A gift sent by a friend usually requires the use of one or more vehicles of various forms; planes, trains, trucks, etc. When a vehicle breaks down, the gift fails to be delivered.
The gift of the Holy Spirit sent by God uses His Word[1] as the primary delivery vehicle.[2] Through His Word,[3] we receive the knowledge of sin, repentance, and the creation of faith[4] in His promises through the redeeming Gospel[5] message. As a delivery vehicle, the Word[6] may assume several forms; spoken or written; as direct biblical quotations, faithful paraphrases, or doctrinal summaries. When the Word is corrupted,[7] the vehicle breaks down and the gift fails to be delivered.
The sources of vehicle failures are many; incomprehensible language translations, inaccurate paraphrases, false interpretations, the malicious twisting of the Word to suit cultural desires, or using biblical citations out of context.
For those slumbering in the comfort of their own ungodly spiritual delusions[8] above the authority of Scripture,[9] the idea that God would continue to use His Word[10] as a vehicle for His gift of the Holy Spirit seems incredulous.
Yet His Word accomplishes everything! By His Word God created the heavens and the earth, it was His Word that put on flesh and died on the cross for the sins of the whole world. It should not be surprising then, that God also delivers His gift of the Holy Spirit[11] by His Word.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
(John 1:1-4)
When combined with water, His Word produces a baptismal death of repentance and regeneration[12] into a new spiritual life and the receiving of faith.[13] When combined with bread and wine, His Word feeds and sustains our souls in His redemption and faith in his promises. On Judgment Day, His Word[14] will be the basis for every verdict that is declared.
“And in those things which concern the spoken, outward Word, we must firmly hold that God grants His Spirit or grace to no one, except through or with the preceding outward Word, in order that we may [thus] be protected against the enthusiasts, i.e., spirits who boast that they have the Spirit without and before the Word, and accordingly judge Scripture or the spoken Word, and explain and stretch it at their pleasure, as Muenzer did, and many still do at the present day, who wish to be acute judges between the Spirit and the letter, and yet know not what they say or declare. For [indeed] the Papacy also is nothing but sheer enthusiasm, by which the Pope boasts that all rights exist in the shrine of his heart, and whatever he decides and commands with [in] his church is spirit and right, even though it is above and contrary to Scripture and the spoken Word…”
(Dr. Martin Luther, “The Smalcald Articles,” Part III, Article VIII, 1537)
“…It is the devil himself whatsoever is extolled as Spirit without the Word and Sacraments. For God wished to appear even to Moses through the burning bush and spoken Word; and no prophet neither Elijah nor Elisha, received the Spirit without the Ten Commandments [or spoken Word]. Neither was John the Baptist conceived without the preceding word of Gabriel, nor did he leap in his mother’s womb without the voice of Mary. And Peter says, 2 Pet. 1:21: The prophecy came not by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Without the outward Word, however, they were not holy, much less would the Holy Ghost have moved them to speak when they still were unholy [or profane]; for they were holy, says he, since the Holy Ghost spake through them.”
Having then, the knowledge of everything His Word accomplishes, why would we tamper with His vehicle and risk the possibly of a breakdown and a delivery failure? If it is safe to ignore, correct, or twist some of His Word, then it has become altogether worthless. Neither then can we rely on His Word of creation, redemption, santification and resurrection, and we therefore become of all people the most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:19) By keeping His Word[15] faithful to the end[17] (without any merit of our own[18]) we can be assured that He will continue to make special deliveries[19] to us until the last day.
Tell me about your own experiences with breakdowns and what was required to restore deliveries.
[1] “…For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and when it pleases God, in them that hear the Gospel… [condemed are those] who think that the Holy Ghost comes to men without the external Word, through their own preparations and works.” (Philip Melanchthon, Augsburg Confession, Article V, 1530)
[2] The common formal term for this general concept is the “means of grace;” God’s Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.
[3]”For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)
[4] “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
[5] “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
[6] It is important to recognize the divine sovereignty of the Holy Spirit. He will choose when and where to reveal himself through the Word. When he chooses not to reveal himself, the Word remains a dead historical letter. When he does reveal himself through the Word (particularly when spoken or preached) it promises to be a living Word with the expectation of Christ’s true presence in faith and love.
[7] “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke[20] from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:16-21, emphasis added)
[8] The true voice of the Spirit does not contradict the unadulterated message of His Word. Any contradiction comes from Satan, the World, or our own sinful flesh. See also John 8:31-32.
[9] A common belief of those engaged in the heresy of Enthusiasm is the presumption of a spiritual ability to overrule the authority of Scripture[16] to either ignore it or twist it to suit their own desires. See also Judges 17:6, Judges 21:25, 1 Samuel 8:6-8, John 17:17.
[10] “For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.” (John 17:8)
[11] The various operations of the Holy Spirit include the works of vocation, regeneration or conversion, renovation or sanctification, and preservation.
[12] “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” (Luke 20:18)
[13] “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
[14] “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)
[15] “…Scripture cannot be broken-” (John 10:35b)
[16] See: Luke 24:25-27, Psalm 119:160, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Thess 2:15, Acts 17:11, Revelation 10:8-11
[17] 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, John 17:14
[18] Titus 3:4-6
[19] “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)
[20] Holy Scripture was written (2 Timothy 3:16) by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) through the Prophets and Apostles as specifically gifted for this purpose by God (John 6:63). The time of the Prophets and Apostles has ended, the work of Scripture and the revelation of doctrine has been completed (Mark 13:31) and is sufficient for salvation (Jude 1:3). Any new doctrine or private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20) must be rejected, even if an angel from heaven (Galatians 1:8) might proclaim it.