November 6, 2016

Can the Holy Spirit reveal truths from the Scripture which are not written in it?

This is a great question Susan because it highlights one very important aspect about the wisdom of GOD. We are completely and utterly dependent on the HOLY SPIRIT to reveal truth to us. Let’s look at a passage of scripture…

1 Corinthians 2
None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

So the first part of your question is answered by saying only the HOLY SPIRIT can reveal truth. It is impossible to obtain, understand, see, live out the truth of GOD with out the SPIRIT of GOD dwelling in us. All truth is spiritually discerned.

The second part of your question is does the HOLY SPIRIT reveal truth from scripture that is not written in it? I would say this: The scripture is the final authority on all matters for a believer (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Meaning if it cannot be supported by scripture it cannot be embraced as truth. I would say that there are things that are not clearly seen in scripture and the HOLY SPIRIT brings clarity to what has already been revealed. The Bible is pretty clear about the fact that there is no new revelation. And we ought to reject anybody who comes to us with a revelation about GOD and His redemptive plan on the earth that is not found in His word.

Now in saying that I do believe that the HOLY SPIRIT is constantly at work bringing about clarity of scripture and He helps us to rightly apply it to our living. Every decision we make is not going to be found in scripture but the scripture will be the wisdom we use to make GOD honoring decisions in our life.

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