of what is normal.
Over the last few years many of us have grown weary of the over-use of the faddish buzz-word, "paradigm." But what we are talking about at this point is one's paradigm, one's foundational presuppositions. Among Christians, many have recognized the need to cultivate a "Christian World-view." One's world-view, or paradigm, filters the way he perceives the things he encounters.
I've said all this to raise the question, What should shape our assumptions? In what follows, I will contend that the SCRIPTURES SHOULD INSTRUCT OUR THINKING. Is it possible to have the wrong paradigm? What if I have a sin-shaped filter that hinders me from seeing what God wants me to see (we all do)? What if I assume certain things are normal, that actually displease God? Or what if God considers certain things normal, but my background (traditions?) keeps me from recognizing God's perspective?
Only God's perspective is the correct one. (God's OPINIONS are truth.) None of us has God's perspective, but He has given us the scriptures to shape our thinking. As I will demonstrate from scripture, this is only the foundation, not the whole building. But without a proper launch-pad (scripture) we are going to be handicapped in our walk with God. For a few moments I will belabor this point (my reasons for such a lengthy grounding will be evident shortly).
We must be careful not to assume our culture is superior to others. However, not all cultures are morally equivalent. In fact, sin corrupts a culture. In the Pentateuch we find that God wanted to reveal Himself, but sin had produced degenerate cultures that could not correctly interpret His revelation. So He purposed to prepare a culture that, in some sense, would be ideal for His revelation. Thus, God reveals something of Himself through history. Scripture records this cultural preparation and revelation.
I love the analogy Psalm 127 provides of children being arrows in the hand of their father. There are many insights to be derived from this simile. But I want to focus on the need to properly launch these arrows. Arrows are impotent without the skillful preparation, tension, and aiming of an archer. As parents, we are to provide a "culture" for our children that thrusts them forward, in the right direction, rather than inhibits their perception of God's design in their lives through inaccurate lenses.
This is why many of us go to great lengths to saturate our children's thinking in the scriptures. We read, study, and memorize Bible passages with them. Some accuse us of raising little "Scribes and Pharisees." This is certainly a possibility if they don't develop a personal relationship with Jesus. But He told His disciples (Matt. 13:52), "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." The scribes who turned to the Lord (like Paul the apostle) actually had a beneficial head-start on others who were handicapped through lack of scriptural knowledge.
There are many Christians who have desired to be led by the Spirit, but have neglected God's preparation, the proper foundation of understanding God's ways revealed in scripture. This makes them vulnerable to deception, and handicaps their capacity to understand (interpret) anything the Lord does speak to them. They try to fit their Christian life into a worldly framework, and wonder why it doesn't seem to work as they innately know it should.
The New Testament emphasis on being LED BY THE SPIRIT is intended to build upon the foundation of being INSTRUCTED BY SCRIPTURE! Having our thinking shaped by scripture is inadequate without the life in the Spirit, but seeking to be led by the Spirit without the foundation of God's written word is like trying to build a house without a foundation. It can be done, and might even be effective for a period of time. But such a house is much more vulnerable to failure, as well as being less likely to be true (straight, square, according to the plan).
SCRIPTURE'S INSTRUCTIONAL ROLE
Paul told the Roman Christians (Rom. 15:4) that "whatever things were written before were written for our LEARNING." His contention was that the purpose of scripture (for new covenant believers) is to INSTRUCT our minds. We have the scriptures for our "LEARNING." God has provided this written INSTRUCTION so that we would UNDERSTAND and BELIEVE true things.
John clearly stated that this was his reason for writing his gospel (John 20:31). He said, "but these are written that you may BELIEVE." The scriptures were provided in order to shape our minds.
Paul understood this to be the purpose of the written record of what God had done with His people previously. He wrote (1 Cor. 10:11), "Now all these things happened to them as examples and they were written for our ADMONITION." The scriptural TYPES ("examples" is from the Greek "tupos" elsewhere translated "figure," "form," and "pattern") are provided for the purpose of "admonition" ("nouthesia" from "nous," the intellect). It is the thinking of our minds that is shaped by scripture.
Paul even made it clear that unregenerate Jews who studied the scriptures at least had the right understanding (note that knowing the truth is inadequate by itself for spiritual life). He charged (Rom. 2:17-20), "Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and KNOW His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being INSTRUCTED out of the LAW, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of KNOWLEDGE and truth in the law."
The Old Testament law is still important for people living in the New Testament period. It's role is one of providing KNOWLEDGE. In Romans 3:20 Paul explained this truth from another angle. He wrote, "by the law is the KNOWLEDGE of sin." The law (scripture) doesn't give life, but rather KNOWLEDGE that leads to life. Thus, the scriptures are to be UNDERSTOOD.
One of Paul's disciples, Luke, revealed his grasp of this in his account of Jesus' conversation with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Luke editorialized (Luke 24:45), "And He opened their UNDERSTANDING, that they might COMPREHEND the Scriptures." The scriptures need to be UNDERSTOOD and COMPREHENDED. Such intellectual (academic) apprehension doesn't insure spiritual life, but it certainly facilitates our walk in the Spirit.
The purpose of the scriptures is to shape our thinking. We and our children need a scriptural world-view. The scriptures reveal God's view (the only objective view in the universe) of reality. As we embrace the scriptures, we allow God's opinions (truth) to shape our thinking. The Psalmist (Ps. 78:5-8) gave this reason for God providing scripture:
"For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, [WHY?] That they should make them KNOWN to their children; That the generation to come might KNOW them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And NOT FORGET the works of God, But KEEP His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not SET ITS HEART ARIGHT, And whose spirit was not faithful to God."
Paul commended Timothy for his grounding in scripture (2 Tim.3:14-15), saying, "But you must continue in the things which you have LEARNED and been assured of, knowing from whom you have LEARNED them, 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."
Notice that Paul wasn't saying wisdom (even from scripture) brought salvation. Salvation, he said, is "through faith which is in Christ Jesus." However, WISDOM LEARNED from scripture is clearly an aid to this faith. The scripture INSTRUCTS us, leading to life in the Spirit.
And notice how Paul continued (verses 16-17) to focus on the INSTRUCTIONAL benefit of scripture. He said, "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."
Paul repeatedly emphasized the role of scripture in shaping our minds. Mental preparation was an aide to the real goal of being led by the Spirit, as we will see. Although not the goal in itself, this foundation of scriptural understanding must not be neglected. For example, in rebuking factionalism Paul wrote about misplaced loyalties toward himself and Apollos (1 Cor. 4:6) "that you may learn in us NOT TO THINK BEYOND WHAT IS WRITTEN." Our thinking is not only to be SHAPED by scripture, but even LIMITED by scripture.
Luke commended a careful group of Jews in Berea for insisting that everything be within the boundaries of scripture. Yet they were open to what could be demonstrated from scripture. He commented (Acts 17:11), "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
Some Christians have so embraced their understanding of "grace" that they have virtually rejected the law. They understand that we "are not under the law" (Gal. 5:18), but then take this further in completely ignoring it. What Paul taught, on the other hand, was that the law is still beneficial to believers, if used correctly.
For example, he wrote (Rom. 3:31), "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." While we are not under the law, because of our walk in the Spirit, our faith in Christ doesn't make the law irrelevant to us. It is still beneficial to read, study, and understand the law. It reveals God's heart.
Several chapters later, he writes of one of the law's current benefits to New Testament believers. He said (Rom. 7:7), "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have KNOWN sin except through the law. For I would not have KNOWN covetousness unless the law had said, 'You shall not covet.'"
The bottom line is that the law is good, not bad. We do well to be VERY knowledgeable and familiar with every "jot" and "tittle" that Jesus said (Matt. 5:18) would "by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."
USING THE LAW "LAWFULLY"
Yes, there is a danger of falling into legalism (although that term is never used in scripture). Paul warned against what was called "the circumcision." But to his spiritual son, Timothy, he wrote (1 Tim. 1:8), "But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully." The law is good! ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOOD! But only if it is used correctly. The implication is that scripture (the law) can be misused. It isn't always beneficial. If not used appropriately, scripture can become a hindrance to God's purposes.
But used "lawfully" the law is beneficial, even to New Testament Christians. Although we are not "under the law" we are to love the law. I am increasingly persuaded that God wants us to love all of His written word. Psalm 119 is a love song to God's word (law). The New Testament Christians apparently sang this and the other canonical songs regularly. Although they were not under the law, they loved it.
Catch the intensity of Psalm 119:97: "Oh, how I LOVE Your law! It is my meditation all the day." And listen to verse 113: "I hate the double-minded, But I LOVE Your law." Verse 163 expresses a similar contrast: "I hate and abhor lying, But I LOVE Your law." Two verses later (165) a great promise is made for those who love God's word: "Great peace have those who LOVE Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble."
Let me turn a corner in this discussion at this point. There are many who know and love their Bibles well, but who inadvertently fall into the trap of misusing scripture. In other words, they don't "use it lawfully." Some use scripture to replace God Himself, preferring the security of relating to impersonal principles rather than to the personal, living God scripture points to.
Many have used the phrase "sufficiency of scripture" to appropriately note that God has provided, in His written word, adequate instruction for us to apply principles of equity to every issue of life. Yet it is interesting that though I believe this to be true, scripture never makes this claim for itself.
But some well-meaning brethren take this phrase ("sufficiency of scripture") to mean something much more. They would contend that scripture is so completely "sufficient" that it is all we need in our lives. This is patently false! Scripture alone is INSUFFICIENT for life and godliness.
One of the few places in scripture where the matter of "sufficiency" is addressed is 2 Cor. 3:4-8. Paul wrote:
"And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are SUFFICIENT of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our SUFFICIENCY is from God, who also made us SUFFICIENT as ministers of the new covenant, NOT OF THE LETTER BUT OF THE SPIRIT; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?"
Paul's "sufficiency" was not found in his knowledge of scripture, as beneficial as that was. He made it very clear that the "sufficiency" that made his ministry adequate was not based on written words but rather on the life of the Spirit flowing through him. "The new covenant" is not based on letter, but on the Spirit. Paul spends the rest of the chapter contrasting the written instruction with the life of the Spirit. His key contention is that "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Scripture is SUFFICIENT for the instruction of our minds in God's ways, but it is absolutely INSUFFICIENT in producing life. This is why we are to INSTRUCTED by scripture, but LED by the Spirit.
Some might assume that the difference is between Old Testament and New Testament--that under the old covenant people were somehow given life through the law. But Paul argued that even under the old covenant this was not the case. In Romans 2:29 he wrote, "but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God." God has always looked on the heart rather than simply on the flesh.
But because of the natural misuse of written codes (the law), it had to be written in our hearts by the Spirit. Whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament, letter is static and can only bring death if it is used for anything other than instruction. Paul wrote (Rom. 7:6) "But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter."
Instruction from scripture can even become a detriment if it doesn't lead us to life that results from personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. Our tendency is to try to use our knowledge, even knowledge of scripture, to exalt and rely on ourselves. One time Jesus addressed this very tendency in the Bible scholars of His day. He said (John 5:39-40), "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."
Clearly knowledge of the scriptures is insufficient if it is not used to draw us to relationship with God. Yet it has always been the human tendency to prefer manipulating words and meanings of words in the name of truth, rather than relating to the Person who is Truth (John 14:6). The Lord wants us to seek and find Him as a person. Jeremiah expressed the Lord's grief at His people's straying from their love relationship with Him ("The love of your betrothal") in favor of outward forms of truth when He said (Jer. 2:2, 8), "The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' And those who handle the law did not know Me."
It is actually possible to hold too high a view of scripture. Some actually treat scripture as though it were a fourth person of the Godhead. Worshiping scripture is idolatry. Giving scripture the place reserved for God Himself is Bibliolatry. It is not the scriptures that are flawed, but our misuse of them in such cases. We are not using God's word "lawfully."
IS GOD SAFE (PREDICTABLE)?
Yet most of us have seen abuses of people claiming to hear God's leading to do things we seriously doubt could be His direction. As a result, if we're not careful, we overreact and flee from dealing directly with God. It is unquestionably more comfortable dealing with a book than with a person. The book is good, but it is quite possible to become so familiar with the book that we can use it for our own ends. Some Bible students are able to prove just about whatever they want from the Bible.
On the other hand, dealing with God as a person in the realm of experience seems much more risky. We prefer a safe God. We like the fact that He doesn't change (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8). But from the beginning the Lord has been a God of surprises. He has wanted His people to hear and follow His voice, and He frequently throws curves, directing His servants to do surprising things. God is often unpredictable.
Some may immediately conclude I am suggesting there are times when God will lead us to sin. NO! However, we have numerous instances in scripture where God directed someone to do something contrary to scriptural norms. Jesus repeatedly confounded the Pharisees by contrasting following God and following scripture.
For example, when accused of disobeying scripture, He replied (Matt. 12:3-5), "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which WAS NOT LAWFUL for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?"
Was David's action unscriptural? Yes. Was he sinning? No! Although God NORMALLY leads us in accordance with scripture, He will sometimes lead us in exceptional ways. In scripture, the God-ordained contradictions were generally special tests of faith. Think of Abraham being told to kill his son (Gen. 22:2). This was contrary to what Abraham (and we) understood to be God's normal way. Consider other apparent contradictions like Hosea being directed to marry a prostitute (Hos. 1:2), or Isaiah being commanded to go naked for three years (Is. 20:2-4), or Elisha lying (2 Kings 8:10).
But such exceptions should never be considered NORMS! The norms of the Christian life are found in scripture, but the reality of our life in Christ is dependent on personal relationship with Him that surpasses confines of our understanding. And that sometimes causes us discomfort.
That's why our flesh prefers relating to an objective book that can't be changed. Experiential relationship with God makes us vulnerable to such things as real-life miracles that we can't control. The children of Israel experienced this very tension. Immediately after God audibly spoke the ten commandments to the whole congregation, they began reacting to such personal interaction.
Exodus 20:18-19 tells us how the people felt insecure about God speaking directly to them and manifesting His dramatic power. Their cry to Moses was, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." Similarly, today many of us prefer to relate to God at a distance, on an intellectual plain through the scriptures.
But scripture itself repeatedly calls us to relate to God experientially as well as intellectually. Bible knowledge is good and important, but it is insufficient without an ongoing experience with God. Jesus told the Sadducees (Matt. 22:29 & Mark 12:24), "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God." He was rebuking them for both their lack of Biblical knowledge and their lack of openness to personally experiencing God's power.
Paul spoke of folks (2 Tim 3:5) "having a form of godliness but denying its power." It is possible to study the scriptures in our flesh (even religious carnality) and develop Biblical forms and understandings without touching the Lord from our hearts. Paul warned us, "And from such people turn away!"
But some point to 2 Pet. 1:3-4 as scriptural evidence for the complete sufficiency of scripture. Peter wrote, "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."
God has clearly provided us all we need for "life and godliness," but this passage DOESN'T say this provision comes through scripture. It says, "His divine power" has provided everything we need. His power does this "through the knowledge of Him" but it isn't the knowledge itself that provides what is needed. The knowledge is foundational, but it isn't the whole house.
In fact, this passage doesn't even say that the source of this knowledge in this case is scripture. Some assume the only source of "knowledge of Him" must be scripture. But this conclusion presupposes the point they are trying to arrive at, that the Holy Spirit no longer reveals Himself to people directly.
The study of theology is good, but it cannot be allowed to replace actual relationship with Jesus. Theoretical scriptural knowledge has a beneficial stabilizing effect, as long as it is accompanied by personal experience. As has often been noted, there is a difference between knowing ABOUT God and knowing God. Non-believers can study theology. Even the devils believe the truth (James 2:19). Our "knowledge of Him" needs to include personal, intimate knowledge that comes from knowing Him.
Abstract, academic knowledge of God and His truths can actually hinder us from pleasing Him, if not used properly. Paul wrote (1 Cor. 8:1), "We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies." Love is on an experiential level. If it is only theoretical, it isn't love. Knowledge that only allows me to theorize about God, or win theological arguments is actually damaging to both me and others I infect with it. After talking about one of many potential misuses of knowledge, a few verses later (1 Cor. 8:11) Paul asked, "And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?"
DIRECT, PERSONAL ACCESS TO GOD
The writer to the Hebrews begins his letter (Heb 1:1-2) saying, "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." In the past, God spoke to His people through prophetic intermediaries who wrote their prophecies for "the fathers" to read.
But in the new covenant God actually speaks directly to us by Jesus, our Heavenly Bridegroom, who abides in and among us by His Holy Spirit. We each have access to personal communication with the God of the universe. One of the keys of this epistle is the logical conclusion (Heb. 4:16), "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace." This is experiential rather than just theoretical.
This personal access to God through Christ was one of the constant themes of Paul's message. He wrote (Eph. 2:18), "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." A few verses later (Eph 3:11-12) he spoke of God's "eternal purpose" being fulfilled in Christ "in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him."
While scripture is clearly needed for shaping our minds, God no longer deals with us primarily through impersonal "letter" but rather He relates to us in person through the Holy Spirit. Paul said (Rom. 7:6) that "we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter."
Some might contend that the "letter" Paul referred to was the Old Testament law. In fact, many seem to see the New Testament as the NEW LAW. This is not what Paul was saying. Jesus accomplished something far more significant.
While we still receive instruction through the scriptures (both Old Testament and New Testament), God wants to lead us personally. Jesus has "wiped out the HANDWRITING of requirements" because we have been "made alive together with Him" (Col. 2:13-14). Here Paul went so far as to say the Lord "has taken away" the mandates of scripture "having nailed it to the cross." The handwritten revelation of God is a beneficial instructional record of things that are "a shadow of the things to come, but the substance is of Christ" (Col. 2:17).
The law ("handwriting") can never bring us righteousness. That is not what the law is for. Psalm 119:9 says, "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word." Many assume this means that trying to keep the commands of scripture is the means to purity.
But Paul denies this, saying (Rom. 3:20), "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight." Our flesh is confident in its ability to keep the law. "If I could only subdue my lusts," we often think. Thus we assume we will achieve walking in the Spirit by trying hard to keep God's rules and to not fulfill our fleshly lusts.
In fact, we've got the whole process backwards. Paul wrote (Gal. 5:16), "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." In other words, it is not using rules (the law) to control the flesh that produces the "walk in the spirit." Rather it is as we experientially "walk in the Spirit" (continual experiential communion with Jesus through the Spirit) that we automatically "shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
It is on the basis of this truth that Paul then concludes (verse 18) that "if you are led by the Spirit, you are NOT UNDER THE LAW." If we alertly allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our walk, the law is not our master. We are not LED by rules or even principles of scripture. The written word instructs us, but we are personally (experientially) guided by the Living God.
LED BY THE SPIRIT
As noted earlier, many of us have encountered people who claim the Lord has led them in some rather questionable ways. Because of apparent abuses, it is tempting to deny that the Holy Spirit still leads people. We must be careful that our conclusions are founded on scripture rather than reactions to our experience.
Paul claimed (Rom. 8:14) that "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." He seemed to think experiencing and responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit is what identifies us as God's children. What would Paul have said to someone claiming to be a Christian who denied that he (or anyone else) could be "led by the Spirit of God?" Based on his statement in this passage, I suspect he would have doubted their relationship with God.
Paul insisted on Christians allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in our walk. After describing the "fruit of the Spirit" (the evidence of walking in the Spirit) he directed (Gal 5:25), "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." To Paul, this intimate experience of ongoing communion with Jesus through the Holy Spirit was the normal way for Christians to walk.
Paul assumed that every Christian would walk according to the Spirit rather than according to the flesh (his own wisdom and strength), equating this with being "in Christ Jesus." He argued (Rom. 8:1-4) that this was the basis of our freedom from condemnation under the law.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT."
All this talk about being "led by the Spirit," "walking in the Spirit," or "walking according to the Spirit" may sound rather mystical to some, but in fact it is shown in scripture as God's norm for His children. Even the Lord Jesus, after he had "emptied Himself" (Phil. 2:7, NASB) to become one of us was explicitly "led by the Spirit" (Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1). He was in constant communion with the Father and only did what His Father directed (John 5:19, 30; 8:16, 28-29; 10:38).
Does this mean that Jesus was constantly hearing audible direction from the Father? While that did happen occasionally, it doesn't appear that this was the normal process. Instead, it appears the communion was in a spiritual dimension beyond the limitations of the five human senses.
Although God has always desired personal communion with His people, and has called them to listen to His voice, apparently God's primary method of communicating with His people changed under the new covenant. His communication now is primarily inward, in our minds and our hearts. Jeremiah was used to prophesy this (31:31-34).
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; NOT ACCORDING TO THE COVENANT that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will PUT MY LAW IN THEIR MINDS, AND WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
Without denying that the Lord can still speak audibly to people, apparently the Holy Spirit now leads us primarily through directing our "minds" and "hearts." And according to Jeremiah's prophecy, this is in contrast to the way God led his people under the old covenant (the law).
It is through constantly available inner communion with the Holy Spirit that God leads us. This is, in fact, the assurance of our salvation. The ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives is the "guarantee" or down-payment our Bridegroom has given us that He will return for us. Paul contends (2 Cor. 5:5) that the promise of our future immortality is guaranteed by the current presence of the Spirit. Earlier he wrote (1:22) that the God "has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."
This "seal" or "guarantee" is apparently the initial (but not yet complete) fruit of our faith. Paul wrote the fledgling Ephesian church (Eph. 1:13), "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."
God wants personal, intimate communion with each of us and our children. He accomplishes this through our inward response to the Holy Spirit's wooing. It is more than an academic, theoretical assent to truths, and even a volitional commitment to obeying His commands.
Rather, this communion is an ongoing heart-response to His real presence and leading in our lives. As He did throughout scripture, God will lead us in unexpected ways and we must be willing to follow Him contrary to our expectations.
But because it is inevitable to have expectations or assumptions regarding how God is likely to lead, and there will apparently be times when the Holy Spirit will not lead directly, it is healthy to learn God's ways by delighting in scripture and letting it instruct our world-view. However, this scriptural world-view must include scriptural instruction regarding being led by the Spirit.
In summary, it is important for us to provide our children with a deep scriptural grounding. Scripture calls us to value the roles of both the law and the Spirit, but not to confuse them. We are not under the law, but are to love it and benefit from its instruction, thinking according to biblical norms rather than the assumptions of our culture. However, we are not to be LED by the scriptures. We are to be personally LED BY THE SPIRIT.
(For an article illustrating this principle, the complementary roles of scripture and the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians, see "Parable of Three Brides" at:
http://www.boldchristianliving.com/articles/other-topics/parable-of-three-brides.html.)
http://www.BoldChristianLiving.com
Copyright 2001 Jonathan Lindvall
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