The Need For Illumination


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.--1 Corinthians 2:14.


The doctrine of the inability of the human mind and the need for 
divine illumination is so fully developed in the New Testament, that 
it is nothing short of astonishing that we should have gone so far 
astray about the whole thing. Fundamentalism has stood aloof from the 
Liberal in self-conscious superiority, and has on its own part fallen 
into error, the error of textualism, which is simply orthodoxy 
without the Holy Ghost. Everywhere among Conservatives, we find 
persons who are Bible-taught, but not Spirit-taught. They conceive 
truth to be something which they can grasp with the mind.

If a man holds to the fundamentals of the Christian faith, he is 
thought to possess divine truth. But it does not follow. There is no 
truth apart from the Spirit. The most brilliant intellect may be
imbecilic when confronted with the mysteries of God. For a man to 
understand revealed truth requires an act of God, equal to the 
original act, which inspired the text. ...

Conservative Christians in this day are stumbling over this truth.

We need to re-examine the whole thing. We need to learn that truth 
consists, not in correct doctrine, but in correct doctrine, plus the 
inward enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. We must declare again the
mystery of wisdom from above. A re-preachment of this vital truth 
could result in a fresh breath from God upon a stale and suffocating orthodoxy.


  "Lord, I do believe in the authority of the Scriptures, and thank 
You for that foundation of truth. But I need this reminder, that even 
that inspired text is not alive, until the Holy Spirit takes it and
enlightens the recipients. May the Holy Spirit, indeed, take what I 
teach, and imbed it in the hearts and minds of my hearers. Amen."