The Spirit and The Word

Author : Keith Sharp

Repeatedly in recent Bible studies I have been impressed with the fact that, to understand how to be saved, one must understand the work of the Holy Spirit in our salvation. The belief that the Holy Spirit operates in a supernatural, mysterious way on the hearts of believers is a central but often vaguely defined opinion common to almost all denominations of Christendom. This doctrine fails to recognize the importance and sufficiency of the inspired word of God as the instrument of the Spirit and is used to justify all manner of doctrines and practices contradictory to the revealed will of God. I propose to prove by the Scriptures that everything the Holy Spirit does directly to the minds of men in conversion and sanctification He does by the instrument of the Word of God.

Definition and Explanation of Proposition

The proposition acknowledges that the Holy Spirit is alive and active and explains how He is active in our salvation. The work of conversion is that of turning the sinner to God (Acts 3:19; 26:20), whether it be an alien sinner or an erring child of God (James 5:19-20). “Sanctification” includes “separation to God” (Vine. 3:317; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) coupled with initial justification, and “the course of life befitting those so separated” (Ibid; Hebrews 10:14). This includes all our walk with Christ until death. Thus, the proposition includes everything done directly to the mind of man by the Spirit from the time he is first influenced to become a Christian until he parts this life. The Holy Spirit operates upon the hearts of both sinners and saints exclusively through the moral, emotional, and logical appeal of the word He inspired rather than by the use of direct, supernatural, miraculous, mysterious power.

I don’t deny the possibility the Holy Spirit functions providentially (Colossians 4:2-4), but His influence directly on the mind of man is through the Word (Acts 8:26-35).

This eliminates a Calvinistic inward call. Calvinists affirm, “… the Holy Spirit, in order to bring God’s elect to salvation, extends to them a special inward call in addition to the outward call contained in the gospel message” (Five Points. 48). They couple this with a belief in supernatural “enlightenment” by the direct work of the Holy Spirit. They teach, “God makes known to His chosen ones the secrets of the kingdom through the inward personal revelation given by the Spirit” (Ibid. 52).

This also precludes Wesleyanism. This system affirms two important direct influences by the Holy Spirit. First, is “better felt than told” religion. They assert:

The Witness of the Spirit may be said to be the distinguishing doctrine of Methodism…. By the witness of the Spirit I mean the inward impression on the soul, whereby the Spirit of God immediately and directly witnesses to my spirit that I am a child of God…. (Primer. 34. [quoting John Wesley])

Second is the doctrine of “entire sanctification.”

Entire sanctification is the act of God by which the human heart is cleansed from all sin and filled with love by the Holy Spirit who is given, through faith, to the fully consecrated believer. (Dayton. 1:521)

Finally, it eliminates Pentecostalism:

The ‘Full Gospel’ churches or ‘Pentecostals’ contend that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is a needed and promised experience for every believer who will ‘tarry,’ ‘ask, seek and knock’ until they receive, and that the receiving is always evidenced by the speaking in ‘other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance.’ (Dennis. 7)

The proposition includes everything done directly to the mind of man by the Holy Spirit. I affirm the Holy Spirit uses the Word as His instrument to accomplish this work (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13). Thus, He employs the moral persuasion of the Gospel, not direct power. I do not mean the Spirit equals the Word, nor am I contending the Spirit is in the Word or with the Word. I assume all readers believe that the Bible is inspired (2 Timothy 3:16) and that the Holy Spirit revealed it (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). Thus, He uses the word which he gave as an instrument or medium through which to convert and sanctify all people.

Objections to Proposition

Someone might object, Just because the Spirit operates toward man through the word does not mean he operates that way only. That is like the Protestants arguing that, since salvation is by faith, it is by faith only. Not quite. I can scripturally show Protestants that requirements in addition to faith must be met to obtain salvation. Where is the passage that teaches the Holy Spirit personally does something toward man in addition to his work through the instrument of the word?

The controversy is parallel to that with Protestants in one respect. The New Testament teaches us to sing in worship to God. Protestants contend, without scriptural justification, that we may both sing and play. The New Testament teaches the Holy Spirit operates through the word. Some insist, without scriptural authority, He operates both through and separate from the word.

Proof of Proposition

The proof of the proposition consists of a simple syllogism. The major premise is: If a person and an instrument perform the same task, the person is working by the instrument This is axiomatic, a truism, “an undoubted or self-evident truth” (Webster). The minor premise is: Everything the Holy Spirit does directly to the minds of men in conversion and sanctification, the word of God also does. The proof of this premise is the key to the argument. If it is true, our proposition, everything the Holy Spirit does directly to the minds of men in conversion and sanctification He does by the instrument of the Word of God, is true as well.

To prove the accuracy of the minor premise, we shall simply notice everything mentioned in. the New Testament that the Holy Spirit does to our minds in our conversion and sanctification, and we shall see that the word of God performs these same tasks. There are twenty-six such works, and we shall study them in the order in which they are found.

In order to enter the kingdom, one must be “born of… the Spirit” (John 3:5). But, we have been “born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).

Jesus revealed, “It is the Spirit who gives life” (John 6:63). But in the same verse He added, ” The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

Jesus promised the apostles the Holy Spirit would “testify” of Him (John 15:26), but he also exhorted, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). Even as the inspired prophecies of the Old Covenant testify of Christ, their Spirit-revealed fulfillments in the New Testament do as well.

The Lord revealed the Spirit of Truth would “convict” the world (John 16:8), and this is done by the preaching of the word (2 Timothy 4:2).

The Spirit of grace comforts God’s children (Acts 9:31), but He does so by apostolic words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

The Holy Spirit makes elders (Acts 20:28), but He does so as faithful men are taught the word, allowing them to grow to attain the qualifications, be selected by the church, and be appointed by an evangelist (2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5).

The “law. of the Spirit of life” frees us “from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). But He effects this emancipation through our by obedience “from the heart” to “that form of doctrine” (Romans 6:17-18).

To become a son of God, one must be “led by the Spirit of God” (Romans 8:14), through His word (Psalms 119:105).

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). How is this witness borne? “But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him” (1 John 2:5). The Spirit, through the word, testifies what we must do to become sons of God, our spirits testify we have obeyed that word, and they thus bear witness together.

We “abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13) as “through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures” we “have hope”(Romans 15:4).

The Holy Spirit possesses “power” (Romans 15: 13), but his “power… to salvation” is the “gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16).

Christians are “washed,… sanctified,” and “justified… by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11), but this is accomplished through the word (John 15:3; 17:17; Galatians 2:16).

The Holy Spirit leads sinners to believe “that Jesus is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:3), but He does so through “the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13), as we were led by the word to be baptized in water (Ephesians 5:25-27).

The Holy Spirit changes us into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18) through the word He inspired the apostles and prophets to preach and write (2 Corinthians 4:3-7).

Disciples must “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16-18.25); which is to “walk according to His commandments” (2 John 6).

The righteous traits of character in the lives of God’s saints are “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23), i.e., the fruit of “the word of the truth of the gospel” (Colossians 1:5-6).

We are “strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16) as we are built up by “the word of His grace” (Acts 20:32).

The Spirit gives Christians understanding (Ephesians 3:14-19) as they read the “revelation” of the Spirit written down by the “apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 3:1-7).

Saints are “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18-19) as they let “the word of Christ dwell in” them “richly” (Colossians 3:16).

We enjoy the “fellowship of the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1-2) as we “walk in the light” of His word (1 John 1:3,7).

The Spirit speaks “expressly” (1 Timothy 4:1), but he does so to us through the teaching of His word (Ibid).

Paul asserted we are “saved” by the “Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5), but James revealed this is through “the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

The Spirit of Grace calls us to come to Christ (Revelation 22:17). He sends forth this invitation through the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14)

So far as I have been able to determine, this is a full examination of the work of the Holy Spirit toward the minds of both the alien sinner and the saint. Each time we find an action performed by the Spirit, we likewise notice it is accomplished by the word.

Thus, our minor premise is true. Everything the Holy Spirit does to the minds of men in conversion and sanctification the word of God does also.

Romans 8:26-27

The most commonly made argument I have heard against the evidence I have compiled in support of the minor premise is based on Romans 8:26-27:

Likewise the Spirit also helps 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.

The argument is made: The Holy Spirit intercedes for us in prayer; this work cannot be attributed to the Scriptures; therefore, the Holy Spirit does something for us the word does not do.

Were I to grant the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, it would have no bearing on the proposition as defined. The work under consideration is that done to man from God. Intercession is a work done from man to God. Thus, it in no way would negate the evidence mustered.

Further, were I to grant the Holy Spirit intercedes in prayer in our behalf, it would in no wise prove He dwells personally in the Christian apart from the word. Christ unquestionably intercedes in our behalf. Does he personally indwell His saints apart from His word? Must God literally live inside my body to know my mind?

But I do not believe the “Spirit” of Romans 8:26 is the Holy Spirit. The term “spirit” is used in several ways in Romans eight, with the context determining the usage. It is used to denote attitudes, the Holy Spirit, and the human spirit all three in only two verses (verses 15-16). The capital “S” has no bearing on the question, for this is a matter of the opinion of the translators. The original made no distinction between lower case and upper case letters. The burden of proof that the “Spirit” of Romans 8:26 is the Holy Spirit rests with those who contend this teaches He intercedes in our behalf, for they are the ones who employ this as a proof text.

The evidence is against their assumption. Christ is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). As mediator, He performs the work of intercession in our behalf (Hebrews 7:22-25). Where Is room for another intercessor?

More likely, the “Spirit” of Romans 8:26 is the human spirit. Yes, our own spirits may intercede in our behalf (1 Corinthians 2:11), and our own spirits help our fleshly weaknesses (Matthew 26:41; Romans 8:6). In the phrase “the Spirit Himself, ” the Greek term underlying “Himself” is neuter gender (Analytical Lexicon. 60). It is literally translated “itself”(Berry. 419). The groanings are our groanings (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:2-4). The Holy Spirit doesn’t communicate with the Son or the Father by groaning! When we pray, there are petitions of our heart we lack the ability to properly frame into words. But our spirits take these petitions to Christ, Who knows and understands even the groanings of our hearts. He searches our hearts (Revelation 2:13,23), He knows the minds of our spirits, and He intercedes in our behalf (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:24-25). He is perfectly fitted to represent us to God (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1-2).

The minor premise is unscathed. Thus, it is indeed true, everything the Holy Spirit does directly to the minds of men in conversion and sanctification He does by the instrument of the Word of God.

Conclusion

A careful study of the New Testament demonstrates that the Holy Spirit operates upon the minds of people, both alien sinners and Christians, through and only through the revealed word of God.

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 (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We do not need tongue-speaking, miraculous healing, baptism with the Holy Spirit, supernatural inner light, miraculous regeneration, or personal indwelling of the Spirit of God. We do need a deeper faith in and reverence for the revealed word of God, the Bible, our all sufficient guide to heaven. The word of God, revealed, confirmed, recorded and preserved by the Holy Spirit, is fully able to save your soul (James 1:21). Will you make it your rule of life and guide to heaven?

 

Works Cited

Berry, George Ricker, The Interlinear Literal Translation of the Greek New Testament.

Dayton, Wilber T., A Contemporary Wesleyan Theology.

Dennis, J.A., The Holy Spirit.

Selecman, Charles Claude, The Methodist Primer.

Steele, David N. and Curtis C. Thomas, The Five Points of Calvinism.

The Analytical Greek Lexicon.

Webster’s Third International Dictionary, unabridged.

 

_______________