http://www.abideinchrist.com/selah/may28.html
"But when He, the Spirit of truth,
comes,
He will guide you into all the truth;
for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears,
He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come"
(John 16:13).
"God told me." Over the years, I have learned to dread these words in a conversation. Whenever someone says this to me, I know the conversation has ended. From that point on, logic, reason, and the clear teachings of Scripture are all thrown out the window. Any attempt to talk these very sincere believers off the ledge of stupidity is, in their eyes, a direct assault on the Holy Spirit. John 16:13 is often used (abused) to justify heart-led, feelings-driven, short-sighted, completely unbiblical decisions. But look again at this verse.
"He [the Spirit of Truth] WILL NOT speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak." Since the Bible is the inspired word of God (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21),
guidance by the Holy Spirit ALWAYS comes with a passion to align our decisions with the word of truth and a willingness to be corrected by mature believers since we know full-well that Satan can also quote verses from the Bible, but always for self-serving purposes and never with any regard for their context (Matt 4:5-6; 2 Cor 11:14).
"To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn" (Isa 8:20).
Commitment to Christ
When we trust or yield ourselves to Christ, there is a true commitment just like in a healthy marriage.
How tragic that many marriages are dysfunctional and are a poor example of long lasting commitments.
Jesus made an eternal commitment to us (Rom. 8:38-39). In response to His love we are called upon to pledge ourselves to him.
We love Him because He first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19).
The apostle Paul used the marriage relationship to illustrate our relationship with Christ (Eph. 5:22ff). "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (v. 25).
Just like in the vows of a wedding we can express our faith to Christ who died for us, demonstrating His great love for us. We love Him because He first loved us.
One of the best illustrations of this commitment I have ever read was by C. H. Spurgeon. He said Christ Jesus vows to us: “I, Jesus, take you [whoever you may be; put your own name in the space], to be my wedded wife; and I do promise and covenant before God the Father and these witnesses gathered here, to be your loving and faithful Savior and Bridegroom: in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, in this life and for all eternity.”
With a true conversion experience we vow to Him in a similar manner: “I, [whoever you are; add your own name], take You, Jesus, to be my loving Savior and Lord; and I do promise and covenant, before God the Father and these assembled witnesses, to be your loving and faithful wife: in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, for this life and for all eternity.”
It is God the Father who then blesses the marriage, and the believer belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ forever. Our commitment to Christ is a simple act of faith that has eternal significances (Rev. 19:7; John 17:3-5; 1 John 5:13).
The disciple Thomas made such a commitment when he declared, “My Lord, and my God!” (Jn. 20:28). The apostle Paul wrote, “I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). The writer of Hebrews describes our Lord’s commitment and our response to Him in these words, “‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?'” (Heb. 13:5-6).
The LORD God made a great covenant when He sent His Son to go to the cross and die for our sins that He could save us by grace through faith in Christ (Matt. 26:26-29; Heb. 9:11-16, 23-28). “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). That is exactly what Jesus did for us; only He died for those who were His enemies so that we could become His friends (Rom. 5:6, 8).
The ABC’s of salvation express the same conviction. We must Accept Jesus Christ and the truths concerning His life, death and resurrection. The apostle Paul said “the gospel which I preached to you . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared . . . to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of who remain until now . . .” (1 Cor. 15:3-6). Those are basic facts we must accept regarding Jesus Christ. They are well attested to in history. Jesus Christ is believable.
We must Believe on Jesus Christ personally. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. He died as my substitute in my place paying my penalty for sin (Rom. 5:6, 8; 2 Cor. 5:21). I believe He is the only way for me to go to heaven and enjoy eternal life with Him (Acts 4:12). It is a personal relationship with Him.
We must Commit ourselves to Jesus Christ. This is the moment when He becomes "my Lord and my God" (Jn. 20:28). I take You, Jesus Christ, as my Lord and Savior. We are saved by the grace of God that is received by simple faith in Jesus Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9-10, 13).
Have you made that commitment to Him? Have you asked Him to be your Savior? Have you believed on Him? Have you made a commitment of yourself to Him? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved . . .” (Acts 16:31).
"But when He, the Spirit of truth,
comes,
He will guide you into all the truth;
for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears,
He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come"
(John 16:13).
"God told me." Over the years, I have learned to dread these words in a conversation. Whenever someone says this to me, I know the conversation has ended. From that point on, logic, reason, and the clear teachings of Scripture are all thrown out the window. Any attempt to talk these very sincere believers off the ledge of stupidity is, in their eyes, a direct assault on the Holy Spirit. John 16:13 is often used (abused) to justify heart-led, feelings-driven, short-sighted, completely unbiblical decisions. But look again at this verse.
"He [the Spirit of Truth] WILL NOT speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak." Since the Bible is the inspired word of God (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21),
guidance by the Holy Spirit ALWAYS comes with a passion to align our decisions with the word of truth and a willingness to be corrected by mature believers since we know full-well that Satan can also quote verses from the Bible, but always for self-serving purposes and never with any regard for their context (Matt 4:5-6; 2 Cor 11:14).
"To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn" (Isa 8:20).
Commitment to Christ
When we trust or yield ourselves to Christ, there is a true commitment just like in a healthy marriage.
How tragic that many marriages are dysfunctional and are a poor example of long lasting commitments.
Jesus made an eternal commitment to us (Rom. 8:38-39). In response to His love we are called upon to pledge ourselves to him.
We love Him because He first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19).
The apostle Paul used the marriage relationship to illustrate our relationship with Christ (Eph. 5:22ff). "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (v. 25).
Just like in the vows of a wedding we can express our faith to Christ who died for us, demonstrating His great love for us. We love Him because He first loved us.
One of the best illustrations of this commitment I have ever read was by C. H. Spurgeon. He said Christ Jesus vows to us: “I, Jesus, take you [whoever you may be; put your own name in the space], to be my wedded wife; and I do promise and covenant before God the Father and these witnesses gathered here, to be your loving and faithful Savior and Bridegroom: in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, in this life and for all eternity.”
With a true conversion experience we vow to Him in a similar manner: “I, [whoever you are; add your own name], take You, Jesus, to be my loving Savior and Lord; and I do promise and covenant, before God the Father and these assembled witnesses, to be your loving and faithful wife: in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, for this life and for all eternity.”
It is God the Father who then blesses the marriage, and the believer belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ forever. Our commitment to Christ is a simple act of faith that has eternal significances (Rev. 19:7; John 17:3-5; 1 John 5:13).
The disciple Thomas made such a commitment when he declared, “My Lord, and my God!” (Jn. 20:28). The apostle Paul wrote, “I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). The writer of Hebrews describes our Lord’s commitment and our response to Him in these words, “‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?'” (Heb. 13:5-6).
The LORD God made a great covenant when He sent His Son to go to the cross and die for our sins that He could save us by grace through faith in Christ (Matt. 26:26-29; Heb. 9:11-16, 23-28). “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). That is exactly what Jesus did for us; only He died for those who were His enemies so that we could become His friends (Rom. 5:6, 8).
The ABC’s of salvation express the same conviction. We must Accept Jesus Christ and the truths concerning His life, death and resurrection. The apostle Paul said “the gospel which I preached to you . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared . . . to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of who remain until now . . .” (1 Cor. 15:3-6). Those are basic facts we must accept regarding Jesus Christ. They are well attested to in history. Jesus Christ is believable.
We must Believe on Jesus Christ personally. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. He died as my substitute in my place paying my penalty for sin (Rom. 5:6, 8; 2 Cor. 5:21). I believe He is the only way for me to go to heaven and enjoy eternal life with Him (Acts 4:12). It is a personal relationship with Him.
We must Commit ourselves to Jesus Christ. This is the moment when He becomes "my Lord and my God" (Jn. 20:28). I take You, Jesus Christ, as my Lord and Savior. We are saved by the grace of God that is received by simple faith in Jesus Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9-10, 13).
Have you made that commitment to Him? Have you asked Him to be your Savior? Have you believed on Him? Have you made a commitment of yourself to Him? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved . . .” (Acts 16:31).
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