APR 5

John 3:1-21
Memorise 1 Corinthians 2:14
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God…”

We read in 2 Peter 1:21, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”. This tells us that God’s Word has a spiritual origin which is God Himself. It was given to man by the Holy Spirit, making the Bible a divinely inspired book of spiritual truths. It involved human authors whom God described as “holy men”, meaning these men were saved and were indwelt by the Holy Spirit. If the origin, revelation and recording of God’s Word are all of a spiritual nature, it therefore follows that receiving and understanding the Word of God (interpretation) must also be a spiritual exercise.

This is why Jesus told Nicodemus that “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. One can be receptive to the Spirit’s guidance only if he is truly born again and indwelt by the Spirit (i.e. saved, spiritually regenerated). Only then would his spiritual eyes be opened, to be able to see and understand heavenly, eternal matters. Likewise, 1 Corinthians 2:14 says that the natural (unsaved, spiritually unregenerate) man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God. Without the illumination of the Holy Spirit, no person can understand, accept and conduct himself according to God’s Word. To be regenerated or born again is therefore a pre-requisite for the proper interpretation of God’s Word.

Soon after the Asian Tsunami in 2004, Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury (head of the Anglican Church), questioned the existence of God due to the immense death and suffering resulting from it. Undoubtedly as a theologian, Dr. Williams should have been very familiar with Matthew 24 regarding the end-times, where Christ had forewarned of the escalating catastrophes that would occur as a sign of His return. In spite of this, his reaction to the Tsunami reflected how Matthew 24 had not impacted on him at all. An unregenerate theologian will neither defend nor accept what the Bible says in times of severe testing. How can he be trusted to interpret God’s Word faithfully?

Thought: An unregenerate person interpreting God’s Word is like a doctor performing surgery with only theoretical knowledge.
Prayer: Thy Word is power indeed, O Lord, for not only does it quicken souls but it also transforms hearts and minds.