The Only True Guide by Edgar Kelsey

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 21, 1886

The Only True Guide.

By Edgar Kelsey

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1.

A SECTARIAN spirit, or a spirit of preconceived ideas, only leads its possessor to those passages of Scripture the phraseology of which, when considered apart from their proper bearing, may be construed to favor their own ideas. Other texts have to be examined when presented as objections. But evasion is a common attribute of sectarianism. For instance, with that misleading method of interpretation,—the source of so many false doctrines which are either extremely repulsive or insidiously delusive, the cardinal idea of which was first uttered by Satan himself (Gen. 3:4), which turns God's penalty for disobedience to such an absurd thing as a "death that never dies," and declares that we naturally possess immortality, in spite of the absence of Scriptural proof and the presence of plain Scripture to the contrary,—its advocates can only evade those objections which they cannot answer. With sectarianism as a leading spirit, our advance in the light and knowledge of the Scriptures is effectually retarded.

A spirit of skepticism, or infidelity, or any spirit of opposition, will not lead one into an impartial consideration of the general tenor of the Scriptures. By such guides men are very often led into the mistaken idea that in overthrowing the absurd interpretation of other misguided men they overthrow the Bible. But the Bible still stands, and false doctrines are constantly being dispelled by the increasing light of the approaching perfect day.

Many professed Christians wait with much impatience the appointments of worldly pleasures, while prayer-meeting appointments seem to awaken in their hearts no appreciable anticipation. This spirit of indifference encourages proportionately greater indifference among the unconverted, and hurts the power of the church more than all the works of skepticism and infidelity can do. Professed Christians, who by mingling with the world become possessed of the spirit of indifference, especially need a baptism of the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth, so that they may realize their condition in the sight of God and their responsibility to their fellow-men.

Those who possess a spirit of hypocrisy do not care for gospel motives. They take upon themselves the form of religion, adorned with the precepts of all its virtues, as a mere cloak to enable them to share confidence which should only be divided among true Christians. And, alas! when their hypocrisy is exposed and their real motive is seen, true Christians are unjustly compelled to share the burden of distrust which should rest entirely upon the shoulders of the guilty. Though it is a matter of much sorrow to every true Christian that so many take upon themselves the mere profession of religion, and so shamefully abuse the confidence thus unjustly gained, yet the Lord's children are not disheartened even by the hypocrisy of false brethren, for they know that deliverance will surely come.

The Holy Spirit alone will protect us from the multitudes of errors, snares, and contrary spirits of Satan. The following elucidation of divine guidance will help us to appreciate the importance of being led by the Holy Spirit:—

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor. 2:9-14.

And you who are without hope, will you not yield to the Spirit which convinces you of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment? It will guide you into all truth, and bring you into kindred relation with the good of every age and clime. You may be a joint-heir with Christ and all the redeemed to the rich blessings and everlasting joys of a glorious, eternal inheritance. If in this world you suffer matters of infinitely less importance to make you heedless of the grace of God, when it is too late, an unmistakable sense of your great loss will dawn upon you. And you will then be unable to deny the justness of the doom against which you are now so abundantly warned in the Scriptures of divine truth. We cannot escape if we neglect the great salvation. Let us then yield to the saving influences of the Holy Spirit, so that when the Judgment is set, and the cause of righteousness is fully vindicated, we may be found worthy in Christ, having been guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth.—Edgar Kelsey, in World's Crisis.