The Sin of Prejudice

by Jesse M. Kelly
www.cvillechurch.com


It was John Bright who said, "Ignorance is the mother of prejudice." We have observed this to be a true saying. The more uninformed one is the greater his prejudice is apt to be. Webster's New International Dictionary defines it thusly: "An opinion or leaning adverse to anything without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge." The mind that is uninformed in Bible teaching is usually the most prejudiced against its truths. The prejudiced mind is a perverse mind. It is unyielding and headstrong. It has a disposition which leads to the rejection of truth for the sake of preference in any matter. It is a disposition which says, "I am right," regardless of argument, logic, or truth.

Prejudice has ever been the great enemy of the souls of men. We should make a tremendous effort to liberate ourselves from anything that would hinder the acceptance and progress of truth, for it is the truth that shall make us free. Paul said: "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey the lusts thereof; neither present your members unto sin as instruments of righteousness unto God." (Rom. 6:12) He then informs us that with freedom did Christ set us free; and then admonishes to "stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage." Prejudice is that which binds us to our own ways and to sin. It has ever been a yoke that has bound the minds of men to the ignorance which mothered it.

Look at the Jews of Jesus' day. Jesus said to them: "I know you are Abraham's seed; yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you." (John 8:37) Why did not the words of Jesus have free course among the Jews? Because of their prejudice. They would not give up their ideas and opinions, and seek the truth, though it was demonstrated to them by the most wonderful and astounding miracles ever performed. Well did Jesus say: "If they hear not Moses and the prophets they will not be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." They were bound down, not from any incapacity, nor because they were dead, or blind or deaf, but by the strong tyrant of prejudice, whose history is one of ignorance and crime and disobedience to God. It was prejudice that shed the blood of the Son of God and stoned the innocent Stephen. It has persecuted God's people in every age of the world; and has been the great barrier to the progress of truth since Cain murdered Abel. it has caused man to set aside God's law, and instituted works of his own devising instead, and has ruined his soul. It says, "hold to your preference and opinions, even to the rejection of the will of God."

"Behold this only have I found that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." (Eccl. 7:29) "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; but whoso walketh wisely shall be delivered. Ignorance and prejudice have caused man to "establish his own righteousness, not submitting himself to the righteousness of God." "But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the precepts of men." (Matt. 15:9) This is the ultimate end of ignorance and prejudice. Again in Psalms 18:26, 27 we have, "With the pure thou will show thyself pure, and with the perverse thou will show thyself forward. For thou will save the afflicted people; but the haughty ever thou will bring down." There is but one course for men to follow in this life that can be acceptable to God; one way that he be absolutely sure about, and that is God's way. Moses said: "For I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Ascribe ye greatness unto our God: The Rock, His way, is perfect; for all his ways are judgment..." (Deut. 32:3, 4)

The battle between truth and error, right and wrong, is fought along the line of prejudice. Take away prejudice and all religious controversy would end. Truth alone cannot overcome prejudice, though presented with all its power. Only honesty will do this; only the innate sense of right and wrong can remove from man his own perverse disposition. It is left to the will and free choice of man to regulate his character to the truth. He has the power of choice in the matter of his own conduct. His conscience together with his power to choose between right and wrong, with the resulting rewards and punishments, leads him to accept the truth, and lay down his own self-will. When man's heart becomes so corrupt as to lose the sensibilities of, and regard for right and truth, to the extent that he loses his regard for himself and respect for God, he becomes impenetrable to the truth. Man may know and understand the truth, yet reject it and refuse to obey.

The trouble with the Jews was that because of their own will and opinions and prejudice, they shut their eyes and stopped their ears and the truth could not reach their hearts. Consequently the Savior was rejected by them. This is the trouble with a great portion of mankind today. Man's disposition is to have his own way, follow his own wisdom, and to worship God after his own inventions. He devises ways and means to carry out God's divine ends in a different way from that God has ordained. He will hold to them as dearly as he will to life itself, and his prejudice will condemn his soul. This was the failing of the Jews in Jesus' day, and after his rejection we hear him saying, "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matt. 23:37, 38) Their prejudice, mothered by their ignorance and traditions and creeds, kept them from accepting the Savior of the world, and as a result God turned away from them, and their house was left desolate.

Then we can see the danger and degrading influence of prejudice. Let us then, whatever our religion, make a tremendous effort to free ourselves from it, for until we do we will be bound down and in ignorance reject the truth which is able to save the soul.

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How Good is "Good Enough?"

by Mark E. Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

Do we understand what it means to be saved by grace? Though many claim to depend on the grace of God for their salvation, many continue to live life as if they must earn their way to Heaven. “Am I good enough?” “Have I done enough?” “Have I pleased God enough that I may enter Heaven?” Out of concern for your eternal salvation, have you ever asked yourself these kinds of questions? If so, you may not understand salvation which is by grace - a favor bestowed freely by God, a gift we did not deserve.

“The Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24)

The gospel teaches that salvation is by grace (Eph. 2:5). Therefore, to leave grace out of the gospel is to teach a perverted or contrary gospel (Gal. 1:6-7). Yet, that is exactly what we do when we ask the question: “Am I good enough to be saved?” Such a question does not put trust in God’s grace, but “confidence in the flesh” or our own good works for our salvation (Phil. 3:2-3). Just as “salvation by grace only” or “salvation by faith only” are falsehoods, so is “salvation by works only” a false doctrine which can cause us to be lost.

Our understanding of the gospel of grace is absolutely essential. For the attitude we bring in our service to God has the power to justify or condemn us eternally (Luke 18:9-13).

Must Our Good Deeds Outweigh Our Bad Deeds?

There are many New Testament passages that teach that we will be judged according to our deeds (Mat. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:6-10; Col. 3:23-25; Rev. 2:23; 20:12; 22:12; etc.). Does it therefore follow that our good deeds must outweigh our bad deeds on Judgment Day? Muhammad thought so as taught in the Koran: “Then, he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) heavy, will be in a life of good pleasure and satisfaction. But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) light will have his home in a (bottomless) pit.” (SURAH 101:6-9, The Holy Quran). Is this what the New Testament also teaches? If so, by what standard or measurement do we use to determine if our good deeds are “heavy” enough to merit our eternal reward?

The Gospel is Not a Meritorious Law System.

According to Romans 2:5-11, our obedience is of great importance to God, yet God will in no way “strike a balance” by rewarding Christians whose goods deeds outweigh their bad deeds on Judgment Day. Further in the text, the apostle explains how a person could be right with God (justified) if it was only through our keeping the law (any law; Rom. 2:12-16): “For not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified (v. 13). How good is “good enough” to be right with God? Only perfect law-keeping would be “enough”! Yet, no one has been able to do this (Rom. 3:10, 23).

God’s Justice is satisfied only by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) how can God’s justice be satisfied? Only through the blood of Jesus! “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith…” (Rom. 3:24-25ff.). “The law of faith” declares that we are “justified by faith apart from works of [the] law” (v. 28) – any law-keeping in attempt to merit our salvation. No one can achieve righteousness (a right standing w/ God) by their own efforts of good works (Phil. 3:9). All need the blood of Jesus to be right with God.

Justification by Faith vs. Justification by Meritorious Works

“Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Rom. 4:3). Unable to boast by his “works” (i.e., unable to meet the “full quota” of good works), Abraham was justified by faith! (Rom. 4:1-5). Abraham’s faith in God was not faith alone, but an obedient faith which trusted in God for salvation (James 2:20-24).

“Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt” (Rom. 4:4).

The person who “works,” who does not put his faith in the Lord for salvation, is one who labors to earn his reward (i.e., righteousness before God). His reward is not a favor, but a debt owed to him based on personal merit. The serious problem in this approach is that a person would have to obey the law flawlessly to gain his reward! There can be no other kind of worker that God owes a reward! Yet, there is no such worker among men (3:23).

The Blood of Jesus is the Source of Our Righteousness.

Since we sin or fail to perform good works perfectly, we cannot be right with God unless we are forgiven of our sins. And forgiveness is found only through the blood of Jesus (Eph. 1:7). Our sins will be charged to our account unless we go to Christ in faith for the forgiveness of our sins. Only then will we be righteous: “Just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account." (Rom. 4:6-8). To whom does the Lord credit righteousness to his account? To the person whose sins are forgiven! When a person responds in obedient faith to the gospel of Christ, their sins are covered the debt of sin is cancelled! (Acts 2:38). Only in Christ can we be righteous before God (2 Cor. 5:21). Christ, not our works, is the source of our salvation (Heb. 5:9).

In What Sense will we be judged According to our Works?

God does the saving, not us (Tit. 3:5), but we must come to Christ to be saved. Sins we committed in life and did not repent of and receive forgiveness for will remain in the “record books” and be held against us at the Judgment (Rev. 20:12), unless we obey the gospel to have our sins washed away (Acts 22:16; cf. 2 Thes. 1:8). Once in Christ, we must demonstrate our faith by our works of obedience (Jas. 2:14-26). Our deeds in life demonstrate our faithfulness or unfaithfulness to God (2 Cor. 5:6-10). God is faithful to forgive Christians, but we must confess our sins with a penitent heart to be forgiven (1 Jn 1:9; Acts 8:22). This is a requirement of continued fellowship with God (1 Jn 1:5-10).

How good is “good enough”? No one is good enough without the grace of the Savior!

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The Firm Foundation of God

by Homer Hailry
www.cvillechurch.com

In every age the church has had some things in common with the church of preceding ages. There always have been things to discourage the strongest, and test the most steadfast. There have been false brethren within, along with bickerings and strife; false teachers without, historical epochs which have threatened the very life of Christianity, and waves of indifference to spiritual things. Some of these things Paul mentions as he writes to Timothy, encouraging him to steadfast continuance in his work in the Lord; making special mention of "profane babblings," "striving about words to no profit," and false teaching on the resurrection.

But along with these things, each age has had that which encourages, that to which men could lay hold with no fear of it giving way, or being shaken. In the very midst of these things discouraging in their nature, the apostle says, "How be it the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness." (2 Tim. 2:19)

This age is little different from others that have come and gone. To be sure the specific details are different, but so far as problems are concerned, and changes taking places with regard to the preceding generation or age, it is no different. Today nations are passing, old ideals are changing, the security of those things in which men have been wont to trust is being questioned, and a new wave of infidelity is dashing itself out against the "Rock of Ages," "foaming out" its "own shame." But these things have happened before. They were happening in Paul's day, when he wrote as he did to Timothy. Howbeit, in the midst of all these, "The firm foundation of God" stood, and stands, a sure foundation upon which one can build, and feel secure.

In the midst of the vast uncertainty of today, and the near panicky attitude that some take, begetting a pessimism that is even being felt in the church at various places, there are three things set forth by Paul in 2 Tim 2 that need to be emphasized by Christians, especially preachers and teachers, everywhere: 1) The definite principle of the character of God as set forth by Paul in verses 11-13; 2) The fact that the "firm foundation of God stands," though all else may be perishing; 3) The Lord knoweth them that are His," and that His demand of them that are His, is that they "depart from unrighteousness."

When the apostle said, "If we shall deny him, he also will deny us: if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself," he simply stated a definite principle in the Character of God. God cannot act contrary to His nature, and His nature is definitely set forth in the revelation of Himself in the Bible. It matters not how dark the hour, how hopeless the immediate prospects, how strong the pressure brought to bear; man is still without excuse for his sin, and should he deny God even under these circumstances, God cannot but be faithful to Himself, "he also will deny us."

The emphatic stressing of this principle in the Character of God will tend to build determination in the hearts of those honestly seeking heaven. It will likewise eliminate the necessity of so much "re-consecrating," "rededication," "restoration" of members in the meetings sometimes held. There are those who are "overtaken in a trespass," these are to be restored, certainly. There are those who "err from the truth," these must be converted, James urges it. But much of the half-hearted attitude that serves God "a little bit," and the devil "a right smart," oftentimes results from a lack of understanding of the character of God, and the principle that He "cannot deny himself." Once the principle is fully appreciated, greater care in conduct will be exercised.

But in the midst of ungodliness, troubles, turning away from God, and the denying of Him by those who should be faithful, the "firm foundation of God standeth." Here we have something solid upon which to build, and to which to hold, in the midst of any storm, internal or external.

God promised that in Zion He should lay for a foundation, a "tried stone" (Isa. 28:16), which Peter affirms to have been the Christ, (1 Peter 2:6). Christ built His church upon this very foundation, (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor 3:11); and every individual built into that structure, is builded upon it (Eph. 2:19-22). While old institutions were crumbling, and passing away, the apostle said of the Hebrews in his day, that they were "receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken." (Heb.12:28). Here we have something stable and certain in any time of uncertainty, doubt, or fear.

What is the point in all this? Simply this: that when those in the church fully appreciate the fact that the only things today which cannot be shaken are the things that pertain to the church, to the kingdom of God, then the church will become more precious to them. When it is appreciated that "the firm foundation of God standeth," regardless of all things else, the laying up of treasures in heaven will have greater prominence in the lives of its members, and the cares of riches and temporal things here, less.

But the "seal" of this assurance should not be overlooked. "The Lord knoweth them that are his." Sometimes we become impatient, we feel that the Lord has forgotten us, and like Elijah of old, "I alone am left." But the Lord knows them that are His. It is He who calls them, through the gospel; and it is He who justifies. He adds to the church, cares for His own, and "knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation." One need not worry about the Lord forgetting him, for He will keep His part of the covenant. He will "in no wise fail thee, neither in any wise forsake thee." "He knoweth them that take refuge in him."

There is another side of the seal also, "Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness." Although they never won a discussion on the subject, the Baptists used to debate that an individual once saved could not be lost. However, the doctrine seemed so attractive to the worldly minded, that some, while not actually believing it, yet live in the church as thought it were so. They claim to trust God, while at the same time they depart not from unrighteousness. But the apostle said, "If we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself." Does Paul mean God will be faithful to save even though the individual does not continue faithful? Certainly not! But that God is faithful, "if we deny him, he also will deny us." The demand that those who know God depart from unrighteousness must be stressed today. —- Bible Banner - December 1941

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Doctoring the Bible

by Cled E. Wallace
www.cvillechurch.com

There is no short cut to a knowledge of the Bible. Publishers of and agents for specially edited Bibles with fancy trimmings and helps of various kinds have reaped a considerable profit for themselves by raising false hopes in the minds of the gullible, who would like to have, and imagine they can get, a knowledge of the Book without much hard work. The price tags attached to such wares are far from modest and in some instances so ridiculous they reflect on the intelligence of the customer. When the Bible with "helps" costs considerably more than twice as much as the same Bible without the "helps," it ought to occur to somebody that too high a value has been placed on human help. Some books of the sort are helpful after a fashion but they contain no magic that will cause one to absorb knowledge from sleeping with one of them under his pillow. This is true even of the best ones.

A lot of sectarian and speculative propaganda is spread about with the help of these doctored, high-priced Bibles. Sales resistance is entirely too low among the brethren, and especially the sisters, when some of these talkative vendors ring the doorbell. When one is let in, he should be viewed with enough suspicion to give a healthy curiosity a chance to determine what he is and what he has. A very intelligent sister asked me to inspect a book she had bought from an agent for a financial consideration of several good American dollars. The agent got the money and she was laboring under the impression that she was getting just what the doctor ordered to help her and her household to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. What she got was "Bible Readings For the Home Circle." Sounds good, doesn't it? And it was mechanically very pleasing to the eye and had pictures in it. The agent of course did not tell the sister that he was a Seventh Day Adventist and the book was arranged for the spread of Adventist doctrine. When she found that out, was she mad!

There are a lot of people, too, who do not distinguish between the text of the Bible and the comments made upon it in some of these highly specialized editions. Some brethren proudly display their "Scofield" Bibles until somebody tells them that the Scofield part is the rottenest sort of premillennial propaganda, and then they nearly die from shock. Anybody who buys one of the things without knowing what he is getting is being sadly imposed upon. A lot of men who write Bible "helps" are in need of a liberal amount of help themselves, or past the point where any amount of it will do them any good. Brethren can at least take care not to pay out good money in exchange for such blindness on paper. "Our" own publishers are not too careful, conscientious or something, sometimes, when it comes to what is said about such works advertised in their catalogs. In one of them, I have seen the "Scofield Bible" praised as though it were almost inspired exegesis, instead of the pitiful, driveling web of fancy which it really is.

Brother Larimore was wont to say that a fairly intelligent human being of either sex, was very well equipped to increase his knowledge of God, if he had a good text of the Bible, a good English dictionary and a good Bible dictionary. There is some wisdom here. This is no argument against the reading of good books, or the use of any "helps" that are helps. It does add up to this. There is no way to really learn what is in the Bible without reading and studying the Bible itself. Few students are capable of passing an examination on any subject, history for instance, after only one casual reading of a text and listening to a few lectures. The text must be read, re-read and studied. So it is with the books that make up the Bible. And dealing with the Bible after such a fashion yields tremendous and pleasing results. A student should read the gospels until he knows the life of Christ. He should read the book of Acts until he knows the history of the early church. He should read the epistles until he knows what the Lord expects of His church and His people.

If he reads these things often enough, he will know them just like he knows other things he is interested in enough to read about. Some brethren can tell us where Joe Louis landed every punch on Lou Nova and which fist he used, who can't quote a memory verse at a prayer-meeting. There are two reasons for this. In the first place, they are not at prayer-meeting and in the second place they do not know the memory verse. It isn't lack of ability, it is lack of interest.

This is really a serious matter. "Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." (Eph. 5:17) "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." (Col. 3:16) The prevailing ignorance of the word of God on the part of large numbers in the church is both amazing and appalling. I still think we know more about the Bible than our religious neighbors do, but that just goes to show what I think about how little they know. It is my conviction that if an ignorant brother with a fairly good mind would pick out one book in the New Testament, start with a few interesting facts about it, and then read it over and over until he knew it, he would be so proud of himself and feel so good otherwise that he would keep up the good work and really find out what growth in grace and knowledge means. Reading the Bible should not be viewed as a task, or drudgery. The pleasure it affords is commensurate with the profit it yields. There is no short cut to a knowledge of the Bible. The, man who knows it was not born that way. He got that way by keeping company with the Book and behaving himself intelligently while he was at it. —- Bible Banner - October 1941

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How Does the Holy Spirit Lead?

by Marshall Patton
www.cvillechurch.com

Obviously, the Holy Spirit does lead certain ones. "Sons of God" are thus led. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God" (Rom.8:14). Jesus was "led up of the Spirit" into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matt. 4:1). Paul and his companions were being led on their journey by the Holy Spirit when they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, "having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia," and when "they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not" (Acts 16:6-7). The Holy Spirit led Peter to the house of Cornelius, and Philip was led by the Holy Spirit to the eunuch.

No one denies the fact that the Holy Spirit leads or guides. Many, however, differ on the matter of how he leads. Some believe and teach that the Holy Spirit acts miraculously in leading to salvation and sanctification, without means or instrumentality. These fail to recognize a difference in ordinary and miraculous manifestations. They want to make every action of the Spirit toward the sinner or saint miraculous. Some who claim to be Christians feel that the Holy Spirit dwells in them personally and leads them to speak in tongues, heal, make utterances (preach) as the Spirit gives it to them, and even directs them in various experiences in life. One told of the Holy Spirit leading him to a parking space when he sorely needed one. Some seem to feel that the Holy Spirit in them serves like a radar beep leading, guiding, and warning always. We need to look to the Bible and see what it reveals about the leading of Deity.

Each member of the Godhead is said to lead just as each is said to dwell in us. Learning how Deity leads and dwells in us should clear up the confusion in the minds of many about the "how."
Some speak of the dispensations of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They are referring to the times when God spoke directly with man or led by direct contact, when Christ was here on earth, and after Christ ascended and sent the Holy Spirit. Looking at how God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit led during these periods should help answer the question of this article.

God led Noah to build an ark wherein he and his family were saved from the flood (Heb. 11:7). The Genesis account tells us that God "said unto Noah . . . make thee an ark of gopher wood . . . and this is the fashion which thou shalt make it" (Gen. 6:13-16). "And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him" (7:5). How did God lead Noah to build the ark? He spoke to him in a language Noah understood, giving detailed instructions, and and Noah followed (did) all that God commanded.

God led Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees. How? Abraham received instructions from God and his faith resulted in obedience (Heb. 11:8-9; Rom. 10:17; Gen. 12:1-4). God led Abraham by speaking to him and Abraham obeyed.

God led Israel out of Egyptian bondage, and through the wilderness (Deut.8:14-15; 29:4-5). In doing this he used the instrumentality of Moses and Aaron. "Thou leadest thy people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron" (Psa.77:20). He confirmed his leadership and his appointed agents by many miracles (plagues, parting waters, pillar of cloud and fire, etc.). God led them by choosing and equipping Moses who spoke God's will to the people and they obeyed.

Christ made disciples by teaching instruction. He commanded and they obeyed (Jn. 1:43). No mysterious or supernatural power possessed the individuals to make them follow Jesus. Miraculous proof that Jesus was from God, and was God, was given to induce faith in the individual to accept the instruction Jesus gave, and to follow him. People became followers of Christ by being taught - hearing, learning, and coming (Jn. 6:44-45). Jesus led people by speaking truth to them (taught in a way that they could understand) and they followed him. This is the same way that God led Abraham and Israel in their day.

The Spirit's Leading

We have already pointed out that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by divine instruction and led Paul in his journeys by divine instruction. The word of God teaches that the Holy Spirit leads sons of God today (Rom. 8:14). Does he do it differently from other examples of the leading of Deity? A careful study of Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit, an intelligent speaking person, also speaks to people and they hear and obey.

There were different manifestations of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:4-7). The apostles were promised baptism of the Holy Spirit for revelation and confirmation of the word of truth (Acts 1:5; Jn.14:26; 16:13-15; 1 Cor.2:12-13; Mk. 16:20). There were "gifts of the Spirit" (miraculous powers) used in revealing and confirming truth (1 Cor. 12:1-11,28) that were bestowed on certain ones by the laying on of an apostle's hands (Acts 8:17-18; 19:6). These gifts of the Spirit were temporary and would vanish away when maturity (complete, finished revelation and confirmation of truth) was reached (1 Cor. 13:8-10).

The Holy Spirit led three thousand souls to be saved on Pentecost. How? The Holy Spirit came to the apostles with miraculous demonstrations, giving proof that these men were truly messengers of God. Peter spoke "as the Holy Spirit gave utterance." Many were convicted by the truth spoken and asked, "What shall we do?" The Holy Spirit, speaking through Peter, said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2). Thus about three thousand were led by the Holy Spirit to salvation, when they heard, believed and did just what the Holy Spirit said for them to do.

This is exactly how the Holy Spirit leads Christians today. Redeemed people need the leading of the Spirit in living the Christian life as much as they did in coming to Christ. In leading, guiding and edifying the Christian, the Spirit uses the instrumentality of truth - the revealed, confirmed word of truth. The word of God is said to be the "sword (instrument) of the Spirit" (Eph.6:17).

The Holy Spirit "speaks expressly" (1 Tim. 4:1-2) giving instruction, warnings, exhortations through the New Testament. The Holy Spirit has never laid aside the agency of truth, substituting fleshly feelings, emotions, or imaginations, in the guidance of Christians. Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God as they hear the Spirit revealed message of truth, believe and obey it. This is the way that Christians walk after the Spirit," "mind the things of the Spirit," are in the Spirit," "live in the Spirit," and are "led by the Spirit" (Rom. 8:1,4,5,9,13,14).

Deity has always led by the agent/agency of revealed, confirmed truth (God's will) being made known to man, coupled with man's faith and obedience. The leading of Deity never overrides the will (free moral agency) of man, so that he cannot choose to do or not do the will of God.

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