By Shane Carrington
Synopsis: God, in His sovereign wisdom and might, calls us to Himself through the written word that was revealed by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 1:16-17; John 6:44-45; 20:30-31).
Some say, “You think the Holy Spirit only comforts and guides us through the Bible, but I just can’t limit God like that.” The concept that God tugs on heartstrings and offers guidance in some manner other than through the pages of Scripture is common. Behind this view lies a belief in private nudging and other personal, secret messages of the Holy Spirit. Some testify, “You just don’t understand; I’ve experienced it.” Others confess, “I don’t believe we can understand the Bible or make godly decisions with just the Bible. We need the Holy Spirit to illuminate us and strengthen us in our hearts, and He does this apart from the word.” “I can’t squeeze God into a little box like the Bible as you do.” God, in Sacred Scripture, seems to say the opposite.
While God certainly works providentially in unseen ways behind the scenes, the manner in which He convicts, converts, strengthens, guides, and comforts us is through the written word of God. Consider these passages from John’s writings, which discusses the work of the Holy Spirit at length.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life (John 6:63).
So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life” (John 6:67-68).
As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:30-32).
And He (i.e., the Holy Spirit [v. 7]), when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come (John 16:13).
Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth (John 17:17).
It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth (1 John 5:6b).
This becomes no less powerful when conveyed in written fashion:
Therefore, many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:30-31).
. . .by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit (Eph. 3:3-5).
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
The book of Revelation elevates God’s written word:
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it. . . (Rev. 1:3)
Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches. . . (Rev. 1:11)
The Apocalypse records seven sayings concerning God’s victory-giving written word like, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7; cf. vv. 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).
The written word continues to be magnified in Revelation: God said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true” (Rev. 21:5). An angel (Rev. 21:9) told John, “These words are faithful and true” (Rev. 22:6) and “blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book” (Rev. 22:7). When John prostrated himself to worship that angel (Rev. 22:8), the angel responded, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren, the prophets, and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God” (Rev. 22:9).
The concluding admonition in the book of Revelation summarizes how God intends that His written word be treated.
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book (Rev. 22:18-19; cf. Deut. 4:1,2; 12:32; Prov. 14:12; Gal. 1:6-9; 2 John 9).
Devaluing the power of the written word of God devalues the power and wisdom of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who revealed it. He has spoken! Furthermore, He chose to do that for posterity—“once for all” (Jude 3)—in written form.
Kelly, my beautiful wife, has a rare form of cancer. During her 3.5 year journey—including three major surgeries, radiation, and many rounds of chemo—she has received many get-well cards. Long ago, she set a box aside in which to store them. With every card received, she knows:
Someone who loves me wrote this card.
Someone is pouring out their heart to me, expressing an earnest desire for my well-being.
Kelly would never think, “That’s just a piece of paper.” Rather, she views each message as the heart’s yearning of people expressed in thoughtful words of desire for her comfort and strength.
Similarly, the Bible is no dead letter. It is the living word that can infuse life in people who are willing to drink deeply its powerful message.
Someone responds: “I just can’t limit God in that way.” Yet, can God not limit the manner in which He expresses His power? Can He not choose to work through specific means to accomplish His will? God limited Himself by ceasing creation on the seventh day (Gen. 2:1-3). God limits Himself concerning the manner in which He will destroy the world (Gen. 9:11-15; 2 Pet. 3:6-7). God gave a greater measure of the Spirit to Jesus than to anyone else (John 3:34). God phased out miraculous gifts of the Spirit given to men when He completely revealed and confirmed the gospel message (1 Cor. 13:8-13). God limited Himself to come in the flesh—and to die for our sins (Phil. 2:5-8). God limits Himself by His own word of promise (2 Pet. 3:7). God limits Himself whenever and in whatever manner He chooses. In reality, those who diminish the written word are limiting the power that God claims for His own word (Heb. 4:12).
We must take care to not limit God’s choice. He is sovereign! Nevertheless, in His sovereignty, God gave humans free will. While God wants “all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9), not everyone will choose God’s path (Matt. 7:13-14). God wants the good news of salvation proclaimed to all (Mark 16:15-16), but decrees that “he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16b). Thus, in His sovereign wisdom and might, God has chosen to call us to repentance and salvation through the written word.
The Holy Spirit guided the apostles “into all the truth” (John 16:13), God’s word (John 17:17). Through the apostolic message, delivered by inspiration and recorded for posterity (John 20:30-31; cf. Eph. 3:1-5), the Spirit convicts “the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8).
Through the pages of holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit is crying out on behalf of the godhead: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28); “Be saved from this perverse generation” (Acts 2:40). Never diminish the importance and power of the written word (Rom. 1:16; 10:17)! Indeed, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost” (Rev. 22:17). Will you?
Bio: Shane Carrington has worked with the Southside church of Christ in Sulphur Springs, TX for 23 years. He and his wife, Kelly, have two children. The church website is www.churchofchristss.com. He can be reached at bshanec@mac.com.
