The Spirit and the Word
By G. B. Thompson
THE apostle Paul tells us that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 2 Tim. 3:16. That is, all scripture is God-breathed, inspired. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21. It was the “Spirit of Christ” which was in the prophets, when they “testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1 Peter 1:11. Many other texts of similar import might be given, all clearly showing that while there were a number of writers of the Bible, there was but one Spirit breathing upon and inspiring them all. The Bible, therefore, being the product of the Spirit of God, between the Spirit and the Word there must be, and is, the utmost harmony. In the Christian warfare we are exhorted to go into the battle armed with “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:17. The Holy Spirit wages a warfare against sin, and uses the Word as its weapon. It never leads us from but to the Word. When Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost to preach, he did not set off some oratorical pyrotechnics, and give an essay on ethics or some social problem; but the Spirit led him to the Word. He expounded the Scriptures. There was no long introduction, and not much peroration; but he began by saying, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” Then he cited another prophecy in the Psalms, and showed how these two prophecies had been fulfilled. The Spirit accompanied the presentation of this word with great power, and those who heard were “pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter was the spokesman, but the Spirit was present and convicted the people. Without the Spirit the sermon would have convicted no one. Mr. Moody says: “There was a time when I thought the raising of Lazarus was the greatest work ever done on this earth. But I think the conversion of those three thousand Jews on the day of Pentecost was more wonderful still. Those hard-hearted Jews were full of hatred and unbelief; many, no doubt, were the same men who murdered Christ. And yet they were swept down by the mighty power of the Spirit. We have the same obstacles to contend with as the apostles had. Our gospel that we are preaching is a supernatural gospel, and we have got to have supernatural power to preach it.” This example stands as a clear illustration of the relationship between the Spirit and the Word. And the same power should be witnessed to-day in the presentation of the Word. The preaching of the Word should have effect. When the prophecies, which came by direct inspiration of the Spirit, are explained, and their fulfilment shown, why should not the same power be seen at this time, and a deep conviction of their truthfulness settle upon those who listen? M. E. Guers, a French writer, well says: “The Spirit and the Word, the Word and the Spirit, are two things indissolubly united by God. A theology which separates them is not worthy the name. ‘The Spirit without the Word’ is, with some, personal inspiration with all its illusions, or mysticism in its bad sense, if not fanaticism with all its errors. “On the other hand, ‘the Word without the Spirit,’ is for some orthodox intellectualism with its desolating dryness, or, what is still worse, rationalism and its errors; for others it is a prolongation of their childish comprehension of the Word, the want of peace and confidence in the promise of God, of assurance and rejoicing over our reconciliation with him through faith in Jesus Christ, and it also is a delay in sanctification. Let us avoid these two extremes with equal care; while we hold the Book, let us lift our hearts to him who makes us able to read it with profit; in the union of the Word and the Spirit, and there alone, is there entire safety for our souls.” In all study concerning the Holy Spirit we need to keep close to the Bible. The false doctrine that the Spirit leads and guides without reference to the Word lies at the very foundation of all folly and fanaticism. This claim leads men into error, where impressions and whisperings of human fancy are placed above the divine oracles of the written Word. The Spirit himself is grieved and dishonored by the setting aside of the very instruction which he gave as a light and guidance to man. The Spirit often does7give clear impressions of duty; but we can be assured that any impression which leads us to lightly esteem the Scriptures, or to go contrary to their plain teaching, is not the leadings of the Spirit. Another dangerous error is that of claiming to take the Word and at the same time rejecting the Spirit. This kind of religion is simply a cold, legal form without life or spiritual power. The Spirit and the Word can never be separated. The Spirit is in the Word, and it leads us to love and study the Book of God, and to obey its holy instructions. There must be something by which we can test the spirit. We are told to “try the spirits whether they are of God.” 1 John 4:1. We read of “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Eph. 2:2. By what shall we test the spirit, and be able to distinguish between the leading of the Holy Spirit and that of some other spirit which seizes hold of man now as truly as in Jesus’ time, when great exhibitions of demoniacal possession were seen? This infallible guide is the Holy Bible, which the Spirit himself indited. We have been warned that while the power of the Spirit of God is coming upon his remnant church, a spirit from beneath will come up and seize hold upon those who, because of their unconsecrated condition, have rejected the light of the Word. In “Early Writings” is a view given of Jesus going into the most holy place at the beginning of the investigative judgment. Of those who followed the Saviour into the second apartment we read:— “Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to him in the holiest, and pray, ‘My Father, give us thy Spirit.’ Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.”—Page 46, edition of 1882.
But there was another company seen. Concerning these we read:— “I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, ‘Father, give us thy Spirit.’ Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan’s object was to keep them deceived, and to draw back and deceive God’s children.”—Id., pages 46, 47.
Here are the two spirits brought to view. One is the Holy Spirit of God; the other is the unholy spirit of Satan. One is represented as the breath of God, the other the breath of Satan. Both have light and power. In the unholy power of Satan, however, there was “no sweet love, joy, and peace.” The spirit from beneath may possess power and light. Satan is able to transform himself into an angel of light. But the fruit of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, and peace —is absent. These constitute the kingdom of God. Many will be deceived by this spirit of disobedience, be led into error, and finally lost. But we need not be deluded. We have the unerring guidebook, the Bible, which clearly reveals the workings of the Spirit of God in the human heart, and unmasks all the deceptions of the powers of darkness. Let the Word of God be studied as never before, with earnest prayer for the illumination and guidance of that same divine Spirit which inspired prophets and holy men of old to write it.