Rule 4 - The Holy Spirit is central to correct interpretation

As we look at the Bible and aim to interpret it correctly, we find that the Holy Spirit is central to that. In order to have the Holy Spirit we have to be born again. Jesus said, 'Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit; you must be born again.' (John 3)

We receive the Holy Spirit at conversion, and as we grow in the Lord and in maturity, then his role in our lives becomes more prevalent.

In order to begin to interpret the Bible correctly, the individual has to have the Holy Spirit, so that he can illuminate God's word. Jesus described the Holy Spirit as 'The Spirit of Truth... he will guide you into all truth.' (John 16: 13)

In effect, we all have two sets of eyes and ears, one is natural, the other spiritual. Without the Holy Spirit to quicken the spiritual, we will only see things in the natural. 'The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers.' (2 Corinthians 4: 4).

'The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.' (1 Corinthians 2: 14) Without the leading of the Holy Spirit we will struggle to interpret the Bible correctly. This is why the numerous Cults who all claim the Bible as their ultimate authority miss the mark by such a wide margin.

'We have not received the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.' (1 Corinthians 2: 12) If we try to interpret the Bible with our natural minds, we will never fully grasp its true meaning. But the Spirit enables us to see the deeper significance of what God is communicating through his word.

But we do have to be careful. Even though we are born again, and consider ourselves to be Spirit led, even then we have to constantly check our interpretation of the scriptures with the rest of the Bible. Scripture always interprets scripture. If we do not do that, then we will find that we go off on a tangent. Many genuine Christians have their pet theologies that they get wrapped up in, often to the exclusion of other things. We need balance in our application of God's word.