Holy Spirit...Part II
Dear Friend,
I hope that you are doing well and that this letter finds you in a place of peace.
It feels really good to be home.
So I'm in the process of reading this book by John Calvin called The Institutes of Christian Religion. It is a great book. Please know that just because I am reading this book doesn’t mean that I am reformed now! Although I am having a really good time reading this book. It was written in 1559…so to read it is something of a treat, when you think of all its history. It is also really confusing sometimes though...
There is this one part in the book that I wanted to share with you. I read it not to long after my last letter that I had written you about the Holy Spirit. It was pretty encouraging to hear his thoughts about the Holy Spirit and its role with Scripture…
“It is essential to pay attention to the point I have already made, that we cannot rely on the doctrine of Scripture until we are absolutely convinced that god is it’s Author. Its best authentication is the character of the one whose word it is. The prophets and apostles do not boast of their own cleverness of any gifts as public speakers, nor do they lay stress on arguments. They appeal to the sacred name of God, so that the whole world may be brought into submission. Then it seems not merely probably but certain that God’s name is not lightly nor falsely assumed. So if we want to find the best answer for our consciences and prevent them from being tossed around in a whirlpool of uncertainty, from wavering and stumbling at the slightest obstacle, our conviction of the truth of Scripture must be derived from a higher source than human guesswork, opinions and arguments, namely the hidden witness of the Spirit. True, if we choose to go the way of argument, it is easy to make a case, using all sorts of evidence, that if there is a God in heaven, the Law and the Prophecies and the Gospel must have come from him. Indeed even if the wisest and cleverest of men should oppose this view, and demonstrate all their powers of genius in the discussion, unless they are brazenly arrogant, they will be forced to agree that the Scripture shows clear proof of being spoken by God, and consequently of containing his divine truth. We shall see later how the volume of sacred Scripture far surpasses all other writings. More, if we study it with clear eyes and unbiased judgment, it will immediately display such divine authority as will quell our impertinent attacks and compel us to pay homage. However it is preposterous to attempt by discussion to bring about full faith in Scripture. True, if I had to oppose the cleverest enemies of God, I believe it would not be difficult to silence their blusterings, even though I am not specially able or eloquent. Without much difficulty I could squash the boastful ideas they mutter about in corners, if anything was to be gained by answering their petty objections, But although we may defend God’s holy Word against all opponents, it does not follow that we can establish in their hearts the conviction which faith demands. Unbelievers think that religion is a matter of opinion and so demand rational proof that Moses and the prophets were divinely inspired, if they are to have sufficient ground for belief. My reply is that the testimony of the Spirit is superior to reason. As God alone can truly bear witness to his own words, so these words will not be given complete acknowledgment in the hearts of men, until they are sealed by the inner witness of the Spirit. So the same Spirit, who spoke by the mouth of the prophets, must pervade our hearts, in order to convince us that they faithfully passed on the message entrusted to them by God. This link is best expressed by Isaiah in this way: ‘My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and for ever’ (Isa. 59:21). Some sincere people feel distressed, because they cannot find clear proof ready to hand to silence the infidels who oppose the Word of God with impunity. They forget that the Spirit is called a pledge and seal to confirm the faith of the godly because until he enlightens their minds, they are tossed about on a sea of doubts.”
Well my friend it is getting late...i look forward to hearing from you soon.
heart.soul.mind.
kyle diroberts
I hope that you are doing well and that this letter finds you in a place of peace.
It feels really good to be home.
So I'm in the process of reading this book by John Calvin called The Institutes of Christian Religion. It is a great book. Please know that just because I am reading this book doesn’t mean that I am reformed now! Although I am having a really good time reading this book. It was written in 1559…so to read it is something of a treat, when you think of all its history. It is also really confusing sometimes though...
There is this one part in the book that I wanted to share with you. I read it not to long after my last letter that I had written you about the Holy Spirit. It was pretty encouraging to hear his thoughts about the Holy Spirit and its role with Scripture…
“It is essential to pay attention to the point I have already made, that we cannot rely on the doctrine of Scripture until we are absolutely convinced that god is it’s Author. Its best authentication is the character of the one whose word it is. The prophets and apostles do not boast of their own cleverness of any gifts as public speakers, nor do they lay stress on arguments. They appeal to the sacred name of God, so that the whole world may be brought into submission. Then it seems not merely probably but certain that God’s name is not lightly nor falsely assumed. So if we want to find the best answer for our consciences and prevent them from being tossed around in a whirlpool of uncertainty, from wavering and stumbling at the slightest obstacle, our conviction of the truth of Scripture must be derived from a higher source than human guesswork, opinions and arguments, namely the hidden witness of the Spirit. True, if we choose to go the way of argument, it is easy to make a case, using all sorts of evidence, that if there is a God in heaven, the Law and the Prophecies and the Gospel must have come from him. Indeed even if the wisest and cleverest of men should oppose this view, and demonstrate all their powers of genius in the discussion, unless they are brazenly arrogant, they will be forced to agree that the Scripture shows clear proof of being spoken by God, and consequently of containing his divine truth. We shall see later how the volume of sacred Scripture far surpasses all other writings. More, if we study it with clear eyes and unbiased judgment, it will immediately display such divine authority as will quell our impertinent attacks and compel us to pay homage. However it is preposterous to attempt by discussion to bring about full faith in Scripture. True, if I had to oppose the cleverest enemies of God, I believe it would not be difficult to silence their blusterings, even though I am not specially able or eloquent. Without much difficulty I could squash the boastful ideas they mutter about in corners, if anything was to be gained by answering their petty objections, But although we may defend God’s holy Word against all opponents, it does not follow that we can establish in their hearts the conviction which faith demands. Unbelievers think that religion is a matter of opinion and so demand rational proof that Moses and the prophets were divinely inspired, if they are to have sufficient ground for belief. My reply is that the testimony of the Spirit is superior to reason. As God alone can truly bear witness to his own words, so these words will not be given complete acknowledgment in the hearts of men, until they are sealed by the inner witness of the Spirit. So the same Spirit, who spoke by the mouth of the prophets, must pervade our hearts, in order to convince us that they faithfully passed on the message entrusted to them by God. This link is best expressed by Isaiah in this way: ‘My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and for ever’ (Isa. 59:21). Some sincere people feel distressed, because they cannot find clear proof ready to hand to silence the infidels who oppose the Word of God with impunity. They forget that the Spirit is called a pledge and seal to confirm the faith of the godly because until he enlightens their minds, they are tossed about on a sea of doubts.”
Well my friend it is getting late...i look forward to hearing from you soon.
heart.soul.mind.
kyle diroberts
posted by Kyle DiRoberts at 1:08 AM
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