Lesson 15: The Spirit & The Word

Christians, those who have been baptized for the remission of their sins, have received the promised Spirit; we’ve been born of both water and Spirit (Ezekiel 36.25-27; John 3.5; Acts 2.38). We should have no problem saying that because the New Testament Scriptures make it abundantly clear that the Spirit does in fact dwell in us. (Consider Acts 2:38; Romans 8:9,11,26-27; 1Cor. 6:19; 2Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13; 2Tim 1:14; Heb. 6:4; 1John 4:13; etc.) There may be some hesitancy to say that the Spirit is given to us (Acts 2:38) or that we are the dwelling place of the Spirit (1Cor. 6:19) because of the erroneous things that are sometimes said about the Spirit and His indwelling. However, as was noted in our first lesson, we must not be reactionary in our approach to this topic. If others distort what it means for the Spirit to dwell in a believer, it should not prevent us from affirming what the Scriptures teach: we are God’s temple, we are where His Spirit now dwells.

There is reason to be concerned over historical and current misunderstandings regarding the indwelling of the Spirit. Most disturbing are those teachings that would credit the Spirit with leading us into knowledge that is not found in inspired Scripture. However, true appreciation of God’s Presence with us will lead to greater appreciation for the God-breathed word.

God’s Presence & His Word In Israel

When God delivered Israel out of Egypt, they were not fit for His Presence. Thus, Israel was warned against touching the mountain when God was about to descend upon it (Exodus 19.10-13) and later the elders of Israel could only worship from afar (Exodus 24.1). A tabernacle was to be built, a sanctuary where God could dwell among the people (Exodus 25.8), but its construction was not left to Moses’ desires or the will of the people. 

• How did they know God’s will for His sanctuary? (Exodus 25.9). 
• Do you think God’s Presence would have entered the sanctuary if it was not constructed according to His pattern? 

The point: there is a definite link between following God’s revealed will (pattern) and receiving His Presence.

This was further illustrated in the construction of the ark of the covenant. Affixed to the top of the ark was a mercy seat constructed between two cherubim. Note the significance of its placement: “And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.” (Exodus 25:21–22, ESV) The tabernacle was where God’s presence resided among the people, particularly His presence rested on the mercy seat. And below the mercy seat, within the ark, was found the two tablets that contained God’s covenant with Israel (see Deuteronomy 10.2). God’s presence among the people rested on His covenant, His revealed will to the people.

It’s important to remember that even though God’s presence was with the entire nation, He selected certain people through whom He would reveal His will. As Peter reminded Christians in the first century, “no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God,” (2Peter 1:20-21). Moses was the first prophet in the nation of Israel and is known as the Lawgiver. However, God foretold that there would be other prophets. Deuteronomy 18.15-18 is a prophecy with Messianic fulfillment (Peter says that Jesus fulfills the prophecy in Acts 3.22), but the first application of the prophecy is to the nation of Israel. God would send other prophets among the people and it was their responsibility to heed the prophet’s words. However, it was the prophet’s charge to only speak the words of God, he must not speak “a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak,” (Deut. 18:20). 

God’s Presence & The New Covenant

The basis of the new covenant was first declared by Jesus, the very Son of God (Hebrews 1.1-2). Later, the Hebrew writer exhorted his readers to “pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” (Hebrews 2.1-3) The “message declared by angels” referenced the law that was given to Moses (see Deuteronomy 33.2; Acts 7.53) and every Jew recognized it as the very words of God. God has now revealed His will through His Son, and it deserves the same kind of reverence. While on the earth, Jesus was quick to point out that His teaching did not originate with Him, but was from the Father (John 7.16). This did not diminish His authority, but correctly pointed out that His words were God’s words. John’s gospel focuses on the life-giving nature of Jesus’ words:

• Following His word makes us His disciples where there is truth and freedom (John 8.31-32).
• Those who keep His words will not experience death (John 8.51).  
• Those who hear His voice are His sheep and will have eternal life (John 10.27-28)

However, Jesus would not remain on this earth (John 13:33), so how would these life-giving words continue to be given? 

• What Helper would Jesus send? (John 14.16-17)
• What would this Helper do? (John 14.26; 16.13)
• To whom did Jesus make this Promise?

Much confusion and error can result when the context of Jesus’ words is not considered. For instance: “Father, You sent Your Holy Spirit to be a Counselor to me. He came straight from You to me and other believers. He is the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, and He faithfully testifies truth to me concerning Your Son, Jesus (John 15.26).” (Beth Moore. Praying God’s Word Day By Day). If Jesus was making this promise to all believers, we could assume that God’s will would be revealed to each of us directly. Thus, it must be emphasized that Jesus’ words in John 13-16 were not directed to all disciples for all time, but to the 11 apostles who remained faithful to Him. The Helper would deliver the words of God to them, they in turn would deliver the words of God to the rest of the world. This is the force of the great commission in Matthew 28.19-20, where the apostles were told that they were to make disciples and continue to teach the commandments of Jesus. The same arrangement is described in Hebrews 2.3: the word of God was first declared by Jesus, but it was then delivered to future disciples (the “us” in the passage) by “those who heard” (the apostles). The revealed will of God would not come through the Spirit to each saint, but would come to the saints through God’s chosen apostles and prophets.

Just as God’s presence only entered the tabernacle after the inspired pattern was followed, people today can only receive the Spirit when they follow the inspired word (Galatians 3.2; Ephesians 1.13). This is exactly what is seen in Acts 2. The apostles received the promised Helper (Acts 2.1-4) which allowed them to proclaim the inspired gospel message; when people obeyed the inspired message they received the promised Spirit (Acts 2.38). Furthermore, even though every Christian receives the gift of the Spirit (Acts 2.38), they must still rely on inspired teaching to know what God would have them do (Matthew 28.20). In Ephesians 3:1-7 the apostle Paul states that the baptized believers in Ephesus, all of whom had received the Spirit (1:13), could only understand Paul’s insight into the mystery of the gospel when he wrote it down for them. The Spirit did not reveal the mystery directly to every believer, He revealed it through Paul. The point is emphatic throughout the New Testament: the indwelling of the Spirit does not direct Christians in what they should do, the inspired word does! And this word must be followed, or else God’s Spirit, will not remain with us. “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9, ESV) Let the importance of that verse sink in. Stay true to God’s revealed will and you have God; leave His revealed will and you don’t!