What is The "Illumination" Of The Holy Spirit?

[JesusFan]

he is said by Jesus to be our "teacher" leading into "all truth" , and Apostle John said we all have the "annoiting" from Him abiding in us...

just what is this illumination from Him?
How is it different from using "sound" bible study methods?
If he is perfect teacher to us sent by God to reveal His word to us...

WHY so many disagreements in doctrines?

 

[Skandelon]

he is said by Jesus to be our "teacher" leading into "all truth" , and Apostle John said we all have the "annoiting" from Him abiding in us...

just what is this illumination from Him?
How is it different from using "sound" bible study methods?
If he is perfect teacher to us sent by God to reveal His word to us...

WHY so many disagreements in doctrines?

First, I think a distinction needs to be made between us [the average believer] and the divinely inspired apostles, who were first given these sacred truths in which to testify and record as scripture.

When Jesus, speaking to his apostles, said these things was he meaning to say that we would receive the same type of inspiration of the HS as those who were appointed to author the scripture? If so, what gives them their authority and keeps anyone from writing more scriptures into the cannon?

Please don't misunderstand my questions. I'm in no way attempting to deny the HS's role in our lives today, I'm only attempting to draw a distinction in the HS's role with the apostles and with us. It appears to me that the HS revealed the mysteries to the apostles for them to record in our human language so that we could pass them along through reading, preaching and teaching. Thus, the HS wrought gospel recorded in the scriptures and spread by preaching IS A WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT in and of itself and thus sufficient to lead the lost to be reconciled to God. Some mistake related passages to mean that the HS must do more than what He has already done in inspiring the gospel and is doing by indwelling the hearts of his people who are sent out to preach to every creature.

 

[JesusFan]

First, I think a distinction needs to be made between us [the average believer] and the divinely inspired apostles, who were first given these sacred truths in which to testify and record as scripture.

When Jesus, speaking to his apostles, said these things was he meaning to say that we would receive the same type of inspiration of the HS as those who were appointed to author the scripture? If so, what gives them their authority and keeps anyone from writing more scriptures into the cannon?

Please don't misunderstand my questions. I'm in no way attempting to deny the HS's role in our lives today, I'm only attempting to draw a distinction in the HS's role with the apostles and with us. It appears to me that the HS revealed the mysteries to the apostles for them to record in our human language so that we could pass them along through reading, preaching and teaching. Thus, the HS wrought gospel recorded in the scriptures and spread by preaching IS A WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT in and of itself and thus sufficient to lead the lost to be reconciled to God. Some mistake related passages to mean that the HS must do more than what He has already done in inspiring the gospel and is doing by indwelling the hearts of his people who are sent out to preach to every creature.

Agree that ONLY Apostles had inspiration to write the Bible, but don't all of us today have the "annoiting" John spoke of, and have illumination also?

How does that work while we read/study the Bible today?

 

[Skandelon]

Agree that ONLY Apostles had inspiration to write the Bible, but don't all of us today have the "annoiting" John spoke of, and have illumination also?

Yes, I think we have the HS residing in us and giving us guidance and better understanding of his truth. But, we must recognize the distinction between the revelation of new truth/mystery as we see given to prophets and later the apostles. The gospel message (that God was in Christ reconciling the whole world to himself) was a mystery to everyone in Christ's day. Even the apostles didn't really understand it until Paul started preaching it and Peter had his dream. So, how is that mystery made known to us? Did you get blinded by a light or have a supernatural dream about clean and unclean animals? No. You and I know about it because Paul and Peter wrote it down and testified to these truths. So, they came to know the mystery through supernatural divine intervention. We come to know it through the normative means of scripture, preaching, teaching and the work of the church. While all those means are persevered and carried by the HS, they are NOT irresistible, supernatural and individually applied to select chosen ones, as they were to Paul, Peter and the rest. Make sense?

How does that work while we read/study the Bible today?

I don't know exactly, but its not to the same degree that it worked with the truth was first revealed to the apostles, which is my point. The HS still works through these means to help us understand, but I think God chooses to work through the normative means to bring us these truths and allow us to respond freely to them and thus are fully accountable.

 

[Tom Butler]

Let me point to Acts 16:14 as an example of illumination.

A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. (NASB)

The expression "the Lord opened her heart" is the work of the Lord Jesus in helping her believe what Paul was saying was the truth.

Lydia was a proselyte to Judaism, so she knew about and worshiped God. As Paul taught about Jesus, the Lord gave her an inclination to believe.

Now, some Bible versions use such terms as "the Lord opened her heart so she'd pay attention to Paul," or "listened carefully." The crux of the matter is, that whatever she did, it came as the result of a supernatural act of the Lord Jesus.

Ah, you say, your example mentions Jesus, but not the Holy Spirit.

Okay.

 

[Skandelon]

Let me point to Acts 16:14 as an example of illumination.

The expression "the Lord opened her heart" is the work of the Lord Jesus in helping her believe what Paul was saying was the truth.

Lydia was a proselyte to Judaism, so she knew about and worshiped God. As Paul taught about Jesus, the Lord gave her an inclination to believe.

Now, some Bible versions use such terms as "the Lord opened her heart so she'd pay attention to Paul," or "listened carefully." The crux of the matter is, that whatever she did, it came as the result of a supernatural act of the Lord Jesus.

Ah, you say, your example mentions Jesus, but not the Holy Spirit.

Okay.

So, based upon this passage:

Acts 28:28 "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"

Do you conclude that Jesus may have been opening the eyes of the Gentile people as well, in the same way he was opening Lydia's eyes? Considering that the Jews of that day were being judicially hardened in their rebellion, is it any wonder that certain Jews may have been granted the ability to hear the gospel and believe it, as the Gentiles were?

 

[Tom Butler]

So, based upon this passage:

Acts 28:28 "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"

Do you conclude that Jesus may have been opening the eyes of the Gentile people as well, in the same way he was opening Lydia's eyes? Considering that the Jews of that day were being judicially hardened in their rebellion, is it any wonder that certain Jews may have been granted the ability to hear the gospel and believe it, as the Gentiles were?

Yeah, I think so. And God is still opening the understanding of some Jews even today. It's a marvelous act of God's grace in that while most Jews are hardened and blinded to the gospel, the Lord is saving some.

Have to remember that what the Lord did for Lydia (opened her heart), he does for all those whom he saves.

 

[Skandelon]

Yeah, I think so. And God is still opening the understanding of some Jews even today. It's a marvelous act of God's grace in that while most Jews are hardened and blinded to the gospel, the Lord is saving some.

Have to remember that what the Lord did for Lydia (opened her heart), he does for all those whom he saves.

I think you missed the point I was attempting to make. The Lord had sent a "spirit of stupor" to judicially hardening Israel so as the "cut them off." He did this to allow for the grafting in of the Gentiles (see Rom 11 and Acts 28). So, generally speaking God was blinding the Jews while opening the eyes of the Gentiles. Lydia being a Jewish person who worshipped God (not very descriptive of a Totally Depraved individual mind you), had the hardening lifted (her eyes opened) so as to believe Paul's message...a message being hidden from most of Israel at that time. This does not support the concept of all men being born in a totally depraved condition and then being effectually drawn to salvation. That can be easily seen by the simple description of Lydia as one who worshipped God.

 

[JesusFan]

I think you missed the point I was attempting to make. The Lord had sent a "spirit of stupor" to judicially hardening Israel so as the "cut them off." He did this to allow for the grafting in of the Gentiles (see Rom 11 and Acts 28). So, generally speaking God was blinding the Jews while opening the eyes of the Gentiles. Lydia being a Jewish person who worshipped God (not very descriptive of a Totally Depraved individual mind you), had the hardening lifted (her eyes opened) so as to believe Paul's message...a message being hidden from most of Israel at that time. This does not support the concept of all men being born in a totally depraved condition and then being effectually drawn to salvation. That can be easily seen by the simple description of Lydia as one who worshipped God.

Think that one has to define "depravity"..
My understanding is that one is still alive mentally and physically, so can reason, think. understand "about God" can form thought s on even religion, etc... BUT

Unless/until he opens your spiritual heart to receieve and believe upon Jesus Christ, will just have a head knowledge of God..
Even satan and his demons have THAT kind of "faith" towards God!
Depravity does not mean man cannot try to find God, its just that be darkened by results of the fall , unable to restore the relationship unless God permits/allows it!

 

[Skandelon]

unable to restore the relationship unless God permits/allows it!

I think I pretty much agree with everything you said (presuming I understood your intent), but I think God's appeal to be reconciled sent through his ambassadors to the entire world IS HIS PERMISSION. Why wouldn't it be?