RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-01-01	What Is The Biblical Doctrine of Illumination?
		The idea of illumination as taught in the Bible is the sense of understanding truth. Some call this the doctrine of the “aha!” moment when your spirit gets it. How does God help us to understand the truth of the Bible? We have the Word of God, but we need help in understanding it. In fact without God's help we cannot understand the message of the Bible (1Co.2:14). That is where the Holy Spirit comes in. The Holy Spirit inspired and gave us the Bible. Biblical illumination is the process by which the Holy Spirit helps a person to understand the truth of God's Word. When God's Word enters the heart it gives understanding to the mind. Psa 119:130  The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. But understanding the Bible must come from the Holy Spirit (1Co.2:12-13). The context here points to the Word of God as that which has been revealed. 1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1Co 2:13  These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. In fact, the unbeliever cannot understand the spiritual truths of the Bible (1Co.2:14). 1Co 2:14  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Because the Word of God gives understanding we are encouraged to study and memorize it (Ps.119:11,97). Psa 119:97  Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Studying the Word of God is our starting point and basic method of bringing illumination (Ps.119:18). Psa 119:18  Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. We are not looking for something new, but understanding what has already been written in the Bible. Jesus told us the Holy Spirit will teach us the truths God wants us to know (Jn.14:26) Joh 14:26  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Jesus was speaking to His disciples in the upper room, giving them last instructions before His death. Paul tells us the Holy Spirit gives wisdom and revelation concerning Jesus (Ep.1:17-18). Eph 1:17  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, Eph 1:18  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints When God opens our eyes of understanding we can know God's purposes in our lives. The Spirit of God will always point us to the Word of God for our instruction. Jesus told His disciples the Spirit simply repeats what the Father and the Son have already said (Jn.16:12-15). Sometimes we have to hear things several times before we actually hear them. That’s where the Spirit comes in. What is the ultimate purpose of illumination? It is not simply an academic understanding of facts. The illumination points to action. Psa 119:34  Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Psa 119:125  I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. Psa 119:144  The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live. Why does God help us understand His Word? So we are able to live in its light. The illuminating and leading work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a confirmation that we are indeed children of God. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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