HOLY SPIRIT COMMUNICATES ILLUMINATES THE TRUTH TO THE BELIEVING BIBLE READER THROUGH ILLUMINATION.

The communication of the truth of God through the text of the Bible is essentially a spiritual event, and not merely an intellectual or academic event. Pure rationalization alone will not lead any one to accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the only Savior of mankind. The case of the skeptics and critics only prove the point that by the exercise of reason alone one cannot believe in the word of God and Jesus Christ. This is because the Bible cannot be understood and believed in merely by the rationalistic efforts of man. It is the spiritual clarity that leads to the intellectual clarity, not the other way around.

Every translation of the Bible is supposed to be a faithful attempt to reach to the spirit of the original. No translation needs to be necessarily perfect. The communication of the truth is not totally dependent on the quality of the translations. If the reader or the hearer is a believer and has the true desire to know the Word of God, irrespective of the quality of the translation, the Holy Spirit will communicate the truth content of the written Word of God in the original manuscripts of the Bible to the spirit of the born-again person. Because the same Holy Spirit who inspired the writers of the original manuscripts of the Bible is the same Spirit that indwells in the believer and enables him to understand the Bible when he reads or hears it. Communication between Bible and the believer is made possible because both are created by the one and same person, the Holy Spirit.

Such an inner likeness of that which is to be understood and of the person who wants to understand is an essential prerequisite for the right understanding of the Scripture. Thus a person understands the words of the Bible when the Spirit of Christ within him hears the words of the Bible and recognizes His own word. “We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that comes from God in order that we may know the things which God has freely given us”. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6). “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb 11:3). Thus it is the belief which leads to understanding, not the understanding which produces belief.

ILLUMINATION refers to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to both understand scripture and accept it as truth. Because of sin man is incapable of understanding the scripture apart from the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. Illumination refers to the role of the Holy Spirit in communicating the meaning of the original passages in the Bible when the believer reads the translation. It refers to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in enabling the believers both to understand the Scripture and accept it as truth. Because of sin man is incapable of correctly understanding the Scripture apart from the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. Hence without completely relying on the Holy Spirit for illumination one cannot properly understand the God-intended meaning from the text of the Bible. Thus, unless God works from within, the believer cannot understand the Bible correctly. “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45). “Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Lk 24:32). “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth...” (Jn 16:13). The illumination will be proportional to the desire to know. Hunger for truth is necessary to find the real truth. All believers have all of revelation, but not all of illumination. Unless the believer obeys what is already revealed, God will not give any further revelation. In accordance with the spiritual growth the believers will receive more and more illumination. If the believer does not act upon the illumination he already has, his heart will start hardening and darkening. If a believer continues to walk in flesh he will get chastisement. Thus, illumination is directly proportional to desire and obedience. “...For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind”(Jn 9:39).

Hence only a believer who diligently seeks the truth can properly understand the Scriptures. Thus a person prejudiced or predisposed against the Biblical truth will not be able to get the truth out of it. Apart from the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit no man can understand the saving significance of God's special revelation in the Scripture. And without accepting Christ as the Lord and Savior the help of the Holy Spirit will not be available. Hence only a believer can receive such illumination. Hence an unbeliever, because he does not have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, cannot understand the Bible correctly. Man’s difficulty in understanding the Scripture can be overcome only if he is regenerated and transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. God will not yield His truth to the unbelievers. Because, “...the natural man recieveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Cor 2:14).

The Biblical truth is founded in the supernatural realms, so deep that human reason unassisted by faith cannot reach, realize and experience it. The meaning and purposes of the Scripture cannot be fully understood and believed in through the rationalistic mind of an unborn-again person. This fact is asserted by the Bible. “Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (1Cor 1:20). See Lk 10:21. “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1Cor 2:4-5). Only a born again “spiritual” person can understand spiritual realities revealed in the Bible. Man can understand the revealed truth from the Bible only in conjunction with the inner witness of the Holy Spirit who is present in every believer in Jesus Christ. Hence gospel must only be preached to the unbeliever, not taught.

ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY OF THE TRUTH IS ATTAINED BY FAITH, NOT BY REASON

How to possess the certainty of the truth is the key issue. Human rationality can at the most provide only high probability. But faith gives certainty. The fact is that man find certainty of truth only in an encounter with God through Jesus Christ, who is truth personified. Thus the assurance and certainty of truth can be acquired only by faith in Jesus Christ and through the personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which occurs only through the effectual work of the Holy Spirit, and not through the rationalizations of man.

Faith Is The Opposite Of Rationalism: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Faith in the living Word of God (Jesus Christ) is the correct method of acquiring true knowledge of the ultimate truth. All treasures of knowledge is hid in the person of Jesus Christ. Hence we must depend on the biblical method of faith, rather than the false method of rationalism or the “scientific method”. Bible warns against such methods: “...Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith...” (1Tim 6:20-21).

CHRIST IS THE CENTER, FOUNDATION, ALPHA & OMEGA

“Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life...there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (Jn 5:39-47). “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk 24:27).

BASIS OF BIBLICAL INERRANCY

We are not trying to prove that Bible has no errors so that we can be sure that the Bible is the Word of God. One might be able to prove that another book is without any error. But that will not make that book the word of God. We hold that the Bible is the Word of God and hence inerrant, because we are convinced that Jesus Christ believed it so and taught His disciples to believe it. We believe His word. We know His word is truth by the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

THE DANGER OF FALSE DOCTRINES AND THE NEED TO GUARD OURSELVES AGAINST THEM

We are asked to watch out our life and doctrine closely (1Tim 4:16). “Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both Father and the Son” (2Jn 9). False doctrines can cost your soul. We cannot sacrifice truth for anything. Unity (fellowship, friendship) should not be at the expense of truth. With the emergence of modern theologies, false doctrines have become rampant and church life is degenerating. Men are turning away from sound doctrines (2Tim 4:3). Many people go after teachers, preachers and leaders who provide ideas and assurances which suit their interests, to satisfy their itching ears. Their priority is not knowing the truth, and be set free (2Tim 4:3). They are deceived because of their own hypocrisy. Modern theologians want you to literally believe their words, but not God’s words or Paul’s words.

THE BIBLE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF GOOD THEOLOGY

Man’s source for truth comes to a meaningful conclusion at the point of revelation, inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. Our knowledge about God, our relationship with God, and the way we approach other doctrines, are all solely determined by our attitude towards the written Word of God, the Bible. A wrong understanding of the nature and character of the Bible can lead to wrong beliefs and teachings. One’s view of the Bible will determine the nature and character of one’s life and ministry. The Bible has to be understood in its totality. The Word of God is the only standard by which we should judge the messages given by preachers and teachers, not by our thoughts and feelings. Bible is the only objective standard by which we can determine the right and wrong. The sole basis of any right theology is the Word of God. (2Tim 3:16-17; 2Pet 1:20-21).

THE ERRORS OF MODERN THEOLOGY SAME AS THAT OF ANAS AND CAIPHAS

Anas and Caiphas were scholars of the day when they sentenced Jesus to be killed. They misunderstood Jesus to the maximum extent of calling him the prince of demons and killing him. Because though they were scholars in the sight of the world, their heart was wrong. Flesh and blood could not reveal the truth to Peter but only the Holy Spirit. So were they. But today the descendants of the Pharisees are marching ahead claming authority and superiority but in fact committing the same blunders of Anas and Caiphas.

BIBLE INTERPRETATION ISSUES – SCRIPTURE IS THE BUILDING BLOCK OF THEOLOGY

The sole basis of any right theology must be the Word of God. Because Bible is the sole and final authority for Christian faith. (2Tim 3:16-17; 2Pet 1:20-21). Bible should be the source and standard of truth in the life of the believer. Bible is the only infallible rule for the faith life of the believers. Bible is the only written Word of God which is perfect and without error in all that it affirms. One’s view of the Bible will determine the nature and character of one’s life and ministry.

Every passage in the Scripture must be interpreted in the light of the truth of all other passages of the Scripture. Bible itself is the context to all its passages. Bible has to be understood in its totality. Scripture cannot be broken (Jn 10:35).

Interpreting the Scriptures without the help of the Holy Spirit will lead to false doctrines. Hence one has to completely rely on the interpreting power of the Holy Spirit.

Misinterpretation of the Word of God is the most systematic and most serious spiritual lie, prostitution of the Word of God, exposition of the wickedness of human heart in all its nakedness and a dastardly contribution to the schemes of the devil. Misinterpreting the word of God is an attempt to dilute the Truth. But truth cannot be diluted. Some tell spiritual lies by over-spiritualizing Bible. Others misinterpret the Bible in such a way as to steal the God-intended meaning out of it. Any attempt to edit the revelation of God through man’s theories and philosophies is an affront to the Word of God. Philosophical, sociological, economic and political realities, presuppositions and theories cannot be used as hermeneutical keys to the Bible. Right understanding of the Scriptures require right presuppositions. Thus the unbelieving or unborn-again student of the Bible, howsoever learned he is in the wisdom of the world, naturally misunderstands and misinterprets the Bible. At the same time the Bible is given in such a nature that even the simplest believer can understand it correctly and live by it.

Hermeneutics or interpretation has become the central theological issue. The most fundamental hermeneutical problem is regarding the objectivity of the Scripture. True Christians believe in the Scriptural absolutes and claim objectivity in understanding and applying the Scripture.

The unchangeable and settled purpose of God is revealed in the Bible. The Bible is not controlled by the time, persons, and cultural background of its origin. They were just the media God used to reveal His eternal principles for man. All right theologies are perfectly contained and perfectly complete in the Bible. Only the principles of the Bible should be literally applied in the life of the believers. Emphasis must be on teaching the teachings of Jesus and apostles, not their experiences. The seeming discrepancies and problems of the Bible are due to the lack of knowledge. They can be solved with relevant information. Bible does not approve everything that is recorded in it. Eg. Cain kills Abel; Moses kills the Egyptian; Adultery of David; Solomon many maintains concubines, etc.

RELEVANCE OF THE BIBLE AND JESUS CHRIST

The fallen man’s twisted intelligence can be straightened only by the Word of God.In the Bible God gives an authoritative revelation of His character, will and redemptive acts, without which we will not have any objective knowledge about God (Rom 11:33-34). Jesus Christ is the living Word of God which became flesh. Bible is an introduction to the person of Jesus Christ. If separated from the person of Jesus Christ, then the Bible becomes lifeless. Christ is the beginning, center, end, purpose and meaning of the Scripture. References to other persons, places and things are only incidental. “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life...there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (Jn 5:39-47). “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk 24:27). ‘You do err not knowing the Scriptures’?

Hence in order to be theologically right one has to have a balanced approach to both the living Word of God (Christ) and the written Word of God (Bible). When the Jews over-emphasized on the Scripture, they were unable to recognize the person of Jesus Christ, and committed the mistake of crucifying the person of Jesus Christ. On the other hand neglecting the Scripture to emphasize on the person of Jesus Christ will lead to false views about Jesus Christ Himself. Because, our knowledge about Jesus Christ is to be defined and determined by the Bible.

HOW TO DECIDE WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG?

If you know truth, you can discern untruth. Just as you know your mother and hence know that no other women are your mother. You don’t have to closely study to see whether they are your mother or not. Similarly if you know Christ, you can know what is right and what is wrong.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY

Command to study: Study it to show thyself approved unto God (2Tim 2:15).

Pray and study: Study it with a committed heart and willingness to obey, praying for wisdom (Js 1:5) that you may understand all the things of the spirit of God (1Cor 2:14).

Cannot learn theology without obedience: “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts” (Ps 119:97-101). “These (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed ...” (Acts 17:11-12). “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa 8:20).

Fear of God is beginning of wisdom: “... to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isa 66:2). “He that rejecteth me, and recieveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (Jn 12:48).

PAROCHIALISM AND CONSTANT LIES OF THTE LIBERALS MIGHT DECIEVE THE BELIEVERS

Once a Brahmin carried sheep and the robbers tricked him saying it is a dog. Being confused he gave it up and ran away. Thus today the feeble believers lose faith as the liberal leaders constantly misguide them. The liberals are like the Frog in the pool which said the sun belongs to the pool. When you are too close to the tree, it hides the forest from you. Hence get away from the false teachers. Be close to the word of God.