Professor Holy Spirit

Once a person comes to Christ for salvation, a life of discipleship begins. Teaching converts the things of God is another fundamental ministry of the Holy Spirit. A great deal is to be discovered about God, the Christian faith, life, and the Bible.  Even though a person may be intellectually exceptional, they still must not presume to be fit to unravel divine truths. God’s thoughts and ways are often infinitely different from the notions of a new convert.  The values and priorities of the world system are culturally incompatible with Christ’s in most regards. Though a person is indeed saved, they will not automatically think God’s thoughts. They must be educated in the truths, doctrines, and principles of the Christian Faith. This is true of the average convert; even for those reared in good Christian homes where the Bible is taught with accuracy and clarity. Simply put the new convert much still grasp and experience Christianity firsthand after conversion.

Because new converts are substantially uneducated in spiritual matters, God must undertake the function of Teacher.  Sonship to God is a whole new unexplored and fascinating reality for new believers.  Thus it is nothing short of a monumental undertaking to bring believers to maturity where they think God’s thoughts, live His values, and exercise themselves in His principles and priorities.  In fact this task is so tremendous, that none but God can do it. 

This is where the Holy Spirit plays the role of Professor. The Lord Jesus said in John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” Christ referred to the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of truth” Who will “guide” believers “into all truth.” The Spirit’s ministry is to guide in learning, instruction, and explanation of all truth concerning the faith. The Lord Jesus also said in John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The Holy Spirit works in the office of a Teacher giving believers insight into the wisdom of Christ, instilling doctrines, and explaining the meaning for practical adherence.

But, how does the Spirit of God teach the Christian?  The short answer is the Spirit of the Living God divinely enables a Christian to understand Scripture in a way that he could not before becoming a Christian. Consider the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2 to note this. Paul said,

 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ¹⁰ But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. ¹¹ For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. ¹³ Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. ¹⁶ For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:9-16).

THE SPIRIT WILL TEACH THE BIBLE

Clearly the Spirit of Grace uses the Bible to train believers in the Faith. This is not only a basic ministry of the Spirit but an essential one as well. Though the Scriptures are infallible and inspired, people need help understanding them. The illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit makes this possible. Because the Bible must be spiritually discerned, the natural mind unaided by the Spirit cannot grasp its truths (D. Williams, 1994, pp. 39-41). The believer can learn and grow under God’s direct tutelage. Without the Spirit’s ministry, people absolutely cannot know spiritual things.

I can recall when I was a pre-teen my pastor gave me a New Testament and instructed me to read it diligently every day.  Well, since this encouragement came from my preacher, I felt it was important to obey him.  Therefore, all through my teen years as a young person I read my New Testament and latter my grandmother’s Bible at the very least five to six days each week.  It was a part of my bedtime ritual.  I can recall understanding some of what I read and other parts simply went over my head.  Though I did not make many decisions based on what I was reading each day I still felt it important to read my Bible.  I still have that New Testament, and it has many places where I highlighted verses or placed them in brackets to indicate their significance.  Apparently I was impressed to some degree with the statements of the Lord Jesus and the passages on salvation.  Though I was not saved at the time, God was still communicating to me through the Bible and laying a foundation for my salvation.

But there was much that confused me; I could not make heads or tails of some passages. I can even recall debating the Bible’s instructions about sexual experimentation, heavy teen petting, and fornication among youths!  Though I attended church regularly, I evidently did not attend to learn the Bible. I was basically missing more than I was taking in from the Word.

Finally, I was saved August twenty-first in the year 1990 in Plattsburgh, New York.  I was now a young man serving in the Air Force on Plattsburgh Air Force Base.  After trusting Christ as Savior, God gave me a hunger for the Bible and a sense of obligation to read His Word and obey His requirements. I remember being deeply convicted about Bible reading a week after my conversion experience.  According to my recollections, I had not been instructed to do this through the church I was currently attending.  I believe it was God’s Spirit prodding me and directing me in this essential exercise. My girlfriend and I went to the local Christian book store and purchased two King James Bibles. My reading soon took off like a rocket.  Naturally, I started reading in the Book of Genesis.  But, now when I read the Bible, it comes alive with meaning.  No, I did not understand it all, far from it, but the stories and remedial lessons in them absolutely occupied my mind and deeply encouraged my reading. I could not get enough of it. I read on and on each day, consuming large portions at a time. I did not understand everything I read, but I was ecstatic with what I did know. So I read and read, not worrying about what I did not grasp, just trying to increase my knowledge of what I did.  I was seeing elementary truths like never before.  It became natural and normal for me to discuss what I was learning with fellow believers. I firmly believe the Spirit of God was teaching and training me with His Word.

I do not mean to imply that everyone will experience this exact kind of difference upon conversion. But it is an example of the illumining and teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. What made the difference between my Bible reading in my teen years and when I tried to read the Bible as a new convert? As a convert I had the Holy Spirit living inside me, teaching me, opening my mind to the truths of Scripture, helping me understand.  I still deeply treasures this wonderful experience and Bible based reality. If you are serious about learn spiritual matters, I can hardily recommend the Professor Holy Spirit. He is a Teacher like no other...absolutely peerless!