Line Upon Line

Reading the Bible apart from the Holy Spirit is like a first grader trying to do Calculus. They may know some of the numbers they see, just as a person may recognize the words they read, but how everything comes together will not make sense. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.

 

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."

- John 16:13-14

 

When reading the Bible it MUST ALWAYS interpret it's self. Rules of logic, as they help discern absolutes, is also part the interpretation. How does one come to an understanding of the Word?

 

What is the Word?

 

"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."

- John 5:39-40

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

- John 1:1-2

 

The "He" in these verses is Jesus, which is easily discerned as you continue to read the proceeding verses. The Greek word used here for "Word" is logos. It literally means the creative power of the Universe. This verse says that Jesus is the Word, that He "was in the beginning with God", that He "was God", that He "was with God", and that He was "in the beginning". Easy enough since the words and wording mean exactly what they say.

 

Knowing then that Jesus IS the Word, when Jesus says to abide in Him it is easy to know what that looks like. We must abide in the Word.

 

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

- John 15:7

 

It is by abiding in Him, the Word, that we become more like Him as we are separated from the world.

 

"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

- John 17:17

 

Once again though, these truths of themselves mean nothing without the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

- 1 Corinthians 2:14

 

A person MUST be born of the Spirit before they can come to KNOW Jesus as the creative power of the Universe, that He "was in the beginning with God", that He "was God", that He "was with God", and that He was "in the beginning".

 

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

- John 3:5-6

 

Without the Holy Spirit people blindly search the scriptures looking for something they do not know, because they reject Jesus entirely.

 

But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

- 2 Corinthians 3:14-17

 

Therefore a person MUST repent and believe in Jesus, and be filled with the Spirit before the Word will come to life in them.