Apples and Oranges: Protestantism and Catholicism (Christianity and Catholicism)

September 13, 2019 by Keith Crosby

Is there a difference? I read an article this morning that addressed this question, “What are the differences between “Protestantism” and “Roman Catholicism.” The question was poorly framed. The question should be framed along these lines, “What are the differences between Roman Catholicism and the Historic Christian Faith?” This is a sensitive matter, one that is increasingly lost on Christians and professing Christians today. Without getting overly technical and without delving into the excesses of certain unfortunate representatives of both religions during certain periods of history, I’ll try and briefly compare and contrast the differences in two posts.

First, let me address an outstanding issue that vexes both groups. How should Catholics and Protestants treat each other? The Apostle Peter encourages those who follow Christ to give an answer for the hope that lies within them with meekness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). Even if Catholics and Protestants were the bitterest of enemies, both laying claim to being Christians, they would need to follow the teachings of God’s word:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:43-45)

Both groups share similar social causes and concerns (theological causes): chiefly, the murder of the unborn and the assault on marriage in our culture. Still, significant, some would say eternal differences exist. Let me give you a short list of the differences:

The Understanding of the Church. Prior to Vatican II the position of Romanism was that Protestants were condemned for their heretical beliefs (The Council of Trent). According to Canon IX of the Council of Trent, all who believed in justification by faith alone, apart from works, were anathema, condemned, and outside the church:

CANON 9: "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema."

What does the Bible say? Here’s what the Bible says.

"because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin," (Rom. 3:20).
"being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus," (Rom. 3:24).
"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law," (Rom. 3:28).
"For what does the Scripture say? 'ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," (Rom. 4:3).
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1).
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God," (Eph. 2:8).
"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit," (Titus 3:5).

The views of the Council of Trent on this matter cannot be supported by the Scripture. Trent’s position was strongly held and publicly proclaimed. However, in the face of ‘membership loss’ and because most Catholics do not know what Romanism teaches, Vatican II softened the rhetoric (without retracting the condemnations of the Council of Trent). The Council of Trent remains in force today. Post Vatican II, those outside Romanism came to be described as “estranged brothers.” If they were justified by “faith in Baptism.” Protestants (Christians) do not believe that baptism has any saving qualities but is an outward indication (symbol) of an inward conversion:

21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him (1 Peter 3:21-22).

The teachings of Trent (and the Catholic Catechism) would require that we nullify books like Ephesians, Romans, and John’s Gospel. Paul writes in Romans:

if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:9-17)

The Council of Trent seeks to minimize salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. Romans contradicts Trent.

Then there is the matter of ‘church membership.’ Access to the Church for the Catholic comes through a priest, acting in the role of Christ. In Christianity, becoming part of the Church comes to every born-again believer who puts their faith in Christ, there is no meritorious work or rite involved:

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:11-13)

The role of the Pope separates Christianity from Roman Catholicism. The Pope is considered infallible when he speaks ex cathedra (from the chair). Essentially, when he makes doctrinal pronouncements, he essentially (though they would not put it this way) he speaks Scripture in that he alters the tradition of the Roman church which understands tradition to trump Scripture. His pronouncements are inerrant and beyond contestation—and yet Popes have contradicted Popes, as have Councils (and Councils have contradicted Councils).

The matter of sacraments in Romanism is problematic. Romanism has 7, Christianity has two ordinances. Catholicism has the Eucharist, which resembles The Lord’s Supper, penance, holy orders, marriage, confirmation, and last rites. These, as they are explained in Catholicism are nowhere in the Bible as sacrament but part of the traditions of “the Church.” Christianity has two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s table.

What are ordinances? Below are three descriptions of an ordinance:

It is not a sacrament (a church ritual that is thought to have saving values). The Bible clearly states that through Christ alone we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9, Acts 4:12, Titus 3:5).
It is a command to be obeyed (i.e. “City ordinance”).
The two church ordinances are visible enactments of the Gospel message that Christ lived, died, was raised form the dead, ascended to heaven, and will someday return.

How did we get ordinances? In the New Testament ordinances have three characteristics:

· They were instituted by Christ.

· They were taught by the apostles.

· They were practiced by the early (New Testament) church.

They are reminders, symbols, that Christ died, that He rose, and that He will return. They have no power or saving quality in and of themselves. Christ refers to communion as a remembrance. He commands that we observe both—and His list does not extend to seven ordinances or sacraments.

II. The Understanding of the Scriptures. The Catholic Bible is “bigger.” Why is this? As part of the Counter-Reformation, the Council of Trent (indeed the Pope and all of Romanism) was faced with the task of justifying practices which were not found in the 66 books of the Bible (39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament). This included things like purgatory, penance, praying for the dead, and the treasury of merit. Consequently, they added what is now called the Apocrypha. The Apocrypha is a ‘recent innovation’ for Catholicism.

The Vulgate and the Apocrypha. Prior to Trent, Catholicism did not accept the Apocrypha as Scripture. When Jerome translated the Vulgate (the Bible in common language) in the fourth century, he explained to the pope that he had translated the Bible and another collection of books of interest. He was later encouraged (forced) to describe what we call the Apocrypha as equal to Scripture. However, the Apocrypha became canon (Scripture) after the Council of Trent, nearly 800 years later, in response to the Reformers.

The Apocrypha and the Old Testament. Interestingly, these Jewish writings, called the Apocrypha were and are not part of the Jewish Scriptures. The doctrines found in the Apocrypha contradicts the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. Here are a few samples.

Almsgiving (giving to the poor) saves—"For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life (Tobit 12:9).”
Praying for those who already died—O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the dead of Israel, the children of those who sinned before you, who did not heed the voice of the Lord their God, so that calamities have clung to us (Baruch 3:4).

The Apocrypha was written during the years of prophetic silence between the Old and New Testaments. This is significant. It is also significant that Jesus never cites them as He does the Old Testament. Moreover, the Jewish people do not recognize them as Scripture and neither did the early church, during the time of the Apostles or afterward. No Council until Trent recognized them.

The authority of Scripture. In Christianity, the church derives its authority from the Scriptures. In Catholicism, the Scriptures derive their authority from the Roman Church and its Traditions. In fact, tradition is viewed of equal authority to the Scriptures. The Catechism states, “Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.”

The laity is not allowed to interpret the Scriptures for themselves. Prior to Vatican II, even reading the Bible was discouraged. After Vatican II, facing increasing pressure, the Roman Church encouraged reading yet discourages anyone below Bishop from interpreting the Scriptures for themselves as only the Pope and the Magisterium (Church Authorities), not even priests, are capable of interpretation:

The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching, office of the Church alone . . . to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

The issue of authority remains the largest “practical” divide between Protestants and Catholics.

The Bible teaches that even children may read, interpret and apply the Scriptures:

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Paul writing to Timothy, reminds Timothy how the Scriptures served to lead him to Christ even from Timothy’s childhood, then goes onto to tell him how the reading, interpretation, and application of God’s word is beneficial, profitable to every corner of his life.

In Acts, Luke comments on how the people of Berea were good students of the Scriptures. They were considered more noble due to their study and application of Scriptures in testing the teachings of an Apostle!

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. (Acts 17:10-12)

Imagine testing the teachings of the Pope or the Bishops—or the Apostles. Yet the Jews in Berea were described as more noble because they searched the Scriptures to test the teachings of the Apostle Paul. This is met with approval from the Scriptures.

David was wiser than his teachers because of his study and interpretation of the Bible. Writing in the Scriptures, David contradict the notion that people must look to Ecclesiastical authorities (experts) as the source of interpretation:

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. (Psalm 119:98-100)

How could David understand, interpret, meditate upon, and keep that which he lacked competency to interpret? In Psalm 119, David asks and answers the question about studying and applying the Bible: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word (Psalm 199:9).” The Christian and Catholic approach to the Scriptures is radically different.

What’s the big deal? Next week we take up other matters (salvation by faith plus works, salvation through baptism, etc.) and we see that there is a significant difference between the Gospel of Christianity and the Gospel of Christianity. This seems harsh. But our differences are serious. Writing to the Galatians as they attempted to re-adopt a works-based faith, Paul warns:

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (Galatians 5:1-6)

Salvation does not come through faith plus… (anything: sacraments, penance, etc.) The Judaizers in Paul’s day agreed on much terminology but wanted to return the people to law keeping—like works, personified by circumcision. Paul vehemently fought against this. Perhaps that’s why Paul opened Galatians with these chilling words:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

We do well to search the Scriptures to avoid the different gospel. Let’s be noble Bereans. Let’s test the teachings to see if such things are true. Until next week…

THE HOLY SPIRIT REVISITED: THE PREQUEL OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

September 05, 2019 by Keith Crosby

Bring up the topic of the Holy Spirit and many people are confused. Take up the task of discussing the Holy Spirit and many are intimidated. Why is this? Often because each person has their own understanding (or misunderstanding) and people hold onto their personal preferences, perspectives, the perspectives of a favorite teacher, or some personal experience that they may be unwilling to honestly examine through the lens of God’s word. Personal opinions, pet projects, hobby horses, prejudices, and children all have at least one thing in common. There are none so beautiful and attractive as our own.

Many times, a narrow perspective results in limited understanding. Take for example the invasion of Normandy. It began with a thought and was spelled out, drafted, and implemented. Depending on which phase of the operation one saw, it looked like a paratroop operation, a sea to land invasion, a series of air strikes, or an insurgency. It was a comprehensive military operation unmatched in the history of the world, before or since. The objective was the defeat of the Axis Powers. It was actually a piece of a larger operation—the Allied attempt to defeat Germany, Japan, and Italy. The Allied objective never changed. It was rolled out in phases. So, it is with God’s revelation of Himself to humanity and so it is with His larger redemptive plan, settled in eternity past. People often ask, “Did God change the way He operates? When I read my Bible is seems that God has changed the way He operates from Old Testament to New Testament.” Appearances can be deceiving when one doesn’t see the proverbial forest for the trees.

God often reveals Himself to us incrementally. From the beginning of Scripture to the end, we see more and more of God’s wider redemptive plan revealed. He reveals more and more of Himself with each sentence, paragraph, book, chapter, and testament (Old and New). His redemptive plan begins and ends with Israel. There are stages of revelation and implementation. He begins with Israel (an ethnic group that becomes a nation), continues with the Church (a multi-national, multi-ethnic, and supra-national movement). His plan, like Him never changes—and neither does the Holy Spirit. Redemptive History occurs over time and in (for lack of a better descriptive term) chapters. The roles and goals of the Holy Spirit are implemented systematically in redemptive history and revealed in a linear fashion, as recorded in writing.

God’s plan for Israel differs from God’s plan for the Church. Each plays a different role in Redemptive History. Yes, people are saved by faith in both scenarios, in both groups, and through their ministries. His purposes for each group are generally the same but given each group’s time and place in History, their roles and goals differs—as does His plan and interactions with each. So what?

The Holy Spirit’s mission and ministry is one coherent mission and ministry. The Holy Spirit’s ministry, like a diamond, has many facets—but it’s a single, coherent, monolithic ministry. His methods vary in different corners of the various ‘theaters of operations’ like the Allied military operations in the invasion of Normandy. One can obsess over the details. But to do so is to miss the larger picture and that would be unfortunate and unprofitable.

Our discussion will focus on the latter perspective of the Spirit’s ministry. Our discussion concerns the ministry and mission of the Holy Spirit in our present era of operations (in this phase of the ‘invasion’). Consequently, we will concern ourselves with the New Covenant phase of the unfolding drama of redemption. That said, we will also touch briefly on the Holy Spirit’s mission and ministry in the Old Testament (and Old Covenant) for what we hope will lead to added clarity. The briefest survey of passages reveals that the Holy Spirit performed a variety of ministry functions, many of which parallel or somewhat resemble His mission and ministry today. The difference being, as we will see later, that His ‘falling upon people’ is not to be confused with indwelling people as we see today. The ministry of the Holy Spirit differs between Israel and the Church in many nuanced and obvious way. What follows is a brief survey of the Old Covenant ministry of the Holy Spirit. Think of it like a prequel to the New Testament or New Covenant Era—but each is a part of the other, a piece of “The Invasion.”

What’s with the “the invasion” analogy? The Bible is the record of God’s unfolding drama of redemption. It is the playbook, of sorts, of something greater than the Invasion of Normandy. God is reclaiming His creation from an enemy more evil, more powerful than the Axis Powers or the Nazis: Satan. The Holy Spirit’s mission and ministry has many more facets than the Allies mission. His mission and ministry is coherent, widespread, and of greater importance: the eternal salvation of souls. Let’s do our best to understand this mission because we are the infantry. So, let’s get started.

God the Holy Spirit was involved in every work of creation (Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4). In the Old Covenant Era, as in the time following Pentecost, the Holy Spirit empowered people to do God’s will, enabling them to serve His purposes, like Joseph to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:38):

And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are (Genesis 41: 38-39).

During the Exodus, the Holy Spirit imparted expertise to artisans to perform above their natural abilities to build the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-11).

The LORD said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. 6 And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, 8 the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, 9 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, 10 and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.” (Exodus 31:1-11)

You see a repeat of this in Exodus 35:

Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer. (Exodus 35:30-35)

For Moses, the Holy Spirit gave Moses’ subordinates wisdom to perform the role of deputy or magistrate (Numbers 11:17, 25). The Holy Spirit often authenticated the role of His representatives by enabling them to prophecy (Numbers 11:24-29).

So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. 25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it. 26Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” 29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” (Numbers 11:25-29)

There is a phenomenon we like to call a theocratic anointing that was given to Moses (then to Joshua) and others enabling them to rule and govern as God’s representative (cf. Numbers 27:18). Notice that aspects of their gifting were temporary: “And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it. (Numbers 11: 25b).” In a similar, or analogous fashion, throughout the book of Judges one sees the Spirit of the Lord coming upon judges, empowering them to lead, moving them to action (Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25). In some cases, the Judges, like Sampson, were granted supernatural strength (Judges 14:5-6, 19; 15:14):

Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. 6 Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done… 19And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father’s house. (Judges 14:5-6, 9)

When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands. 15 And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men. (Judges 15:14-15)

Let’s return briefly to the idea of theocratic anointing. Saul, David, and Solomon (as kings ruling theocratic Israel) were endowed with the ability to think, reason, rule, and lead beyond their natural abilities, as if changed into another man (1 Samuel 10:6, 10; 11:6; 16:13). In 1 Samuel 10:6-13 we read this:

6 Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 8 Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.” 9 When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. 10 When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, “What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 And a man of the place answered, “And who is their father?” Therefore, it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place. (1 Samuel 10: 6-13)

As we look at such passages, we note the perplexing reality that the Holy Spirit did not necessarily remain on (or in) a particular person permanently. He might “rush upon them” or “cloth them” or “fall upon them.” As we will see later, this is not the case with the post-Pentecost born again Christian. It was very much the case with King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-15) and Sampson (Judges 16:28-30). David feared suffering the same fate as Saul (Psalm 51:10-12). Saul’s case is particularly heartbreaking: “Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you (1 Samuel 16:14-15).” David pleads with God to allow David to retain the Spirit: “10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me (Psalm 51:10-11).” Sampson’s case is an instructive picture of redemption:

Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” 25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.28 Then Samson called to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. 31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years. (Judges 16:28-31)

The Spirit’s ministry could / can be as perplexing. Prophetic anointing can be a challenge to understand. The problem is not Him but our limited attention spans as well as our finite understanding. The Spirit’s anointing also came upon the prophets, both good prophets and bad prophets, like Balaam—the mercenary prophet (Numbers 24:1-).

When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, 4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: 5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! (Numbers 24:1-5)

In contradistinction to Balaam, good prophets like Ezekiel would be empowered or called to action, receiving a prophetic anointing for ministry (Ezekiel 2:2; 3:12, 14; 24; 11:5; 14:24—this list not exhaustive but illustrative). We see this in Ezekiel 2:

And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. (Ezekiel 2:1-5)

The Spirit would empower the Messiah, as He did the prophets (see Isaiah 11:1-5; 41:1 61:1). We read this in Isaiah 11:

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. (Isaiah 11:1-5)

Prophets like Ezekiel hint and wrote that the future ministry of the Spirit would be different. The future ministry of the Holy Spirit to Israel will be different than the Old Covenant ministry. One also sees that there is a future coming change in the ministry of the Holy Spirit with Israel in the ages to come:

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.” (Ezekiel. 37:14)

The ministry of the Holy Spirit will eventually spread to all people, meaning beyond believing Israel.

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. (Joel 2:28-29)

It is the partial fulfillment of this era in which we live today. Jew and Gentile, once receiving Christ as Lord and Savior, are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. One’s ethnicity does not matter. One’s station in life is irrelevant (i.e. king or prophet). For the purposes of our discussion, we will not explore the Old Covenant ministry of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, for reference purposes and for purposes of understanding and context, we include below a series of references, some of which we’ve already referred, showing or mentioning the Holy Spirit’s ministry from the Old Testament.

Our study will focus on the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age. This is what some call the time of the Gentiles. We hope you find the ensuing study useful and helpful. Moreover, we hope that this little survey of the Old Covenant ministry of the Holy Spirit has been edifying and clarifying in some sense.

Application:

Dig deeper. By way of application, let’s ask and answer the following questions.

How have I developed my understanding of the Holy Spirit? Have I read my Bible cover to cover and developed a profile? Have I generalized principles from the many vignettes of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures, inductively? What is my hermeneutical approach? What is “hermeneutics?”

What is my approach to interpretation and application of Scripture? Do I take the narrative approach, or headline approach? Do I expect to do what I see people do in the Bible in the same way? Should I be able to do what I see people doing in the Bible from Old Testament to New Testament?

Is my view of the Holy Spirit a balanced view? Have I cultivated a narrow view of the Holy Spirit that overemphasizes some aspect or attribute of the Holy Spirit over and against another?

Am I teachable? Given the amount of time that I have held my beliefs about the Holy Spirit, am I open to changing them, if changing them means to harmonize them according to the Scriptures?

Appendix: All References to the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

Gen. 1:2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Gen. 41:38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”

Ex. 31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,

Ex. 35:31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship,

Num. 11:17 And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.

Num. 11:25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.

Num. 11:26 Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp.

Num. 11:29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!”

Num. 24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,

Num. 27:18 So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.

Judg. 3:10 The Spirit of the LORD was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.

Judg. 6:34 But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him.

Judg. 11:29 Then the Spirit of the LORD was upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites.

Judg. 13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judg. 14:6 Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

Judg. 14:19 And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father’s house.

Judg. 15:14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands.

1Sam. 10:6 Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.

1Sam. 10:10 When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them.

1Sam. 11:6 And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.

1Sam. 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

1Sam. 16:14-16 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.”

1Sam. 19:20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

1Sam. 19:23 And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

2Sam. 23:2 “The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word is on my tongue.

1Kings 18:12 And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.

1Kings 22:24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?”

2Kings 2:15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 And they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the LORD has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.”

2Kings 19:7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’”

1Chr. 12:18 Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.

2Chr. 15:1 The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded,

2Chr. 24:20 Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’”

Neh. 9:20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst.

Neh. 9:30 Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Psa. 51:10-12 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psa. 104:30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

Psa. 139:7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

Psa. 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

Is. 11:2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

Is. 30:1 “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine,

and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;

Is. 32:15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.

Is. 40:13 Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel?

Is. 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

Is. 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

Is. 48:16 Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there.” And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit.

Is. 59:21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

Is. 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Is. 63:10 But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy,

and himself fought against them. 11Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock?

Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit,

Is. 63:14 Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name.

Ezek. 2:2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

Ezek. 3:12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!”

Ezek. 3:14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me.

Ezek. 3:24 But the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and he spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself within your house.

Ezek. 8:3 He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy.

Ezek. 11:1 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the LORD, which faces east. And behold, at the entrance of the gateway there were twenty-five men. And I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

Ezek. 11:5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the LORD: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind.

Ezek. 11:24 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me.

Ezek. 36:26-27 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Ezek. 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.

Ezek. 37:14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”

Ezek. 39:29 And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.”

Ezek. 43:5 the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

Mic. 3:8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.

Hag. 2:5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.

Zech. 4:6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Zech. 6:8 Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.”

Zech. 7:12 They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts.

Mal. 2:15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

The Holy Spirit Revisited: Regeneration and Illumination

August 31, 2019 by Keith Crosby

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2Corinthians 5:17)

Why don’t all people respond to the gospel the first time they hear it, or at all? Often people cite statistics that indicate the average convert hears the gospel 7 times before he or she is saved? Many people understand that it’s not so much how many times you hear the gospel that matters but how and why you respond to it. All of which brings us to the odd and not so little term: regeneration.

What is regeneration? What does regeneration have to do with salvation or how people respond to the gospel? Regeneration is part of the work of the Holy Spirit in our salvation and is part of and a result of the Holy Spirit’s work in salvation.

Think of regeneration as jumper cables being put on a dead battery. Think of regeneration as the emergency room doctor putting the paddles on a stopped heart to bring life. Think of regeneration as resulting from God the Holy Spirit ‘spiritual jumper cables’ being put on the dead battery that is your spiritual heart. Using his Bible, theologian Walter Elwell explains regeneration this way:

(Regeneration is the) Inner cleansing and renewal of the human nature by the Holy Spirit. Mankind’s spiritual condition is transformed from a disposition of sin to one of a new relationship with God (Titus 3:5). Regeneration involves both moral restoration and the reception of new life...The process of regeneration is not brought about by human righteousness but by the gracious act of God (Ephesians 2:8, 9).[1]

Why do we need regeneration? Why did you and I need regeneration in order to receive salvation? Before salvation, before the intervention of the Holy Spirit, you and I were spiritually and morally dead, unable to understand, let alone respond to, anything spiritual or spiritual truth. We were both unable and unwilling to seek or desire a right relationship with God:

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)... (Ephesians 2:1-5)

Here the Holy Spirit speaking through the pen of Paul explains that God had to make us, those who were spiritually dead, alive in Christ in order to save us. Why is this? Can’t we figure out our need for the Savior and respond accordingly? The Holy Spirit answers this question for us through the Apostle’s pen:

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1Corinthians 2:14-16)

We see a number of things here in our passage:

The unsaved (unregenerate) mind is unwilling to accept the things of God because he thinks they are stupid and not essential to his existence or well-being.
He is not only unwilling to grasp and embrace spiritual truth, but he is also unable to do so because he does not have the spiritual capability.

These things should provide us with clarity. These things should enlighten us, encourage us, and, to one extent or another, discourage us (all at the same time). They enlighten us because they help us to understand why our unsaved loved one is so hard-headed and seemingly ‘bullet proof’ when it comes to the gospel and the Word of God. These things should encourage us because we begin to understand that someone else’s salvation does not depend upon us and or the skill of our presentation of the gospel. In many churches we are told that if we just get the recipe right, then people will ‘get saved’ or ‘ask Jesus into their heart.’ Nothing could be further from the truth. These things can discourage us because we may come to understand that we may never live to see a loved one come to Christ or be the ones to lead that special someone to Christ. However, the discouragement shouldn’t last because the real issue is the power of God, not our persuasion, in terms of salvation.

Only the Holy Spirit can open a person’s eyes to the truth of the gospel. Until such time as regeneration occurs the mind of the unbeliever (your unbeliever) is blinded to the truth. They cannot ‘see’ the truth because they do not want to see the truth. Why not? They do not want the truth because every intention of their heart is inclined toward evil:

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)

Also, realize that man’s heart remains the same even after the Great Flood. After all, not everyone rescued on the ark was saved. Moreover, all on board were still ‘infected’ by sin. Consequently, humanity’s heart remained inclined toward evil at the core of that heart.

And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. (Genesis 8:21)

The fallen mind hungers for evil and not for good. The fallen conscience is bent toward evil from its earliest conscious moments through its most mature, adult state. It is engaged in a continuous pursuit of evil. Moreover, lacking the ability to understand the goodness of God there is no fear of God or desire of God in the unsaved, or unregenerate mind:

The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 14:2-3)

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God," They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. 2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 53:1-3)

Uninterested in its Creator, the fallen mind lives out its days without giving due consideration toward what is just, right, and good---and pleasing to the God that it seeks to ignore.

It’s as if the fallen mind is crazy. It is! The blindness of the fallen mind produces an imbalance causing our malfunctioning moral faculties border on insanity. Therefore, we need divine intervention prior to regeneration and salvation. Apart from Divine intervention (regeneration) this is a chronic and terminal spiritual condition. It is indeed like we are insane:

3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. (Ecclesiastes 9:3)

Theirs is a moral compass and conscience that is unable to properly function. Theirs is a moral compass that is unable and unwilling to do rightly as it lacks the moral ability and desire to do so in its fallen (unregenerate) state: “23 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil (Jeremiah 13:23).” The moral compass of a fallen mind, apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, is untrustworthy: “9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it (Jeremiah 17:9)?” Jesus describes this unwillingness and inability in John’s gospel: “Unwilling to come 39 "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life (John 5:39-40).” We refer to ‘unwillingness’ and ‘inability’ yet we do not wish to imply that this is the result of any ignorance:

21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:21-25)

Because they know God exists, the morally and spiritually blinded mind incites God to wrath. Its stubbornness yearns for the rod and its perverted lusts provoke, deserve and receive punishment. This morally crippled God is unwilling and unable to please God:

10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." (Romans 3:10-12)

Apart from divine intervention, humanity has no appetite or desire for God. Our minds are set on something else.

6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:6-8)

The unregenerate mind has truly aggravated its moral disability. After all, it will not submit to God’s will, found in God’s Word. It hates and resents God. Therefore, it can’t please God or satisfy God on its own.

The fallen, human mind needs regeneration because it lacks sense. The blinded mind is not unlike an unthinking, self-destroying brute-beast that is driven by impulses. It lacks restraint or sense. Such a mind and heart, apart from regeneration, is calloused through repetitive sinning, with an appetite to sin still more. It fights a losing battle against God like a terrorist who refuses to lay down his weapons and surrender.

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. (Ephesians 4:17-24)

The sin-blinded mind is at actively at war with God. It can only be restored to Him through the regeneration of the Spirit. Until then it is hostile to God. The problem is a scarred, or seared conscience, that requires nothing short of the miracle of divine intervention through the Spirit’s regeneration to bring it into the light; otherwise, things go from bad to worse over time:

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. (1Timothy 4:1-3)

The blinded mind is a depraved mind and is deprived of truth and desires nothing good or godly:

15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. (Titus 1:15-16)

Apart from a new heart and a new mind brought on by God the Holy Spirit through regeneration, men are incapable (worthless) for any good deed. Their deeds may seem outwardly good but inwardly they are unacceptable to God (see Matthew 7:21-23). They can be religious but not related to God.

No matter how dire the circumstance, the unregenerate mind is unwilling to repent. It is unwilling to repent on its own. Apart from God’s giving them a new heart, even faced with the reality of God and His judgment and their need for salvation, they shake their fists at the Almighty. They would rather sin than repent and experience the grace of God. We see this with frightening clarity in the book of Revelation:

9 Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds. (Revelation 16:9-11)

21 And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe. (Revelation 16:21)

Don’t miss how their minds are set on something else rather than God. They understand He is there, bringing things about but they simply will not come to Him! Their foolish hearts and darkened and hostile to God, refusing to repent and find forgiveness and help. That’s why the following statement is true: “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy (Romans 9:16).“

Salvation Depends Upon Regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Situations or circumstances---miracles do not produce belief, or conversion. We see this above in the book of Revelation. We also see this in two striking places. We see this during the Exodus where miracle after miracle does not bring trust in God. But we also see this in the ministry of Jesus Christ and its lack of impact on Judas Iscariot. Judas saw the miracles, heard the teaching, and watch Jesus (and others) live out their faith in matchless, uncommon ways. This went on for three years. Think of all that Judas saw and heard! We often think of the devil entering Judas in John 13:27 during the Last Supper. Certainly, this was among the final straws. However, Judas, despite all he had seen, witnessed, heard, and experienced sought an opportunity to betray Jesus:

14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests15 and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him (Matthew 26:14-16).

Apart from the intervention of the Spirit no act of nature, no miracle of God, will change the mind of the sinner. Pause and think for a moment. Linger over this thought. Can miracles produce belief without regeneration? Do/can miracles alone produce saving faith? What do the books of Exodus and Numbers tell us? Ask yourself, “Can being with just the right teacher produce repentance?” Can being among followers of Christ living out their faith, 24/7 produce in a person’s heart a desire to follow God? The short answer is no.

Salvation (faith, repentance, and acceptance) requires the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Neither methods nor men can lead a person to Christ. Salvation is a supernatural event. We see this from Old Testament to New Testament. We’ve covered a number of New Testament passages (and more than a few Old Testament ones). However, the Holy Spirit speaking through the prophet Ezekiel provides us an interesting picture of the act of regeneration (spiritual cardiac paddles) or a new heart (a spiritual heart transplant) and its results:

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

God, not men, does the work (Romans 9:16; Ezekiel 36:26-27). Men are merely the harvesters. God gives us a new heart, putting His Spirit within us, and then we respond. From then on out we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). We now understand the things of God, our spiritual estate, and our need for a Savior because our minds are no longer darkened but enlightened:

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ (1Corinthians 2:14-16).

We receive the mind of Christ when God makes us alive in Christ (regeneration): “5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- Ephesians 2:5 ESV).” You see this also in Colossians 2:13.

What’s this got to do with people getting saved? No one comes to Christ without the Spirit’s regenerating. This regeneration is like putting jumper cables (or cardiac paddles) on a person’s heart. Salvation begins with the Spirit’s intervention. He regenerates our hearts and we see our condition and we recognize we need a Savior and we finally really, really want THE Savior and we surrender. If we had to sequence this in human terms it would sequence something like this:

1) Regeneration: God brings the heart to life;

2) Conversion: Saving faith expressed through a repentant heart that turns from sin to trust/faith in God.[2]

3) Salvation: God forgives our sin and justifies us, declaring us forgiven once and for all).

4) Sanctification: God works changes in our lives as we read His Word and respond to His commands, aided and abetted by the Holy Spirit.

5) Glorification: At the end of our life, we are taken out of this world into heaven where we receive a new body and a new home in heaven, a place where there is no sin, sickness, sadness, temptation, or suffering.

This sequence can happen in seconds, in minutes, or in hours---in some cases years. However, it always results in salvation. A regenerated person cannot not become saved. Regeneration happens before salvation. Illumination occurs after salvation.

Speaking of the Spirit’s work in the believer’s life, we turn to illumination. What’s illumination? After salvation, the Spirit indwells us and helps us to understand God’s will and God’s ways as we read the Bible. As Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth by both brining to mind what Christ has taught us and enabling us to understand, embrace, and apply His teachings. It’s like the light going on. We get it!

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened... (Ephesians 1:16-18 )

Illumination is not revelation. Illumination is God providing us a clear understanding of something we may not have clearly understood before. Revelation is revealing new truth. Christian writer Tim Challies suucintly and effectively describes it this way:

Illumination refers to God’s work in the lives of believers to make us able to believe and understand the words of the Bible. This does not mean the Spirit gives us new revelation – rather He applies to our lives the truths contained in His existing revelation. While illumination depends on prior revelation, it must be differentiated from it. You and I cannot expect God’s direct special revelation in our lives. Instead we have the privilege of looking to his full and final revelation in the Scripture and having assurance that the Spirit will illumine those words for us. Many Christians confuse these. When they suddenly come to understand a deep truth in Scripture, they may believe that God has spoken to them, seemingly indicating a type of revelation. What has happened, though, is that God has illumined their hearts to understand a truth from His word.[3]

God’s revelation to us, that is His Word, becomes clearer to us. We accept it more readily because we understand it. Therefore, we trust it. This is illumination, the Holy Spirit giving us an ‘aha type of moment’ so that we more clearly can understand and apply the Word of God, His special revelation.

Illumination is found in both the Old and New Testaments. David prayed for this kind of understanding in the Psalms: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law (Psalm 119:18).” We already have the revelation made more sure, once and for all handed down to the saints. God in His grace, answers the prayer or desire, “open the eyes of my heart Lord.” He grants us a spirit of wisdom to understand His revelation in His written Word. He may do this to convict us of sin, to reassure us of His love as we read and reflect upon His inspired Word; He may do this to grant us understanding so that we can intelligently love and live for Him. He may bring something to remembrance we read years or weeks or days ago. He may bring to mind how we may apply what we’ve read. It involves the Spirit leading us into all truth… bringing to mind all Christ commands.

Illumination and revelation must not be confused. We implied this earlier. As mentioned in the quote above, we may comprehend in new ways and with new depth and feel like God has spoken to us new revelation. However, what He has done is made clear to us something we have not understood before when we face a situation that requires His wisdom (James 1:5): “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (James 1:5).” As indicated above, without revelation that comes from God’s Word, written for the common good of all God’s people, there cannot be illumination. But what is illumined is something we already read and studied. By God’s causing ‘the light to go on,’ we see the matter in a new and clearer light (i.e. illumination). We see illumination demonstrated by the Spirit’s granting the Apostle Peter wisdom for the selection of a new Apostle, Matthias, in the book of Acts:

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "'May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it'; and "'Let another take his office (Acts 1:15-20).’

Peter did not receive new revelation. Peter received illumination. He grasped more fully the revelation of the Messiah and His betrayal through the Scriptures. He relied upon the Scriptures and the Spirit of God enlightened the eyes of His heart, illumining his mind, so that in godly wisdom the Apostles could replace Judas. This is an example of illumination. God brought to mind with new clarity something they already knew. Now, by the illumination of the Spirit, they understood it and applied it in a newer, more complete, and fuller way.

Review

Regeneration is the work of the Spirit where He sparks spiritual life into the dead heart of the unbeliever so that he can see, hear, and comprehend the gospel. Regeneration ends in salvation. Illumination comes after salvation (regeneration before it). Illumination is where God the Holy Spirit causes “the light to go on” in the mind of the believer enabling him to grasp more fully the things of God. Both regeneration and illumination are key elements in the primary mission of the Holy Spirit where He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and guides God’s people into truth as He brings to mind what they have read from the Word of God.

Application: What Do We Do With Regeneration and Illumination?

Thank God that regeneration (and salvation) depends upon Him and not us. Nevertheless, out of love for Him and the lost, by all means evangelize like it depends on you and sleep at night like it depends on Him. We always want to give God our best (1 Corinthians 10:31). But rejoice in the fact that no one’s salvation depend on you, me, the mood we create, the techniques we employ, or the things we do. Therefore, abide in Christ, keep His Word, and let Him (and the Holy Spirit) do the heavy lifting.

Rest in the knowledge that regeneration and salvation is a work of God, not of you. It’s a work of the Spirit, not the work of you or me. Therefore, never lose heart. Do not be discouraged. Just share the gospel the best you can. Don’t be afraid. One plants; one waters; another harvests; God provides and yields the increase. Simply strive to be faithful.

Understand what you are up against: dead people don’t respond to lifeguards. You can present the gospel all day long, calling people to repentance. However, unless the Spirit is regenerating their heart, they will not respond. The natural (unsaved; unchurched) man cannot understand the things of God as they are follow to him.

Pray for illumination. Don’t “ask for a word from God.” Ask God to help you to understand His complete revelation of Himself to mankind (the Bible). God has given you all you need. You have His Spirit, His Word, and His Church. Pray for illumination.

[1] Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1830.

[2] Saving faith (trust) includes knowledge and understanding of the content of the gospel, approval and acceptance of the gospel and a real, true, and lasting personal trust in God in Christ. Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 709.

[3] http://www.challies.com/articles/revelation-inspiration-illumination-0