Answering Doctrinal Questions (Part 7) Stan Crowley But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks

Answering Doctrinal Questions (Part 7)

Stan Crowley

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Pet 3:15 NKJV)

No. Some teach that God (perhaps

through the Holy Spirit) works directly on all Christian’s hearts today: to impart information/illumination, provide an understanding of the

Scriptures,or

provide guidance.

18. Does the Holy Spirit operate on the souls/wills of men separate from the Word of God?

2

We must carefully note: Any information revealed directly to

man by God involves “prophecy,” implying that there are miracles today (II Pet. 1:21).

Providing a better understanding of a passage is providing information that changes what a person will think or do.

Any information from God that supplements what has previously been provided is new revelation—it should be recorded and shared as “Scripture” (II Pet. 1:20-21). 3


Except for the miraculous gift of prophecy, to prophets, God has always worked on man’s “heart” (man’s mind) indirectly through the things God has told man or shown to man.

Sometime, such teaching uses the term heart … teaching that the Holy Spirit directly affects “man’s heart.”

We need to understand “heart” as the Bible uses the word “heart.”


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In the Scriptures, “heart” is:

“The inner self that thinks, feels, and decides. In the Bible the word heart has a much broader meaning than it does to the modern mind.” (Nelson’s Bible Dictionary via PC Study Bible Software)

Examples: Thinking (Pr. 23:7) Rejoicing (Ez. 25:6) Concluding (Ps. 14:1)

ThinkingThinking

FeelingFeeling

DecidingDeciding5

InfluenceInfluence

SensesSenses

ThinkingThinking

FeelingFeeling

DecidingDeciding

MindMind

This is This is the the process process found found in in Scripture.Scripture.

God God affects affects man’s man’s will by will by what He what He sayssays and and showsshows to man.to man.

66


Man’s intellectual capabilities: mind

Hear / See / Smell / Touch / Taste

The Words of Revelation

The Creation

The Miracles

God has always influenced man in general through his five senses. 7


Influence

Senses

Thinking

Feeling

Deciding

Mind

Never do we find God directly affecting man’s thinking, feeling, or will.

X

8


This is This is the the process process found found in in Scripture.Scripture.

Thinking

Deciding

Feeling

If He directly affects our thoughts, why are we told to bring every thought into captivity (II Cor. 10:5)?

If He directly affects our feelings, we should listen to those who “feel” something is wrong.

If He directly affects our decisions, then to the extent that He does we are not responsible. 9


Those who teach that God operates directly on man’s mind (e.g., through a direct operation of the Holy Spirit) are

teaching a method nowhere found in the Scriptures.

Except for miracles, God’s has always influenced man’s through man’s senses.

We do not find examples of: Directly implanting thoughts, Directly causing feelings, or Directly affecting the decision-

making powers of man.

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SAVE FOR ANOTHER TIME

21. Should those who teach doctrine contrary to the New Testament be marked (noted, ASV) and avoided?

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By comparing our heart and our actions to the standards set forth in the Word of God.

(2 Tim 3:16 NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

(2 Tim 3:17 NKJV) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

22. How can we know whether or not we are doing God’s will?

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Neither our feelings nor our conscience is a reliable guide.

(Prov 14:12 NKJV) There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

(Jer 10:23 NKJV) O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.


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Neither our feelings nor our conscience is a reliable guide.

(Acts 23:1 NKJV) Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."

(1 Tim 1:15 NKJV) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.


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Answering Doctrinal Questions (Part 7) Stan Crowley But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks